Sophronitis cernua (Project 14 - Spring 2012) - Page 70 - Orchid Board

zxyqu · #**691** 06-11-2012, 01:10 PM

Hi Janice. LECA is short for Lightweight Expanded Clay Aggregate. It's basically kiln fired clay pellets. They are completely inert and therefore dont break down. They hold a little bit of water, and nutrients, but are fast draining and fast drying. Mainly used in hydroponics, but they work great for numerous other applications. Just do an OB/google search and you'll find plenty.

pasojanice · #**692** 06-11-2012, 01:30 PM

Hi, you will never believe this but yesterday my daughter and I were shopping and this one store was finally open. The name? Hydroponics and Beer Brewing! Honestly. Well, since I have 2 Vandas that are doing very well in semi-hydroponics, we went in there. I was looking around and lo and behold, they had the aforementioned LECA. But, the name is different. So, I bought a box of it, 10 lbs worth and am going to change out one of the Vandas to see how this works. Finally, I was in the right place at the right time! YAY!!!!

Wynn Dee13 · #**693** 06-11-2012, 02:33 PM

Janice- Make sure you rinse the LECA well. Look on Ray's site and he tells you how to rinse them. You rinse them like CHC. Good luck!

pasojanice · #**694** 06-11-2012, 02:39 PM

Hi WynnDee,
Okay, I'll ask it...what's CHC? I will look at Ray's site.
Thanks.

zxyqu · #**695** 06-11-2012, 02:39 PM

CHC is coconut husk chips.

pasojanice · #**696** 06-11-2012, 02:55 PM

Hi and thanks so much for the explanation! I don't know all the abbreviations! LOLOLOL
Janice

Rowangreen · #**697** 06-12-2012, 12:51 AM

Is everyone getting roots and new growth? Not me! As I posted before, mine's had some roots die. When I repotted a lot of the roots looked uneven in size, as if they'd been broken before and recovered, so maybe it was some of them went. I've still got some looking good, so keeping my fingers crossed. I've not taken it out to remove the dead roots and check as I feel that would be too risky if the roots are fragile. The dead roots seem to be from and old bulb too so I'm hopeful.

One of my biggest bulbs I think is just mature (the one where the sheaf turned pink: that's now dried to brown), so maybe mine's actually ahead of everyone else's! Or can I expect more new growth this year?

Wynn Dee13 · #**698** 06-12-2012, 01:19 AM

Actually yours is probably behind a little. Your new growth with the dried sheath is probably last winters growth. These plants can bloom in fall, winter, and early spring. The flowers emerge when the new leaf opens. That probably explains the lack of roots. The roots should start growing now that the pbulb is matured. Then after root growth the plant will start a new growth.

When you start to see new root growth that is the time you should repot and remove the dead roots. I repotted one of mine a few months ago and during the repot the plant broke in two. I potted one piece and mounted the other. When I repotted the plant it was just starting to grow new roots and the mounted one took off really well. It is already attatched really well. This plant isn't my project plant. It was a plant I have had quite a few years. My project plant is mounted too and is still growing roots. None of my three plants have started new growths yet.

orchidsarefun · #**699** 06-12-2012, 07:04 PM

I can second that. Mine has a lot of new and growing roots, in fact they have now attached to the cork and I have removed the fishing line support.
I am looking forward to new pbulb growths !

pasojanice · #**700** 06-12-2012, 07:45 PM

Wow, removing the fish line! Great. I don't know if you saw my pictures of the one I posted that is our project but it looks good. The other one that I got and mounted I think is doing well also.
I thought, well, really didn't know that you could take off the line!
Thanks for more great information.
Janice