Trying S/H for the first time- question about leca size

[camille1585]

Good to know then that the mixed sizes are not a problem. I did end up sorting out the very smallest ones. For peace of mine if anything.

Hopefully this first try at S/H will work and I can repot more later.

[Kelo]

My Leca, too, is a mixture of sizes. Perhaps if you don't have tons of plants to pot you could sieve them by making holes in a cardboard box and sieve away! lol

[RosieC]

Mine is a mixture of sizes. I do discard any bits that look really small, but have not had a problem with having a mixture, there still seems to be a lot of gaps when I look at it sitting in the pot.

[Ray]

Mathematically, the most open volume in the medium (about 40%) occurs when the particles are all identical spheres. No matter what the size.

Mixing the sizes and changing the shape does reduce the open volume, but unless the range of particle sizes is VERY broad - on the order of 10:1 or more - the possibility of the little particles filling the voids between the larger ones is insignificant.

8/16 is pretty much the standard for LECA for hydroculture, and any "outliers" are not worth worrying about.

[camille1585]

Thanks Ray, I didn't know that.

[NiNiDazzle]

The bags of Hydroton that I buy are also varied in sizes. I pick out the big ones and put them on the bottom of the pot until it is one to two layers higher than the reservoir holes. Then I put the plant in and use the smaller LECA to fill up the pot, making sure I get them between all the roots.

[Ray]

Originally Posted by NiNiDazzle

The bags of Hydroton that I buy are also varied in sizes. I pick out the big ones and put them on the bottom of the pot until it is one to two layers higher than the reservoir holes. Then I put the plant in and use the smaller LECA to fill up the pot, making sure I get them between all the roots.

By only having larger ones at the bottom, you are actually defeating some of the wicking! (Larger diameter=lower surface-to-volume ratio, which is poorer).

[NiNiDazzle]

Originally Posted by Ray

By only having larger ones at the bottom, you are actually defeating some of the wicking! (Larger diameter=lower surface-to-volume ratio, which is poorer).

Hmmm... I don't seem to have a problem with wicking. Most likely because I'm a chronic over-waterer and I water every 2-3 days. Or when I notice that there is less than half the reservoir. The ones covered in algae gets watered every two days since I can't tell.

I'm glad you brought it up so that others who don't water as much as I will know not to put only the large ones on the bottom. Learn something new everyday.

[DelawareJim]

Originally Posted by kavanaru

Hi Camille, as you might know I used to grow most of my plants in S/H with great results. The LECA I had was also pretty varied in terms of granule sizes, and that was not a major issue at all for my plants. Furthermore, when you wash the LECA (best in the sink full of water!) the smallest particles will go to the bottom and you can discard them if you want (ok, assuming the one you have does not float much )

Ramon;

Used to grow most of your plants in LECA??? What made you switch away from it?

By the bye, welcome back. Haven't seen here in a while.

Cheers.
Jim

[kavanaru]

Originally Posted by DelawareJim

Ramon;

Used to grow most of your plants in LECA??? What made you switch away from it?

By the bye, welcome back. Haven't seen here in a while.

Cheers.
Jim

Hi Jim, thanks... I have not been very active in the last time and then I was off on holidays for almost a month...

I grow mostly Catasetinae. They were doing great in traditional S/H when I grew indoors (same for some Paphies), however when I moved my plants to the greenhouse, I started having problems with most plants. I have a friend who had similar situation, and he adviced to take them out of S/H. So, I followed the advice and my plants are doing great now. I still have some Catasetinae in a S/H variation, and most seems to like it very much: organic media in vlay pots sitting in a trey with 1 inch water (pots sitting inthe water!).