The power of scoria (lava rock)

[SouthPark]

It is not what you thought hehehe.

It is another case of undivine intervention.

The flower spike happened to grow snug/parallel to the leaf, and even though it and the buds nudging the leaf may grow away from the leaf later ------ I prefer to just make sure there is clearance between buds and leaf.

One possible solution is shown hehehe.

Even a rock or any hard and light-weight thing of suitable size and shape should do the trick hehe.

This isn't the first time time I've done this. Other people probably do something similar too if they do encounter the same sort of situation.

[terryros]

I have been a believer in rocks with good drainage and fairly frequent watering with low concentrations of nutrients for several years. I have successfully been using Growstones to accomplish this, but the company folded and I know I will eventually run out of stones. I know you are in OZ, but what size of lava rock are using for your various orchids and anything else special about the material?

[SouthPark]

Hi terry!

Thanks for mentioning Growstones. I just took a look online to see what they are. They look pretty good!

I use scoria from local garden supply stores that either come in really big pre-packed chicken-feed bags for convenience ---- and these bags have categories such as average diameter 10mm, 15 mm and 20 mm.

Other supply stores have piles of scoria for our own gathering - so we can bring our own bags, or car trailers etc to fill up ourselves - as much as we like. The price here in Australia could be roughly 1 dollar per 5 kg, which is really good.

For regular size catts ---- juvenile to full size, I just use an average diameter of 15 mm. But the piles of scoria rocks actually have diameter that can fall within say 10 mm up to 20 mm. So I found it's no problem to have rocks that just range between 10 to 20 mm in diameter.

For example - at this website here that I just found a moment ago ----- they sell '20 mm' scoria ...... which is actually just fine. The photograph of the scoria clearly shows a big variation in the actual sizes of the pieces ---- which is no problem at all.

If for some reason my orchid pots fall over due to strong wind or something ----- scoria (and even those grow-stones you mentioned) won't roll all over the place.

I was actually initially thinking of trying out a mix of round leca balls and regular fresh-water river pebbles. But figured that it might not be a great thing if the pots fell over for some reason, and the leca balls would be rolling around everywhere on the floor. Big clean-up operation and 'tears' hehehe.

There are also other media that can be used here -- such as freshwater river pebbles (which probably requires more watering), and also those other sorts of rock called 'bue metal' etc. That's just their names. I hear some orchid growers will use that sort of rock for their orchids.

Terry - with the scoria ------ I think they were and still are popular just due to the way that they can hold in some water, but still allow the pot to stay relatively airy within.

Although - it definitely is still possible to make the scoria too wet for long periods of time (where regular roots can drown) ----- so compensation can be applied ---- by adjusting the watering method, or by using shallower pots and good drainage pots.

[DirtyCoconuts]

well done- i have done the same and on plants that are not robust enough to hold the rock, a bit of cork will do the same trick

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by DirtyCoconuts

well done- i have done the same and on plants that are not robust enough to hold the rock, a bit of cork will do the same trick

Thanks DC! Thanks for mentioning cork! I think cork will have nice grip and ultra light.

I will remember to get some cork next time if I encounter the same situation. Excellent idea DC!

[terryros]

Thanks very much. I suspected that the size you use is about the same as the Growstones I use for Cattleyas and Phalaenopsis. I successfully use a smaller size of Growstones for Phrags, Paphs, and Miltoniopsis. I will have to hunt around for the right size stuff where I am.

[SouthPark]

Most welcome Terry. Thanks for mentioning the smaller size you use for phrags and paphs etc.

For my juvenile paphs and phrags and sedirea, and some juvenile oncidium ---- even baby catts, I use 5 to 8 mm average diameter scoria.

Do you have scoria/lava rock readily available in your area over there Terry?

I attached a pic of juvenile paphs in the 5 to 8 mm average diameter scoria. A couple of little Paph. vietnamense still in their small pots.

