LECA - Orchid Board

Rhonda Svoboda · #1 05-16-2021, 10:38 AM

Hi- I am investigating whether to convert to s/h or just use self-watering pots. My reason is simply to cut down on the number of times I have to water- specifically my Phap's;Phal's and miltonias- I am not concerned about my catt's and other orchods that need a dryer period.
There's a lot of confusing info out there so hopefully I am qsking my questions specifically enough.
1) Will Leca (used alone w/out the semi-hydro) cut down on the amount of watering I need to do?
2) Is leca a suitable media for self-watering pots (wick system)
3) If I go s/h are there specific potting systems that I can buy? I am not understanding how the potting set-up works.
Thanks all

WaterWitchin · #2 05-16-2021, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rhonda Svoboda

Hi- I am investigating whether to convert to s/h or just use self-watering pots. My reason is simply to cut down on the number of times I have to water- specifically my Phap's;Phal's and miltonias- I am not concerned about my catt's and other orchods that need a dryer period.
There's a lot of confusing info out there so hopefully I am qsking my questions specifically enough.
1) Will Leca (used alone w/out the semi-hydro) cut down on the amount of watering I need to do?

No. Will likely increase it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rhonda Svoboda

2) Is leca a suitable media for self-watering pots (wick system)

Depends on the pot, but too pricey and cumbersome to flush regularly.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rhonda Svoboda

3) If I go s/h are there specific potting systems that I can buy? I am not understanding how the potting set-up works.
Thanks all

I'm not aware of pots for sale specifically for SH. Choose a container of adequate size...glass if you're willing to learn how to drill in glass, or plastic if you aren't. Drill a hole or two into the side of the pot about one fourth to one third of the way up. Fill up to the hole you've drilled with LECA. Put bare orchid roots in the pot, and carefully fill the entire pot with either LECA or a mix of LECA and rock wool cubes.

Fill the pot to the top with water. It drains down to where the hole is (thus, bottom part of container is the reservoir of water). The water wicks up through the LECA.

For glass, think of vases, drinking glasses, bowls. For plastic, think of plastic food containers, quart deli soup containers, etc. From a dollar store, a thrift shop, etc.

estación seca · #3 05-16-2021, 11:41 AM

1 Agree with above.

2 I suspect LECA doesn't wick well enough to work with fiber wick systems. There aren't as many contact points between LECA particles in a container as there are between small particles of sawdust, sand, perlite and/or peat moss in potting mixes. This is the reason LECA and bark don't work in self-watering ceramic pots, so wick systems shouldn't work any better.

3 I'm clumsy and have dogs. I don't want a lot of glass in my concrete-floor growing room. I use 1-quart plastic food containers for most of my S/H pots. I buy them in sleeves of about 25, lids sold separately. I drill holes with a Dreml tool and a conical bit.
https://www.smartandfinal.com/shop/p...2-ounce/676977
Note the price is for a case of 10 sleeves of 25 containers, or 250 containers. At the store individual sleeves of 25 containers can be bought for a slightly higher unit cost.

For larger plastic containers I go to dollar stores and see what they have. I don't have anything large enough to fit into a 5-gallon bucket - yet.

wisdomseeker · #4 05-16-2021, 11:47 AM

WW - Nice answer and explanation!

Wish more people would use the "show & tell" approach with pictures. It's a simple way to eliminate confusion, and helps to provide a better understanding to questions asked.

WaterWitchin · #5 05-16-2021, 11:50 AM

ES... good point on the wicking effect on the self-watering pots.

I do a lot of glass, because I like the look. Get it all at the thrift shop, so it's usually about $1-$2 per piece. I have four 65-78# dogs. You need to lecture them about being careful.

Now clumsy??... Thought I was the Queen of Clumsy!

Mr.Fakename · #6 05-16-2021, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WaterWitchin

Forget root porn, big thick pseudobulb porn is where it's at.

WaterWitchin · #7 05-16-2021, 02:43 PM

Aw shucks Wisdomseeker...

---------- Post added at 01:40 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:36 PM ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr.Fakename

Forget root porn, big thick pseudobulb porn is where it's at.

Not as impressive as it looks... a 3” tall 1” diameter Ctsm. But I’ll take any attaboys I can get!

---------- Post added at 01:43 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:40 PM ----------

PS Which reminds me I forgot verbiage on last picture. Some folks do SH by using a plastic pot with holes on bottom, filled with LECA, then a bowl/cache pot, etc, with water in that filled to a certain depth for the reservoir. And that works, but it's more labor intensive because you have to take inner pot out and flush, and dump water out of bowl each time. That last picture is an example of that.