Not sure whether media is "whicking"

[Nanotyrannus]

Hello, fledgling orchid hobbyist here. I started off my hobby with a few miniatures I bought online, and I've just been forced to adopt some supermarket-bought Phals and Cymbidiums. I decided to try out S/H on a few of them.

The media I bought was Zoo Med Hydroballs. I didn't find much information on it in the context of S/H, except for the occasional mention that it was "just as good" for hydroponic purposes. 24 hours after planting, I'm not noticing any significant capillary action. The top pellets feel dry to the touch.

Are the pellets doing their job? I'm considering going to the hydroponics specialist store when it opens tomorrow to buy some purpose-made media.

Um... I'm having trouble with posting an image because of a filter. Remove the space to see the image:

imgur.com /ylbzEpy.jpg

[Ray]

I couldn't see the image, but as a general comment, wicking rate is fixed for any particular grade of LECA. Whether the ZooMed product is any good, I cannot say. However, if your environment favors fast evaporation, then it is possible that that is overwhelming the wicking rate.

Do not rely on wicking to provide the moisture to the plant; water the daylight savings out of the pot from the top at every watering, as that will flush and saturate the medium.

Also, from the sound of it, you have not found the " mother lode" of information on semi-hydroponics yet, so you have some reading ahead of you: Orchid Plants & Supplies, Free Info, Hydroponics, and More! - First Rays LLC

[AnonYMouse]

How long are the roots?

Your set up looks disproportionate-huge LECA volume above the water line. I use two different diameter 16 oz containers with ~5° angle of gradation. Your volume, height and angles are greater so you will need to figure out the height of the water line for the volume of LECA for your container. The top surface of the top layer of LECA will get dry but the rest should look wet.

From what I can see in the picture (not necessarily what actually is), the water is getting to the 16 oz mark, maybe the 18 oz mark. That could just be wicking along the container surface.

[Nanotyrannus]

Originally Posted by Ray

Do not rely on wicking to provide the moisture to the plant; water the daylight savings out of the pot from the top at every watering, as that will flush and saturate the medium.

I see. I guess I had some misunderstandings about the purpose of the media.

Originally Posted by Ray

Also, from the sound of it, you have not found the " mother lode" of information on semi-hydroponics yet, so you have some reading ahead of you

Thank you, I've given the articles a thorough read. Now I'm worried, as the orchids I've been given were already in bad shape. Hopefully they make the transition.

Originally Posted by AnonYMouse

How long are the roots?

I hadn't measured them, but I made sure they would be above the water line before I filled the pot. They probably reach 2/3rds of the way down.

Originally Posted by AnonYMouse

Your volume, height and angles are greater so you will need to figure out the height of the water line for the volume of LECA for your container. The top surface of the top layer of LECA will get dry but the rest should look wet.

I see. I've begun experimenting with higher water levels in an unpunctured pot, thank you.