Rock Wool Medium

[birdwomn]

Originally Posted by WaterWitchin

Somebody's gonna read this a year from now, attempting semi-hydro for the first time or honing their growing skills... all of a sudden feel like they've fallen down the rabbit hole. They put whiskey and ice cubes in their SH mix?!?

It is 4am - just be sure not to put any rock wool in your whiskey.

[The Peloric Orchid]

Originally Posted by Ray

I have several plants in a mixture of RWC & LECA - some are mixed, others are layered, some S/H, others "traditional" culture without a reservoir.

They have been on my back porch all winter and all are doing well. I can't see much of a difference.

For your phals growing in a rockwool/LECA mix, have you been growing them S/H or in traditional pots? And how might S/H vs traditional affect the ratio of rockwool to LECA you (would) use?

[Ray]

Originally Posted by The Peloric Orchid

For your phals growing in a rockwool/LECA mix, have you been growing them S/H or in traditional pots? And how might S/H vs traditional affect the ratio of rockwool to LECA you (would) use?

I guess I’ve “blurred the line” between S/H and traditional culture: At this point, all my phals are in 75% LECA + 25% RWC, in traditional pots, but they all are sitting in water for a day or two after watering, so have a temporary external reservoir. The bottom line is that, for growth, more water is better than less, BUT you must keep the medium airy.

In my (summer) heat and humidity, RWC addition is unnecessary in S/H, as the medium stays pretty much saturated, but I see no difference between those with RWC and those without. Winter is coming, though.

[The Peloric Orchid]

Thanks for the info. For how many days do you let the phal tray stay dry before you water them again? Does the rockwool get not-airy if sits in water too long, or is that why your ratio is 75% LECA?

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by The Peloric Orchid

Thanks for the info. For how many days do you let the phal tray stay dry before you water them again? Does the rockwool get not-airy if sits in water too long, or is that why your ratio is 75% LECA?

Did you read through the entire thread? If I recall correctly, there is some information, somewhere, from both Ray and WaterWitchin on how they arrived at the ratio of leca to rockwool.

[Ray]

Originally Posted by The Peloric Orchid

Thanks for the info. For how many days do you let the phal tray stay dry before you water them again? Does the rockwool get not-airy if sits in water too long, or is that why your ratio is 75% LECA?

I try to never let the trays stay dry for more than a day.

As far as as the cubes staying saturated, I hope they do! I know that, ideally, we would like a perfectly uniform potting medium that holds the right amount of water, provides the right amount of air, and maintains those properties appropriately long enough for watering on otherwise busy schedule, but that’s a pipe dream. The LECA/RW combo is a good compromise for me.

[estación seca]

By the way, I just noticed I don't have the option to give WW an infraction. Went and looked... neither can I give an infraction to Camille nor Roberta. I could report all three for spamming, though.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by estación seca

By the way, I just noticed I don't have the option to give WW an infraction. Went and looked... neither can I give an infraction to Camille nor Roberta. I could report all three for spamming, though.

Thanks bunches.

[The Peloric Orchid]

Originally Posted by camille1585

Did you read through the entire thread? If I recall correctly, there is some information, somewhere, from both Ray and WaterWitchin on how they arrived at the ratio of leca to rockwool.

I've read it twice, but it's a lot of posts haha. The main takeaways for me are that y'all like your whisky and Ray is Bill Nye.

[The Peloric Orchid]

I read that it's not recommended to use organic fertilizers with rockwool because it will grow algae. Do people that use organic additives (Kelpmax and Quantum) still use them after switching to rockwool and rockwool mixes?