Oncidiums in LECA : The Good and the Bad! Plus tips on choosing media for self-watering pots

[@OrchidNerd]

Really good video! I like how you emphasised the differences between individual orchids and growing environments. Even within one genera, there is no catch-all method of growing. I hope your oncidium cayene keeps doing well in LECA 😄

[@liverocks62]

I have turn a big part of my orchids collection to leca, in theory it is in a semi hydro culture. I have the transparant pots in low ikea containers en keep the water at a certain level. Since watching your videos I wanted to do this method and now because of the Corona crisis I was out of bark so I did it. Wish me luck!

[@TheOrchidRoom]

Good luck! Now is a good time to transition, while the weather is warm and things are actively growing 🙂 Keeping my fingers crossed for your success 🙏 🤞

[@liverocks62]

The Orchid Room Thanks a lot🍀

[@liverocks62]

@@TheOrchidRoom Hi Annabel, I would like to update you on my repottings since you were my inspiration to choose the SH in leca method. Things are going great, lost about 5 % but they would have died anyway I suspect. But overall my plants got new roots, new grow, second spikes are finally developing, so many thanks Annabel 🙏🏼, I wouldn’t have dared to do the transition without you.

[@TheOrchidRoom]

I'm really happy to hear that! No worries, I'm sure you would have done great without any of my input but it's lovely to hear when things are going well! Please do keep me updated! I'm facing a few challenges after the move. 90% of things are doing better, some however are doing worse. I think in some environments there are just different issues to consider, constant learning curve!

[@myhandmadejournals]

Mine don't like bark very much so I am thinking of switching to semi-hydro after watching your video

[@FlowerFaerieLottie]

I've just got an oncidium twinkle and wanted to transplant it into leca, as it's little do you think it would prefer it or really not?

[@gconicelli9649]

Hi Annabelle. I just got my first oncidium orchid a few weeks ago. It's in bud, but it hasn't bloomed yet. It's potted in a dark pot and I can't see the roots. I would like to repot it into a clear pot. Should I wait until it's done flowering or can I do it now?

[@TheOrchidRoom]

Hi! 🙂👋 Reasons for not repotting while flowering are- 1) if it's in bud it is driving energy into the flowering process rather than growth. New roots are often needed following a repot to adapt to the new medium, which come with new growth usually. 2) If the plant loses roots following the repot and doesn't adapt new roots down into the new media, it will likely pull energy back from the flowering to try to survive. So you may lose the flowers. It's a personal choice only you can make. It isn't the best time to repot, but often getting them out of snail infested medium takes priority. You may just need to be prepared to sacrifice the flowers. Hope that helps!

[@ClaytonKroh]

With semi-hydro, I’ve seen many people lament the drying out of the top layer. Could that be solved using your wicking/self-watering system, but looping the wicking material all the way up to the surface of the LECA? Or would that present problems of some kind?

[@TheOrchidRoom]

Hi, I've solved this problem with the use of other inorganic materials 😄 specifically, the use of synthic, pumice and a top layer of 'alpine horticultural grit'

[@ClaytonKroh]

The Orchid Room Are the other inorganic materials sort of mixed all in together with the leca so that they help move the moisture around and up within the pot better than just pure leca?

[@TheOrchidRoom]

It varies, this is the most recent video I've done for my Milt setup using a synthic heavy mix: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iH27ZHmkoNGLnqs Or using a more even mix of pumice, LECA and Synthic for Encyclia cordigera: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bp6uiqOlYrB0hqc I've just finished switching all of my oncis and miltoniopsis from self watering with sphagnum to the new mix. For my cattleyas I'm just using a mix of pumice and LECA with a top layer of the non wicking small pebbles to stop the top layer drying root tips 😄

[@myataylor4807]

First, I really enjoy your videos. How long do you wait on your phals until you decide that a growing method is not compatible for them? Thank you 🌺☺️

[@TheOrchidRoom]

So I can't really answer that specifically for phals, because I've never had a phal that had issues with a growing method to the extent that they would need to be switched. Some phals like a bit more moisture, but there are ways of modifying how you water to accommodate that etc. I've always found fixes for any small issues, and in general phals are very adaptable. Now if we generalise and say all orchids- I wait 2-3 months usually. The orchid usually needs the first month to settle. Then it will put out new roots, if those new roots can't make it down into the media, that's when I modify or switch the media. I dont look at the existing roots, as there's always a chance those could die off following a repot, it's the new roots that indicate how the orchid will do long term.

[@jokennedy2943]

Where do you buy your wicks?

[@TheOrchidRoom]

They are from amazon, I bought a 100 foot length and they sent me a bonus 50 foot 😄 The link to the item is in description, it was around £8 for that much but that should last a while! 😆 they do lower quantities too.

[@jokennedy2943]

Thanks!

[@TheOrchidRoom]

Also you can DIY them I just wasn't having much luck with microfibre cloths for some reason! Some people use them though with no issues so I think it's the type I bought.

[@monikalange4486]

❤💚❤💚❤