Potting media for people who like to water

[oscar freak]

i just love watering my orchids(sometimes to much)which with the wrong media doesnt bode well.have an idea of experimenting with potting media that doesnt hold water(dont wanna go mounted yet).i'v been searching high and low for agricultural charcoal with no luck,maybe some kind of stone,or styrofoam balls?what do you guys think?

[Ray]

Anything CAN work, but some things are just better than others.

Holding water is not an issue, as long as the particle size is large enough that air flow to the roots is unrestricted. Look for a lightweight expanded clay aggregate, as it's probably the best option. Failing that, pumice is OK too.

Some also say lava rock is good, although my experience is that it accumulates plant wastes and minerals more quickly.

You might take a look at some information on semi-hydroponics, as well.

[oscar freak]

i'v got some very large chunks of bark,perlite and a basket i want to use in my experiment either together or seperately.lava rock is available here i used to use it in my fishtanks,it should be very free draining so a good drenching should clear any waste in the pot?

[Subrosa]

I keep my Rodriguezia venusta in cubes if Ecoweb with a bit of sphagnum ground into it. This is however an extreme example of an orchid that really doesn't like to stay wet. I water daily while it's inside, and depending upon the temperature and humidity sometimes twice a day during the time it's outside.

[oscar freak]

its not so much just staying dry but not rotting while being watered/rained on frequently.its the middle of summer here and we have some of the most magnificent thunderstorms,sometimes daily for weeks and i just imagine my orchids are missing out,so would like to try it out just to see the results.

[cbuchman]

Have you thought about mounting?

[AnonYMouse]

I don't think the "agricultural" distinction is necessary. I've bought the stuff since I can't make my own (apartment dweller) but all you need is dry hardwood and a safe container (BBQ, firepit, hole-in-the-ground). Basically, get a fire going and when the wood is glowing red, smother it.

Personally, I mostly use LECA. Less messy.

[oscar freak]

i dont have space for mounting yet,and even the specialist orchid nurseries only sell bark mixtures so its going to have to be a diy mix.

[Ray]

Originally Posted by oscar freak

lava rock is available here i used to use it in my fishtanks,it should be very free draining so a good drenching should clear any waste in the pot?

That's actually the issue I have with lava rock - it does not flush very cleanly. Fortunately, it's cheap, so can be replaced frequently.

[wintergirl]

For some plants I add styrofoam pieces and marbles to my bark mix, especially in the bottom to help drainage.