[Fuerte Rav]

Hi SouthPark
One thing I have in good supply is lava rock! It is used here for everything: drainage in pots, paths, driveways, mixing with concrete, mulch on top of 'soil' around plants, mixed with asphalt for road surfaces, etc etc.

I've debated with myself about using it for my Phals but I worry that I will damage the roots when I initially pot them in it and then anytime that I might have to repot - the pieces have such sharp edges! In your pics the pieces you use look much smoother/have rounder edges, or is that just the way it appears in the pics?

Most of my Phals are now in S/H using ECP after I discovered I could get ECP in the Cannabis Grow shop, but I like the idea of using a local, natural medium.
I can take a close up of my lava chips tomorrow but for now just a pic of the ever present heap in my garden!

[estación seca]

I'm curious about the variegated Monstera - I've read they won't propagate by cuttings, but need to be tissue cultured. Are you rooting a cutting?

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by Fuerte Rav

I've debated with myself about using it for my Phals but I worry that I will damage the roots when I initially pot them in it and then anytime that I might have to repot - the pieces have such sharp edges! In your pics the pieces you use look much smoother/have rounder edges, or is that just the way it appears in the pics?

Oh geez ------ fuerte rav ----- if I lived next door to you, I'd never have to buy potting media ever again hahahaha.

Fantastic photo. I love the scenic look where you live. Wonderful.

I think scoria can have lots of forms - as volcanic rock is sort of general, but maybe the ones being sold for orchid growing have small little pockets all around ---- that can hold a little water for a while --- but not too much. But the combination of the scoria in the pot can allow the pot to stay humid and damp --- even a little wet --- for a while, and provide orchids enough water to grow nicely.

The scoria I use is locally called quincan gravel ---- pronounced kwing-kun gravel. But people call it scoria too. Some edges are a bit pointy, but never knife sharp. The type of scoria over here is no problem for grabbing with the hands - won't cut skin etc.

If it doesn't cut into skin - the type here ----- then it's ok for orchids. I can take some close-up shots today anyway ---- some good sample shots.

Originally Posted by estación seca

I'm curious about the variegated Monstera - I've read they won't propagate by cuttings, but need to be tissue cultured. Are you rooting a cutting?

Hi ES! I've seen some youtube videos - time lapse videos of some growers propagating the variegated monstera plants from node cuttings.

I have a feeling that it might be better to have one big massive plant and then take lots of node cuttings (stem cuttings that have a node in the middle), and then attempt to propagate.

I have a feeling that some node cuttings may not grow - even though they're node cuttings. But if there's several (or lots) of node cuttings --- at least some will grow and make it.

So 1 stem node cutting having initially no rooting activity or bulging activity or anything ----- will definitely be a gamble. But many cuttings ----- definitely will lift chances of at least some becoming active and making it.

This nice video made by somebody is quite nice to watch. Just pasting the link for you ES - click here.

The plant in the pic came from a stem node cutting. It's got a good set of roots. Properly established - a proper plant now. I purchased it on ebay.

My ebay strategy was along the lines of ----- safest to purchase a rooted stem cutting - preferrably with leaves coming out of it too, or at least some sprouting activity.

I don't actually like those sellers on ebay selling 1 single new stem node cutting for hundreds of dollars.

It's not due to the 'price' as such. It's due to the possible waste of our money to give them a few hundred bucks for something that could possibly not actually grow at all (eg. waste away, rot and go soft etc). It's probably nicer if us customers pay some price - even if relatively high - but pretty much guaranteed to just go and grow.

Another strategy that I thought of ---- could be to purchase a stem node cutting from a nice ebay seller. One that appears trust-worthy and nice. If it doesn't grow, then to message the seller very diplomatically and nicely to ask to buy a successfully activated node cutting (with activity - roots and expanding node etc). That could work too - but definitely requires a nice seller and customer relation. Some ebay sellers can't be trusted for sure. They ruin it for the many really good sellers out there.