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

camille1585 · #1 10-04-2011, 01:59 PM

Now that I'm staying put in one place (as a student I was constantly hauling orchids between home and University) I've decided to try S/H on some plants. I have a Brassia and Miltionopsis that both have new growths putting out lots of roots, so it's perfect timing for them to go to S/H.

My problem is that the only leca I could find over here is a bag of leca pellets of mixed sizes. The smallest are .75cm diameter, the largest over 1.5cm. I'm afraid that this is not going to leave enough air pockets between the pellets. Should I go through the trouble of removing all of the smaller pellets in the bag? Or will it work fine the way it is?

Bud · #2 10-04-2011, 02:19 PM

I have not seen LECA in uniform sizes, that is how it was always delivered to me; in mixed sizes...it works very well for me
You can ask Ray if they come in uniform size.

camille1585 · #3 10-04-2011, 02:26 PM

Thanks. Ray sells nearly uniform size (from what I heard, so it could be wrong), and in France I have Leca (not for orchids though) that is mostly uniform-ish. But this one really is a real mess of all different sizes!

The reason I was bringing this up is because of info on Ray's website. Basically the more uniform the better, so that it provides lots of free air space.

I guess for now I'll leave them potted as they are (the thought occured to me once I finished), and if any major objections come up I can always repot.

Bud · #4 10-04-2011, 02:47 PM

It says: ideally... "fairly uniform in size"...
so it means they dont come in uniform size like they manufacture glass marbles ...
but you are right you can separate the globules into as uniform as it can get from the smallest to the largest..as they do with pearls
in my research: the .02 to 1mm is for the construction purposes...the 4to 8mm are for the interior decoration purposes...the 8to 10mm... are the orchid media size...theres 16mm but its also for road and building construction purposes

camille1585 · #5 10-04-2011, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bud

It says: ideally... "fairly uniform in size"...
so it means they dont come in uniform size like they manufacture glass marbles ...

Yes I am aware that they are not totally uniform, which is why I wrote 'nearly' in my post above. But there is a huge difference between being 8-10mm as you say (which I could consider being uniform for our purposes), and 7-16mm like what I have.

Bud · #6 10-04-2011, 02:59 PM

well I get from RepotMe.com ...4mm to 10mm and its a wide range in a 10 lbs plastic bag...I guess after I soak it I must find time to segregate the sizes

zxyqu · #7 10-04-2011, 03:01 PM

I would argue in favor of caution with that much of a size discrepancy. Is there any way you could sift out the smaller ones, like using a large bore colander, or a pasta spoon (ones with holes in them, I have no idea their actual name). Uniformity is really key, otherwise the smaller pebbles over time will come to rest in the space between the larger pellets, and thus not as much air movement.

Zoi2 · #8 10-04-2011, 03:35 PM

Yes, Ray's Prime Agra is uniform and for S/H to work optimally, the size of the leca does need to be pretty uniform. I agree with Jarad, I'd sift the small ones and the super big ones out. You can use the small ones for fine root seedlings or african violets. The large ones can be used together.
Joann

Ray · #9 10-04-2011, 04:33 PM

"Ray's PrimeAgra" is specified as 8-16 mm, although the last batch was more like 10-16.

kavanaru · #10 10-04-2011, 04:58 PM

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

)