Seramis, and Growstones

[Tindomul]

Hi,

Has anyone use Seramis or growstones for semi hydroponics? Or even at all. I came across growstones at my local hydroponics store. I read that it was composed of glass and since I was completely unfamiliar with it I did not get it.
Growstone | : Sustainable products for horticulture, container gardening and outdoor living

And then tonight I was you tubing and came across Seramis. This was showcased in videos produced by MissOrchidGirl.
I'm not sure what Seramis is made from, but she seems to think Seramis and Growstones are the same.
The other thing that concerns me is that she claims that in the wrong environment, the Seramis itself will get moldy. Not sure how that can happen to inorganic media.

I would be interested in using these from my Masdevallias, to see if they could be used to hold moisture longer than leca. However I wonder if they would stay as cool as Leca as they evaporate the water off.

Thanks all, here are the links to the youtube videos.

[estación seca]

I've seen a lot of mentions of both here. I didn't pay a lot of attention at the time so I don't recall in which forum. Maybe if you use the Search function?

I do recall some people writing they pot their cool growers in clay for the evaporative cooling effect.

[wintergirl]

I use the round clay like media in clay pots for many masdies. Then the entire thing is placed in a plastic dish with rain water of various amounts. I stopped following Orchidgirl after she moved.

[Tindomul]

Well looks like I lost the Youtube videos. Not sure what is going on with this forum and the inability to post those on here.
Thanks Estación and wintergirl. I am currently growing several in clay pots with leca. They stay so nice and cool, but dry out fast. So I am hoping to find something that does not dry out as fast as my current setup.

[estación seca]

I think you have two threads. I posted to this one before realizing the other one has the videos. You can drill the holes farther up the sides of S/H containers so the medium stays more wet. You can stand your masdie pots in deeper dishes of water to get the same effect.

[Tindomul]

Agreed, I guess I have some drilling to do and some experimentation on the side too. I think I will test this stuff out before I put my Masdies in it.

[wintergirl]

Don't drill into clay, the holes do not make a difference. All you have to do is add water to the dish like I do. It is so easy. Here is a picture of one, I had just cleaned the plastic dish and I was getting ready to add fresh rain water.

[estación seca]

Masdies... if only.

[Leafmite]

I have been experimenting, too. I just put my Nelly Isler in very small lava rock chips but I still need to spray the top at least once a day. It is working better than the LECA, though.

It would be great to find a medium that wicked water evenly all the way to the top, allowed plenty of air to the roots and did not decompose. I am still looking for this magical medium.

[AnonYMouse]

I have a very tenuous vague memory of pH issues with Growstones?

And if I could find Seramis domestically for cheap, I'd try Masdies one more time!