Recycled plastic pellets for those eager to water?

[alecStewart1]

Hey, gang!

This is a thought I had looking around Etsy, coming across DavesGardenObsession (I've had good experience with Dave) and I've seen this note on many of his listings:

I am frequently asked about the media in the pots that I use for growing neos. The potting media you see in these photos is recycled plastic pellets. They are completely inert, do not hold water or nutrients, and make it very easy for me to control moisture around the roots to avoid root rot.

Out of curiousity, how many of you have had experiences using plastic pellets and is it a good choice of medium for people who like to eagerly water?

My wife likes the idea of keeping some plants (I have the green thumb in our relationship), but she tends to overwater. Some succulents instead of orchids are an obvious choice for anyone new to keeping plants, but succulents can be overwatered as well. There's other people I know that tend to overwater as well, so maybe plastic pellets might work as a medium for those who like to water too much.

[estación seca]

Not clear on what you mean. Foam packing pellets/peanuts?

[RJSquirrel]

recycled plastic pellets.

[Ray]

Looks a little small to me. I don’t know if or how well the pellets are wetted, but if they hold water between the pellets, they are not particularly advantageous.

I am finding that LECA + rock wool cubes works quite well for me, since the mix can be “tuned”, and am working toward moving some tropical houseplants into it.

[alecStewart1]

Apologies, I should've upload a picture of the listing to give a better idea.

The pellets a bigger than what RJSquirrel found.

[Ray]

I don’t think there is any chance of overwatering in those!

I do want to add that, technically, there is no such thing as “overwatering” if the plant has replaced its roots with those attuned to the wetter conditions. Most of the time, what folks label as overwatering is actually “under-airing”, also known as suffocation.

Being able to water heavily is actually a growth advantage.

[alecStewart1]

Originally Posted by Ray

I don’t think there is any chance of overwatering in those!

I do want to add that, technically, there is no such thing as “overwatering” if the plant has replaced its roots with those attuned to the wetter conditions. Most of the time, what folks label as overwatering is actually “under-airing”, also known as suffocation.

Being able to water heavily is actually a growth advantage.

Good point.

I might look into these kinds of pellets for some plants, if they aren't too expensive (they probably are with my luck). Medium pumice stone probably works fine as well.

I'll message Dave and see if there's a particular brand he buys.

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Very low density media are easy to float or splash out of pots when watering. Extra-large horticultural perlite (#4 grade) has this issue.

[Ray]

If you’re looking for an inert medium that can take a lot of watering without bridging water suffocating the roots, why not consider good old LECA?

[alecStewart1]

Originally Posted by Ray

If you’re looking for an inert medium that can take a lot of watering without bridging water suffocating the roots, why not consider good old LECA?

I have a Vanda I could actually wrestle it's root into a pot comfortably with leca in it. It seems to like it.

I think I'm slowly becoming anti-sphagnum moss for my orchids, not because I've had bad experiences, but because there's always the worry about things going south.
Also it's a tad pricey.
Also also because making moss mounds for all of my Neos and Dendrobium moniliforme is going to be a pain in the ass this spring. Something like leca and/or pumice/lava rock makes it to where I don't have to repot for a minute, and I'd be more confident that there's enough aeration.