Growstones?

[snowflake311]

I know this has been asked before and I have found mix info on this topic. Now that growstones have been around for a bit longer I would like to hear what other orchid growers think of them that have used them?

I know the biggest issue has been PH rise. But how bad is it? Have they been able to fix it? would I have to use RO water if I use growstones? My tap water is ph 7 .

I am going to re-pot some plants tomorrow I might buy a little of both the Leca and Growstones.

[katrina]

I had almost zero luck w/growstones. W/many of my orchids the roots actually grew away from them. A few didn't seem to mind but the majority of them hated the product. Some experienced total root loss. I'm always trying new media and not all of it has worked but, for me anyway, this was the worst of the worst. I did a major repot to get most of them out of it. I still have a few plants where the small growstone is mixed into the mix and they seem OK but the roots certainly aren't attaching to the product like they do most others.

I had 2 huge storage bins of 2 different sizes and gave them both away as I won't use it any more.

With all of that said, I do use tap water and while I've never had a problem w/leca...I couldn't help but wonder if it wasn't some odd interaction between the medium and my water. I wouldn't have thought there would be any type of problem from using it as it is glass but clearly my orchids didn't like it.

[snowflake311]

Everywhere I read it is the ph that is the main problem when using this with plants. I think I will stay way from it. I am not going to go buy ro water for my plants when my tap water has been working fine for years.

Thanks for your updste.

[katrina]

Yea, it's possible that someone using rain water might have different results but it certainly didn't work out we'll for my orchids.

When I mentioned that the roots grew away from them...that was in every pot where I had used them in the bottom for drainage purposes. Every single plant...the roots would get to that bottom and they turned back up toward the top. I've never seen anything like it.

[terryros]

I have been using a mix of Growstones and milled sphagnum moss. Depending on the orchid genera, the mix may be from 40%-60% Growstones. This mixture, using the pour through method of testing pH, does run a bit on the alkaline side but my fertilizer solution contains 5 mL per gallon of lemon juice and this nicely moderates the pH issue, in addition to potentially supplying citrate to the plants that may be beneficial.

I have used this mix for at least 2 years and my mixed collection (Paph, Phrag, Miltoniopsis, Cattleya, and Phalaenopsis) has grown and bloomed well (under LED lighting).

Growing in straight Growstones may be more challenging and I wanted a mix that was more moisture retentive. Mixed with the milled sphagnum moss, I think the Growstones are giving increased aeration and also probably some Calcium.


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[snowflake311]

Yes I could see how Mixing the Growstones in would be the best bet. I am not going to mess with the growstones for now. I bought more Leca today a 50L bag I could put everything in Semi Hydro. So far I do like it.