STOCKOSORB - HydroGel Review

[SADE2020]

Hello everyone!

Someone has used this HydroGel in their cultivation: Stockosorb or HydroGel

It works by keeping small "deposits" of water in the substrate. The retained water (and its added nutrients) is available to the roots of the orchids (and other plants) that will use it according to their needs growing around them.

Combined with the substrate in very small doses, it increases the retentive capacity of the substrate and its internal humidity.

Does it work with Lecca?

[SADE2020]

[Dusty Ol' Man]

After thinking about this question and revisiting the writeups on LECA on Ray's website, my question would be: Why would you want to? Seems to me the LECA is adequately retention and wicks evenly without help.

[SADE2020]

Well, I have in my life another Ray. Yes!!!!!!... is hard to explain, he is the owner of the top orchid supply online store in Spain and he insists and that if I don't want the SH 100% I should try this jelly thing....and don't take me wrong, is not only to sell me stuff, he truly believes in medium mixes and tries out with new materials.

Like Ray, he promotes and truly believe in SH, but also recommends no-SH with inorganic material; the ones that dry outs as Lecca or Lava Rock and the ones that retain water as this gel or rock would, etc.

[estación seca]

I use this for some plants in standard potting media and smaller pots. With S/H, when the particles are dry, I could envision them falling down through the LECA and winding up on the very bottom. I'm guessing using this material would be to attempt to extend the watering intervals with S/H.

[DirtyCoconuts]

my concern is the difference in the rate at which the two materials release and absorb water...i see the one that evaporates off faster then sapping the water from the other....that is kind of the idea of the grow cubes but they hold a LOT more water...if this and that are comparable, then it would work