Hydroton Expanded clay pellet uses?

[Brenda Aarts]

Originally Posted by RosieC

Well I repotted in Hydroton on one of my discount rack NoID phals at the weekend. So far so good and it was VERY easy to repot with... just sort of flowed arround the roots far more easily than bark. Now to see how the Phal does).

Ok Rosie, I'm curious to hear how your plants are doing in hydroton and if you've moved more into it yet?

[RosieC]

Hi Brenda,

I use if for a lot of different orchids now. Not all, but most that I would use bark for would probably do well in it. I still use some bark simply because I still have some to use, but I doubt I will buy more bark to be honest.

I find Phals don't do well with S/H for me because of my temperatures. You can grow in Hydroton either as a standard medium or using the S/H technique. I have a mixture of both, but I find Phals don't do well in the winter in S/H as they cool more with the evaporation from the clay and as my temps are low in the winter that causes a problem.

The one I tried first that I talked about above died one winter when being kept in a S/H manner, that's when I realised the problem with temperatures. I rescued the other couple of phals in S/H with a heat mat, but now I keep those phals (and others) in Hydroton without using S/H as well.

I think all my other orchids in Hydroton are being grow using S/H. I have Dens, Oncs, and a Phrag growing in it using S/H.

Actually the Catt I mentioned above did finally go into hydroton last year and I should have done it a lot longer before. That's not in S/H but is in a large clay pot full of hydroton. It loves it but needs regular watering. It's finally got some good roots since doing that.

[Brenda Aarts]

Originally Posted by RosieC

Hi Brenda,

I use if for a lot of different orchids now. Not all, but most that I would use bark for would probably do well in it. I still use some bark simply because I still have some to use, but I doubt I will buy more bark to be honest.

I find Phals don't do well with S/H for me because of my temperatures. You can grow in Hydroton either as a standard medium or using the S/H technique. I have a mixture of both, but I find Phals don't do well in the winter in S/H as they cool more with the evaporation from the clay and as my temps are low in the winter that causes a problem.
.

Thanks Rosie. I think I will try a few of my phrags to start and see how I make out. I would probably have the same problem as you with the phals in this media as i cool my room down a fair bit at night 60 or so. Thanks for the info. I have a huge bag of lecca but till now have been just using as a bit of a filler in my media and at the bottom of some of my pots.

[DelawareJim]

All three of my Phrags were on death's door until I moved them to S/H. They love S/H and the more often you water them, the happier they are.

Cheers.
Jim

[Brenda Aarts]

Originally Posted by DelawareJim

All three of my Phrags were on death's door until I moved them to S/H. They love S/H and the more often you water them, the happier they are.

Cheers.
Jim

Thanks Jim, I've had a constant battle with my phrags to date so will be interested in anything that will help.

[RosieC]

Originally Posted by Brenda Aarts

Thanks Rosie. I think I will try a few of my phrags to start and see how I make out. I would probably have the same problem as you with the phals in this media as i cool my room down a fair bit at night 60 or so. Thanks for the info. I have a huge bag of lecca but till now have been just using as a bit of a filler in my media and at the bottom of some of my pots.

Don't get me wrong. My phals do well in Hydroton, but not combined with S/H style watering. I grow the phals in Hydroton but water in the normal way as I would with bark, and they seem to love it

Phrags really do well with S/H as they like constant moisture and having their 'feet wet' anyway, so S/H is perfect for them.

[kdennis14]

ok, what is s/h????
Thank you

[MattWoelfsen]

Hi kdennis14, s/h = semi-hydro. That means to say you use LECA (Lightweight Expanded Clay Aggregate) or other water absorbing material like growstones, as the planting media, a glass vase with a reservoir for water. It is semi-hydro because you are not circulating water from what pot to the next like true hydrophonics.

[mtorchid]

Originally Posted by Cattleya17

So can I use them instead or are they only a hydroponic thing?

Most of my orchids are in LECA S/H, even my Paph loves it as do Catts, Dens, Oncs, and others, they just require different waterings. But, I have also tried using LECA in non-S/H, with wood "vanda baskets" using shredded coconut husk to keep the pellets from falling out. Brassavola nodosa, Catts, BLC, Potinara are all thriving with healthy roots, but, of course they are watered more often than the orchids in a plastic pot/water reservoir. Even succulents and cacti do well in LECA with watering kept to a minimum, of course.

I've inherited a couple of drowned Phals that I'm going to try in LECA + wood baskets soon, just to see. Why not? Re LECA (I use Primeagra from Rays). Haven't tried other varieties.

[kdennis14]

Thank you so much for explaining. I am slowly learning.
Karen