Does anyone know anything about SumiSoil?

[Azure]

I was wondering if anyone had heard of SumiSoil, and whether or not is works with orchids. It looks interesting.

Company website

[solay]

I've never heard of this before but it looks and sounds like a great product. I'd be interested to know if anyone else has tried it.

[kninum]

hmmm thats looks very interesting......and there is a shop near by thats carries it... i might have to go on a little trip for the purpose of scientific experiment

[englandfx]

damn that really does look like it would work great with orchids. =O

[kmarch]

It looks and sounds like something that's sold here in Australia to put in flower vases. You buy it and it looks like a package of coloured sugar but then you add water and the granules swell up and look like little marbles about the size of a garden pea. They feel jelly-like. If it indeed is similar to what I have seen here, it holds quite a bit of moisture and would probably only be suitable for the most moisture loving orchids (like phrags for example). I've been afraid to try it on my orchids.

[jay]

Kevin, I know what you are talking about, it is very gel like when wet. This sounds more like another version or type of LECA that is used for hydroponics. It has a charcoal center and a ceramic outer coating. LECA does not have the ceramic outer layer, but it might have similar properties. I would be interested if anyone tries to use it in S/H and how it does with the wicking. Very interesting.

[delphiguy]

interesting, i'll keep an eye on this thread.

[Azure]

I was just wondering because it was on the same page as the orchid supplies in the Lee Valley catalog, and it looked similar to hydroponics, but they seemed too small, and had a charcoal core. I agree that this might be something to take a peek at at some point. I want to see how it turns out if someone else is brave enough to try.

[kninum]

I'll take the challenge~! I just happened to be in the neighborhood of the local Lee Valley store and i really want to find a better medium for my "rotten" culture habits
i figure it can't hurt my 'chids any more than i already do on my own.

Here in coastal BC it cool and damp so my 'chids tend to suffer greatly from soggy hearts (it can takes more than several weeks to get the center of the pot dry, which by then the outer roots end up very dessicated.

I just got home with my little 1 kg bag of the stuff.... and now i am anxious to get a few 'chids switched over

the balls are quiet small (about the size of peppercorns), but i will add pics once i get the experiment underway

[brookn]

Looks very interesting! Let us know if your experiments like it.

[NancyG]

A friend of mine bought her first vanda and the seller told her to get some sumi soil and let the vanda roots grow down into it. He told her she wouldn't have to hand water it so much. I'll ask her how it is working.

[kninum]

So several of the seedlings I got from Oakhill last year seem to have suffered a bit over the winter in my care.... so i decided that these would be good choices to give this media a try....i picked 5 that looked sad but salvageable ( 2 cats, a den, an epi, and an onc.)

The media itself is very small in size, but seems to hold a good amount of moisture. It was really dusty and needed to be rinsed well. I then soaked it overnight in water w/food. I rinsed it again after the soak and used an old metal coffee filter to drain it.

I found these awesome plastic 'freezer jars' to use for the pots and used a drill to put drain holes in them. As a plus, the cute purple lids are made to fit on the bottom and keep the jar stable.

It has been a little less than a week and so far everything seems to be good, the wilt in the cats is almost gone, and the den seems to have plumped up a bit too.....i'll be sure to update soon.

[Azure]

Neat! I am quite curious as to how this will work out for you!

[janet_a]

looks like fine grade LECA.... (my LECA fizzes when i wet it down too. kinda creepy. )

[jay]

I think I am going to get some for my Paphs that prefer a little more alkaline media since they grow on limestone in the wild. The website says they tend to be a little alkaline.

[kninum]

I should have also mentioned that the 1 KG (2.2 lbs) bag provided enough media for these 5, 1 cup sized containers with just over a cup left....... I think i am going to take what i have left and get some "classic" clay balls and mix the two for a couple more experiments.

also, the small particle size made is easy to get around the roots and such, thou I will have to watch closely to make sure AIR is properly being exchanged......the smaller 'voids' do make it easier for surface tension to trap the water. Worse comes to worse i can just add some slits to the pots.
that being said, everything does looks good so far....since the 'water filled' pockets are down by the res. and there is good condensation on the sides above that up to the top.

for small root systems, seedlings and minis i think this stuff should work pretty good..........time will tell....and i will let you know

[jay]

How much was the 1KG bag? Was shipping expensive? I have sent an email asking about pricing so I can get some too.

