LECA Comparison Study

[rbarata]

Originally Posted by Ray

It's more than just "fun and games". 20 years ago or so I did some similar testing, in which I compared the bulk density, open volume and absorption capacity of a handful of products - all of which affect their performance. Someone recently suggested an update, so I volunteered to do so.

That's a good action from you, Ray.

As a note, I've mentioned cleanliness (being it easy, difficult or even impossible to measure) because that's an important feature to someone who grows orchids in a flat.
In a greehouse or outside it may not be such a big deal but, obviously, we must take in consideration not only our orchids health but our own enjoyment of the hobbie.

That was just an idea.

[WaterWitchin]

Originally Posted by Orchidking

yes you need to include a salt test. That means licking each sample and rating its saltiness.

Also an actual grow test would be most conclusive compared to other media but I can see this is just a bit of fun and games with no real scientific purpose.

Whatever floats your boat Ray

Very humorous and clever Orchidking. Not. My daddy always told me, if ya don't have something valid to contribute.... fill in the blank.

[fishmom]

When it comes to snarky, foolish posts, scrolling is your friend.

[Chemtiger]

I’m sorry, I actually DID laugh out loud with regard to the taste test for the salts, but why do you seem to have a problem with this testing? Participate if you wish, or don’t, but you needn’t act like that.

There are so many brands of LECA on the market now, so there IS probably a need for this type of testing. Since Ray invented semihydro, he is a great source of knowledge and I’m happy that he will share his wealth of knowledge on the topic of orchid growing. Different brands/manufacturers will obviously have different quality of LECA, and I am interested in who has the product that has the most consistently-sized pieces, both having pieces that are similarly sized and also with the most intact pieces. Part of semihydro, for me, at least, is how much air (and thus, potential water that can wick up to the root system) is between the pieces, and we can predict that pretty accurately based on the “sphere-packing” principle, but if the pieces are irregularly sized and shaped, this is all useless, even if I do get my LECA to remain pretty free from accumulated salts. I think this experiment is definitely worthwhile, I’ll have to dig up my bag, to see what brand it is, but I’ll probably send a sample in, assuming I can find the bag.

[WaterWitchin]

Originally Posted by Chemtiger

I’m sorry, I actually DID laugh out loud with regard to the taste test for the salts...

So did I. It was the remainder of the post I was referring to.

---------- Post added at 08:41 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:29 AM ----------

Originally Posted by fishmom

When it comes to snarky, foolish posts, scrolling is your friend.

Agreed and amen. I was posting in my moderator voice, giving a reminder to play nice in the sandbox. Should have likely made that clear, or done so privately. My apologies.

Having grandkids for five days, plus Thanksgiving, plus the little virus buckets sharing their current disease with me has made me a bit...

Sorry for hijack, and

---------- Post added at 08:54 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:41 AM ----------

Originally Posted by rbarata

That's a good action from you, Ray.

As a note, I've mentioned cleanliness (being it easy, difficult or even impossible to measure) because that's an important feature to someone who grows orchids in a flat.
In a greehouse or outside it may not be such a big deal but, obviously, we must take in consideration not only our orchids health but our own enjoyment of the hobbie.

That was just an idea.

I agree it would be great, but not possible within the current venue. Unless Ray wants to buy a whole bag of every LECA around. Doubtful. Hi Bill!

No science here, but I can vouch that some LECA is certainly dirtier than others. The very first bag (about 20#) I bought was not only filthy, but when I was soaking had all this oil-slick type residue that kept coming to the surface of the water. I eventually just pitched it into my garden and bought something else. Likely should have been wearing a HazMat suit as well. Sure wish I remembered the name of it. Too many years have passed.

For dust control itself, were I living like in a high rise, I'd buy my LECA, have a five gallon bucket, and dump water into the bag as soon as I opened. Then dump the wet LECA into the bucket and proceed. That's the way I deal with the dust from it anyway, even though I don't live in an apartment or high rise. My current go-to LECA has very minimal dust anyway, but who wants that schtuff in the house?

[Ray]

Originally Posted by WaterWitchin

I agree it would be great, but not possible within the current venue. Unless Ray wants to buy a whole bag of every LECA around. Doubtful.

No, I'm not buying whole bags of anything. Read my original post.

1) Send me a PM with the brand. If I do not have that one in my array of materials, I will share my shipping address.

2) Get a small, flat rate box from the USPS ($7.90 postage), fill it with NEW, UNWASHED material, and send it to me. (To compensate you for that expense, I'll send you a coupon code that will give you $7.90 off the price of a bottle of KelpMax.)

[WaterWitchin]

Originally Posted by Ray

No, I'm not buying whole bags of anything. Read my original post.

It was a joke Ray. Lighten up. Have ya been following this thread? Take off that bow tie and put on your silly hat.

PS What should you do if no one laughs at your chemistry jokes?

Keep telling them until you get a reaction.

[fishmom]

---------- Post added at 08:59 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:58 AM ----------

Originally Posted by WaterWitchin

PS What should you do if no one laughs at your chemistry jokes?

Keep telling them until you get a reaction.

[Ray]

Originally Posted by WaterWitchin

It was a joke Ray. Lighten up. Have ya been following this thread? Take off that bow tie and put on your silly hat.

PS What should you do if no one laughs at your chemistry jokes?

Keep telling them until you get a reaction.

"Reaction" - hilarious.

Yeah, we had our kids here, and both my wife and I are absolutely exhausted. I guess my sense of humor didn't get enough sleep either!

[WaterWitchin]

Well my little grandkids (buckets of joy and cesspool of virus) spent five days here, along with the usual holiday chaos, and blessed me with a gastrointestinal bug. Very well understood. Falalalala can’t wait for next go-round.

Would ya like another chemist joke? I’ve got plenty.