Newbie question: repot with Leca/moss/styrofoam in pots full of holes

[shelleymom]

Hi! Looking for any constructive feedback, after nearly killing my favorite phal in my first re-pot with store bought bark media, which combined with my zealous watering resulted in total root rot I decided to try something altogether different, repotting into Leca with styrofoam and just a hint of new zealand sphagnum moss, in pots I hyper-aerated by making holes with a hot nail. Does anyone have any experience with this type of mix/growing in net pots? Hoping I did the right thing for my beauties.

[wintergirl]

Looks good to me. Good job! Now watch those roots and only water when they turn silver.

[shelleymom]

I'm still confused because so many talk about re-potting into bark, after this experience I'm pretty wary of bark, and the cheap store bought "orchid mix" is going straight into the trash.

[wintergirl]

I actually use the box store orchid bark. I pick out the big pieces and throw away anything that looks like dirt. The main problem might have been your "zealous watering", that is a problem for phals.

[Cym Ladye]

The simple way to screen the orchid bark purchased from stores is to soak it overnight in a container large enough to allow the fines and rotting pieces to sink to the bottom. Then with a standard kitchen sieve, scoop off the remainder which floats and let it drain on a plastic sheet for a few hours. Then use for the current plant or store for later use. Use that which has gone to the bottom of the container for a top dressing on other plants, but not on your orchids.

[shelleymom]

But it is ok to grow without bark, also, isn't it? It seems like several people here post about success with just the lyca?

[bil]

Technically you can grow phals in anything as long as the air can get in easily.

I use large bark chunks and it works fine.

[jmmehler]

I admire the OCD quality of perfectly round and aligned holes. Did you use the head end of the nail or the point? Did you have to re-heat (and with what) for each hole?

Have you considered the s/h (semi-hydro) method, which only requires two holes an inch from the bottom, and just the leca?

[shelleymom]

I will post a picture of what I used when I get home, I couldn't find a big enough nail so I used a screw with a flat tip, so essentially a cylindrical allen wrench "L" shaped screw. I laid the long part of the "L" on my electric stove burner, then used pliers to hold the screw while making the holes. It was super easy, and I could make about 2-3 rows before having to heat it again. Orchidgirl on youtube has a video where she shows how with a big nail, any cylindrical piece of metal should work, in fact, now that I think about it, I will probably use a screwdriver next time since it already has a handle!

Please do tell me more about the s/h method, where would I get step by step instructions?

[jmmehler]

1 Acquire some large Chinese Soup take out containers.
2 Burn two holes about 1/2 - 1 inch apart, side by side, one inch from the bottom.
3 Plant your phalaenopsis using only the leca medium

You will now have a reservoir of water at the bottom, and the leca material will act as a wick. The roots will 're-develop' and find their own happy place.

Ray Barker, a frequent contributor to this forum sells other supplies, and has written copious articles on the subject.

Just keep in mind that while you can keep all kinds of orchids this way, some like it more than others. You should flush out the system every once in awhile, or at the very least, cut back on fertilizing to 3 or 4 times a year, and then only very weak. You do not want the mineral build up. If you have hard water, consider reverse osmosis or rain water, or flush, and flush often.