Re-potting into leca

[cherylsultzer]

Hello, this is my first post and hopefully many more to come. I am in the process of repotting my orchids, variety, Dens, Oncidiums, cattleya and phals. They are in terra cotta pots in Leca pellets, should I be putting the pots in saucers of water to maintain moisture, and can enough moisture be wicked into the Leca? Thanks in advance. I am in New Orleans La. and my orchids are outside on a covered porch.

[fishmom]

Are you planning to use the LECA as a traditional planting medium, or are you doing semi-hydroponic? If you are doing semi-hydroponic, you will need to provide a reservoir of water for the water to wick from. Have you read the information on Semi-Hydroponics™ >> First Rays LLC ?

[cherylsultzer]

I don’t want to sound stupid but if the pot sits in a saucer of water would that be the same as S/H? The Leca is the main media with a few pieces of charcoal in the bottom of the pot.

[fishmom]

Yes, if the pot sits in water, you could consider it S/H. But there are some requirements for flushing out salt build-up that must be met to make it work. I am not sure that using clay, which wicks by itself, will aid or inhibit the wicking of the LECA, which takes the moisture and nutrients to the roots. I imagine that Ray Barkalow knows, and perhaps he or someone else will chime in here.


It occurs to me that the clay pot, as it wicks the water up, may channel the moisture to the outside and not to the roots, where it is needed.

[cherylsultzer]

Thanks, maybe a bowl instead of saucer, didn’t think about the pot taking all the moisture. I have over 200 orchids and have done all but 20 within the last week, still have the hanging cattleyas in slat baskets that I was going to line with coconut liner.

[Ray]

Certainly a bowl is a better idea than a saucer, as you'll want a reservoir with greater volume to keep you from having to water too frequently - you want to keep the reservoir full at all times.

Water heavily from the top each time you water, as that flushes, saturates and refreshes the reservoir chemistry in one step.

I wouldn't be concerned about the clay pots taking "all" of the water. Sure, they'll suck up a lot, and that will lead to greater evaporative cooling of the root system, but outdoors in the Big Easy, your humidity is high enough that I doubt that'll be an issue.

[cherylsultzer]

Thank you so much!