s/h too moist???

[rheeby101]

Is there such thing as being too wet in s/h? i accidentally knocked over a pot and the middle of the media was quite moist, the roots were very wet. Should the leca be a little dryer?? we are in winter at the moment

[Ray]

I'll throw a couple of comments in here:

Once a plant has grown roots tailored for the S/H environment, there is no such thing as "too wet".

However, if the inert medium you are using does not wick particularly well, is too fine, or is so varied in particle size that it restricts airflow (any of which will explain why it is so wet in the middle), that really has nothing to do with "wetness", and has more to do with suffocation, so needs to be remedied.

[rheeby101]

thanks Ray

[Optimist]

Absolutely good point Ray!

[mtorchid]

You didn't mention the type of plant the "roots" are attached to. In my experience, the least forgiving in SH are Phals, there's little room for error and over time it is typical (in a non green house setting) for the plant to send out aerial roots to compensate for the suffocation of interior roots. I have transferred my phals to leca in non SH pots and they do much better. Oncs, Catts, Dens, Paphs do very well in my home environment in SH.

[rheeby101]

Originally Posted by mtorchid

You didn't mention the type of plant the "roots" are attached to. In my experience, the least forgiving in SH are Phals, there's little room for error and over time it is typical (in a non green house setting) for the plant to send out aerial roots to compensate for the suffocation of interior roots. I have transferred my phals to leca in non SH pots and they do much better. Oncs, Catts, Dens, Paphs do very well in my home environment in SH.

What is your watering routine with the leca in non-s/h. Do you soak it for a while and then drain it? or just run the water through the media straight out the pot?
thanks

[mtorchid]

I put the Phals in wooden "vanda baskets" lined with coconut fiber to keep the LECA from falling through the slats. I also put the baskets in large, plastic, transparent saucers to maintain a higher ambient humidity around the basket. I soak thoroughly once a week and then spritz occasionally when the top LECA dries out. I've also started to put New Zealand moss on the top layer of LECA to help maintain humidity and that helps cut down on spritzing time. Here is a Phal and Catt in this setup: