Difference

[articuno75]

Okay I can't find the thread and I don't know the difference between LECA and hydroton. Are they the same thing? If they aren't can someone tell me the difference.

[jay]

Jenny


LECA stand for Light Expanded Clay Aggregate.

Hydroton is just a name brand of LECA.

[articuno75]

Oh okay. Silly me, I thought they were two separate things. I mean the same type of medium, but maybe one was special or something. Good to know it's the same thing, I just know a brandname now!

[sandra]

Jenny, Hydroton is LECA and can be used as a potting medium as successfully as for s/h. I've got a few Catts in it and the roots love the stuff. I've noticed a lot more healthy Catt roots with Hydroton than bark. Also, there's a nursery closeby who grow mostly Phals. and all of them are in Hydroton with a handful of coir. The stuff is great.

[psyc1210]

I am using 100% Leca for all of my orchids, and so far I've seen a lot of root growth. I switched them all over about a month ago, and so far, so good

[articuno75]

Sandra~ That's good to know! I might try that with a couple of other plants just to do some experimenting. My Catts need something that will let me water them fairly decently yet they need to dry out just as fast. Can't hurt to give it a shot. I'll have to wait for a repot or something.

Psyc~ Are you doing S/H or mixing it up with other media?

[psyc1210]

Originally Posted by articuno75

Sandra~ That's good to know! I might try that with a couple of other plants just to do some experimenting. My Catts need something that will let me water them fairly decently yet they need to dry out just as fast. Can't hurt to give it a shot. I'll have to wait for a repot or something.

Psyc~ Are you doing S/H or mixing it up with other media?

I am not doing s/h, or mixing, just using 100% aliflor, with slotted bottom draining pots from repotme.com

[Vivienne]

psyc - how often do you water?

[psyc1210]

Originally Posted by Vivienne

psyc - how often do you water?

My little 3 inch pots, every 2-3 days, my Miltoniopsis, every 2-3 days, and most of the others every 4 days. I go by condensation in the pot though, and weight of the pot. I use clear pots, so I can see very easily how dry or wet it is.

[Vivienne]

So you are basically using the aliflor in place of bark... but rather than S/H watering as you would bark. Did that make sense???

This sounds like a great idea to me. How often do you repot??

[psyc1210]

Vivienne- exactly. I really didn't enjoy bark at all, but wasn't sure I liked the idea of s/h...so I just did 100% LECA potting medium instead. Works out well for me, doesn't break down and feels cleaner than the bark. I only just switched them all over throughout the month of Feb-March of this year...but I don't think I'll need to repot unless they are too big for their pots. Almost all of them are growing like mad right now....except a Dend that is sulking

[FLaCo]

I think one of the near by nurseries use this method. All I see is the hydro ceramic medium in regular pots.

Another nursery uses a medium grade of red crushed lava rock.

[psyc1210]

I know that Al (Al's greenhouse) was using hydroton for all his Miltoniopsis, and he said they were doing better in that than they were doing previously in bark mix

[sandra]

I've had great results with LECA also psych1210 and like you, I appreciate how clean the plants look especially around the roots on the top surfaces. It's also much easier seeing what's going on in the pots with LECA.

Vivienne, you can combine it as well with other medium, depending of course, on the plants needs. Some of my thirstier ones such as Onc.'s and alliances get a little coir added and it works really well.

[Vivienne]

Thanks! I'm thinking of putting the majority of my Catts in to LECA. To me, it makes more sense based on their needs. Perhaps a project for tomorrow (another forecasted snowy day).

[FLaCo]

Where are you guys getting the LECA from? Sandra, anywhere locally?

[psyc1210]

I get my aliflor from repotme.com, and I'm about 30 mins away from them, so I just go pick it up

[Vivienne]

Our local garden center has Hydroton. Rick's Garden Center

[FLaCo]

Ok guys...call me ignorant but with all these choices...Hydroton, Alifor, LECA...what is the difference or are they just names?

Anyone mind giving me some insight on this, please?

[psyc1210]

They are all LECA...hydroton, primeagra, and aliflor are just brand names *of* LECA

[sandra]

Originally Posted by FLaCo

Where are you guys getting the LECA from? Sandra, anywhere locally?

I get mine right here in Delray Beach Damien. They have everything you could want or need for orchids. I'm usually in the south Palm and north Broward area if you're going to be in those neck of the woods and interested in a personal delivery. They ship all over...Green Barn Orchid Supplies

[sandra]

Originally Posted by FLaCo