Using Pearlite with Phrags?
 

Has anyone ever used pearlite to grow phrags in? I remember reading an article at one time where a grower was using only pearlite to grow his orchids. Wouldn't this be similar to S-H culture? If anyone knows where to find that website I would really appreciate it. Thanks!:bowing

I like pearlite except i find the pear juice tends to be too sugary for Phrags. Phals love it though:

http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/7507/pearliterg0.jpg

I think the perlite article you're looking for is this one:

Perlite Article

Oh P.S. I use perlite for growing Phals in also. I find it good for Phal seedlings, but for the adult ones LECA is probably better. Perlite gives off a fine dust that can stick to and burn leaves if not washed off. For Phrags though i think it could possibly be quite a good medium, but again, so would LECA.

http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/7...alhydrosn3.jpg

My very first experiments in what led to semi-hydroponics was with perlite. The trouble is that it is quite friable, so over time a sludge will form at the bottom of the pot that suffocates the roots.

Ray,
I'm not happy with the bark mixture that my phrags came in last year. I want to change the media so what do you recommend?........would it help to change the perlite more frequently.

Sphagnum moss works really well for my phrags.

Yes it's better to use normal pots with a saucer of water with perlite.

EPK - I tried a lot of experiments - perlite (grade 4), 50/50 perlite and coarse charcoal, straight charcoal, pumice, stalite - all sorts of things, before settling on LECA. Even then I experimented with lots of brands before finding one that suited my needed.

I believe LECA is the best overall choice for semi-hydroponics.

Lagoon,
Thanks for the information....I use moss on my phals and it works quite well. I have lots of moss so I think I'll try your method. Do you pot them the same as Phals or do you something different? :scratchhead:

Elk,

If you use moss for you're phals, then I'm sure you will love the moss for phrags. I also use moss for phals and catts.

With my phrags I mix in some large perlite for drainage and air, it works really well. I also in the last 6 months have been mixing in some smallish bark with the sphagnum moss. I do this to avoid and compactness (is that a word?) :hmm
I began to use the bark because of the dust that perlite creates - you don't wanna breath that stuff in. So bark works well too - about 25% of bark to the chilean moss.

Sometime this year I'll be trying out some good quality peatmoss.

:D