Seeking repotting/up-potting advice

[qbie]

Originally Posted by aparnamane

Hi Qbie,

I am not expert but I have 5-6 Sarcochilus hybrids and I potted them in inert media (lava rock) and they are doing good in SoCal here is San Diego. I had some in terracotta pot and small ones in plastic pot, I agree with Blueszz that inert media is hard to keep with water so I keep those pots in dish of water but I think they are lithophyte in nature, most of them from Australia.

As Blueszz suggested the new growth might be flower spike as its the season my Sacs also putting multiple flower spikes.

Is the water dish so the lava rock can wick up some water?

Would love to see pics of your hybrids when they're in bloom

[aparnamane]

Originally Posted by qbie

Is the water dish so the lava rock can wick up some water?

Would love to see pics of your hybrids when they're in bloom

Lava rock won't wick, but terracotta pot wicks water in the dish, and a plastic pot remains a bit moist b'z of evaporation/condensation, so I think it works very well to keep roots hydrated for a couple of days in summer.

I have some of the orchids in a semi-hydro setup with lava rock with small pebbles as the top layer and I think its working for me so far.

I will post some of my Sarcochilus photos once I get a chance to take a nice picture of them.

Thanks

[qbie]

I confess semi-hydro would be something new for me. Ive read about it and understand the basic concept so makes sense the terracotta pot wicks water from the dish. But if lava rock doesn't wick, I'm still at a loss how it works there. I watched a Ninja Orchid video. Looked like she filled the whole thing with water and you wait for ambient evaporation and water uptake from the plant before refilling the pot again? Couldn't the plant could potentially drown? Or maybe I didn't quite follow the video.

Looking forward to your pics!

[aparnamane]

Originally Posted by qbie

I confess semi-hydro would be something new for me. Ive read about it and understand the basic concept so makes sense the terracotta pot wicks water from the dish. But if lava rock doesn't wick, I'm still at a loss how it works there. I watched a Ninja Orchid video. Looked like she filled the whole thing with water and you wait for ambient evaporation and water uptake from the plant before refilling the pot again? Couldn't the plant could potentially drown? Or maybe I didn't quite follow the video.

Looking forward to your pics!

Please read through Ray's (Inventor of Semi-hydro and he is an active member here on Orchid Board) website First Rays LLC, I think Ray and most of the others use LECA in the semi-hydro method.

I bought LECA to use, but have not used it yet.

Yes, I watch Ninja Orchids videos as well, she is very experienced and knowledgeable and she uses lava rock as well as LECA in her semi-hydro setup.


Here are some of the photos of my Sarcochilus orchids.

[aparnamane]

Originally Posted by aparnamane

Please read through Ray's (Inventor of Semi-hydro and he is an active member here on Orchid Board) website First Rays LLC, I think Ray and most of the others use LECA in the semi-hydro method.

I bought LECA to use, but have not used it yet.

Yes, I watch Ninja Orchids videos as well, she is very experienced and knowledgeable and she uses lava rock as well as LECA in her semi-hydro setup.


Here are some of the photos of my Sarcochilus orchids.

Now attaching photos...

[qbie]

Originally Posted by aparnamane

Please read through Ray's (Inventor of Semi-hydro and he is an active member here on Orchid Board) website First Rays LLC, I think Ray and most of the others use LECA in the semi-hydro method.

I bought LECA to use, but have not used it yet.

Yes, I watch Ninja Orchids videos as well, she is very experienced and knowledgeable and she uses lava rock as well as LECA in her semi-hydro setup.


Here are some of the photos of my Sarcochilus orchids.

Yes, pretty much everything Ive read about semihydro is with LECA and will try more to understand how this can also work with lava rock. I was never good in physics haha.

Your plants all look very happy. Love the purple color!

[aparnamane]

Originally Posted by qbie

Yes, pretty much everything Ive read about semihydro is with LECA and will try more to understand how this can also work with lava rock. I was never good in physics haha.

Your plants all look very happy. Love the purple color!

Thank you.

[estación seca]

On the First Rays Web site, Ray Barkalow has a page on water wicking by different media. Volcanic rock doesn't wick well compared to LECA.

[qbie]

Originally Posted by estación seca

On the First Rays Web site, Ray Barkalow has a page on water wicking by different media. Volcanic rock doesn't wick well compared to LECA.

Thank you.

I'm actually leaning towards using pumice since it wicks water and appears to be the substance the original grower used most of while also mixing in other inert media with a little bark. My local nursery has it and it's really cheap.

Since it wicks water does pumice retain water longer than lava rock? Thanks.

[estación seca]

I don't know. Ray may have tested it but I don't remember.