[kninum]

The bag cost me just under $18 CAN and I am lucky enough to have a store fairly close by... so i didn't have to have it shipped.



OKAY JAY___ i just MOCKED up an order for you using a random address in palm springs (should be a good estimate)

IN US funds... the Sumi soil is listed at $15.95 and shipping is $8.00.... so about $24 USD if you order from Lee Valley.

[brookn]

Hmm good to know, it looks like a promising medium.

[jerrymeola]

I experimented a while with growing orchids in only water.

You sometimes come up with something great when experimenting.

The biggest factor in orchids (they seem to grow in or on anything) is consistency. Even if the medium is very wet the orchids may well adapt to it. Then I see a big advantage as the product will maintain a consistent high level of water at the roots with a big leeway for how often to water.

[kmarch]

I'm watching this thread with great interest!!!! I'm eager to see how this works out!

[kninum]

well so far so great!

So I thought it would be a great time to give you all a little update on how the experiment is going-

first of all i think that the s/h method may be a good choice for my climate and culture habits.....i will credit part of the good response to the simple change to this method... which is why i have now grabbed a bag of Hydroton ( small 0.5 inch)- i want to try some of my bigger 'chids in s/h ( esp the cym infested with ANTS)

that being said, the Sumi Soil is great for the little 'chids. All five seedlings seem to be adjusting very well...I'll list the changes

Oncidium maculatum-
while two of the smallest/oldest bulbs have rotted there is two strong existing bulbs and a strong new growth and several new healthy roots

Dendrobium phalanopsis- ok
the seedling was in decline when i transfered it........it does not seem to be worse....i am still hopeful

Cattaleya intermedia And trianae
both have several new roots and a small growth or two, plants were very dry when transfered and have recovered slightly.....as long as there is growth they should be fine

Epi. stanfordium
i think this one loves it... roots have improved and a few new growths are going strong, plus another one has just popped up.



it has been very hot ( for here) the last several weeks so i have had to soak them to water them once a week...and topping up the rez in between.

seeing new signs of life in 'chids i thought were done for ( as they had done nothing since i got them-except start to decline)

[Azure]

Marvelous news! I might just coerce someone into getting me some.... hehe. I was just thinking about asking for an update. Thanks you, o brave adventurous orchid grower.

[kninum]

I should also mention that i have also just recently introduced the itsy bitsy teeny weeny bulbo. Meen Buddy x medusa that I just got into the Sumi Soil as well.......the roots already look happier...and seem to stay in place better.

I am really liking this stuff for my littlest 'chids, or at least it seems to be working quite well for them anyways.

[Plucky Purcell]

I love the S/H. It really seems to make my life easier and my plants grow better. Thanks for trying the SumiSoil, I've been curious about this stuff for awhile.

[flowerchild]

Originally Posted by kninum

So several of the seedlings I got from Oakhill last year seem to have suffered a bit over the winter in my care.... so i decided that these would be good choices to give this media a try....i picked 5 that looked sad but salvageable ( 2 cats, a den, an epi, and an onc.)

The media itself is very small in size, but seems to hold a good amount of moisture. It was really dusty and needed to be rinsed well. I then soaked it overnight in water w/food. I rinsed it again after the soak and used an old metal coffee filter to drain it.

I found these awesome plastic 'freezer jars' to use for the pots and used a drill to put drain holes in them. As a plus, the cute purple lids are made to fit on the bottom and keep the jar stable.

It has been a little less than a week and so far everything seems to be good, the wilt in the cats is almost gone, and the den seems to have plumped up a bit too.....i'll be sure to update soon.

What a great idea for those jam jars, they actually sell those at my local zellers store!!!!! They make cheap orchid pots, those and a drill bit thanks for the idea!!!!!

[wickidgrrl]

that looks interesting. Did you know the sumisoil comes in different colors? I was on the website, and they actually have some neat things on there. I am debating between trying Sumisoil, and hydrton. So how are your plants doing in the sumisoil, kninum?

[PhalPal]

This is very interesting! I especially like the little jars with the lids to keep them from toppling......I doubt I can find them here.

Has anyone used both SumiSoil and Hydroton (or Alifor)????? Have you noticed a difference between the two????

[Azure]

I was wondering if kninum had any updates.