Brenda sent me some of those small clay pellets - Hydropon? - in two sizes. I have mixed the small ones with the small orchid bark I use, about 50/50 and am raptured with their performance. I had a large H. imperialis hurting with small roots rotting... I stuck it in a pot with the mix and in 4 weeks had a 5" pot full of healthy roots. This is my medium of choice now for my hard to root/grow plants. It seems to provide - FOR ME - the perfect combination of moisture and aeration to the roots.
***** my days are usually warmish in the 70s and the nights in the low 70s and 60s. Humidity about 60-70%. I don't water every day. The H. imperialis was NOT on a heat mat.
Carol
Again....Thanks Brenda!!!!
small clay pellets...I LOVE THEM!!!
Hydroton, I think its called. I've never seen the small version, but I've used the bigger one before for hydroponics.
I have been mixing the small version into my mix for about a year now at about 1/4th of the total. I also have used it with the perilite to put in the bottom of pots. You can find this stuff at hydroponics stores or websites.
In another experiment, I planted up 3 seedlings from the same grex. They were all the same size. The growing medium was different:
Hydroton/small orchid bark 50/50
50/50 the above with my mix
My mix
So far the cutting in the first mix has outgrown the other two by about half again. They all receive the same water/fert etc.
Love the stuff!!!
I have got to try that. Thanks for the tip.
Would using broken up clay pots work the same way? I have lots of empty clay pots that are stacked and taking up space. If it would work, I can break them up into small chunks. Anyone have an idea if t his would be the same as the clay pellets?
Wow that is so good to know.
Thank you Carol
Yes...broken up clay pots work very well. Just be careful NOT to press hard on the medium or you could cut the roots!!!!
HAHAHA today I did more repotting: I hang large shallow pots from the ceiling of my gh...and in those pots, I put smaller pots to get them UP into the warm and the light. Well, sp. Biak was in very small pots and they were short, so I put a big layer of Perlite in the big pot to hold the smaller pots up and when I went to repot them, all of the roots had grown 6" -8" into the Perlite with minimum roots in the medium in the pot. Guess they really like it!!!!
I will need to dmail Brenda and ask her where she got this.
Gail I found them by looking up "Hydroponics" in the phone book. Found one store in Boise and they carried the pellets. I've played around with a few things in them with the latest being these cuttings I took from a Hoya Bella about a month or so ago. They must like it in them as there is a bloom forming along with the roots that are coming along...
~Brenda
We sell the Hydroton where I work. We get it from Hydrofarm. I believe they have a store locator on their website. Maybe they show one near you?
Good idea Diane, those store locator's can be really handy!
~Brenda
Thanks, Brenda
I am 'itching' to try this as you all seem to be having so much luck with them. Hip hip hooray, another project!
I use these pellets as a soil amendment, but I think the way these are really supposed to be used is in a pot with drain holes up about an inch from the bottom. After you soak these things for 24 hours, you pot your plant up, pour in all the water or nutrient solution in that you want to, and the excess pours out of the leveling holes. The bottom of the pot below the leveling holes acts as a resevoir, and you only have to water every week or two. Growing like this I believe is called semi-hydroponics. Please see the website below for illustrations. Using these things in a vase or glass container full of water is just like growing in water; the pellets may help hold the roots in place, but it is not really like true hydroponics. I've wanted to experiment with these pellets for awhile now; I guess it is just a matter of finding the right time.
Doug
http://www.growinhydro.com/21077.html
Thanks for the site and your information. i think many of us want to try this and don't want to lose this thread.
Actually, Doug - using a vase isn't the same as growing in water. The roots don't actually sit in water - the water is below the roots (the same as what you described, but there is no drain hole layer to separate the water and the roots). The roots take in the water by the clay pellets only when needed. By using glass pots or vases, you are able to actually see the water level to make sure you are keeping the water level below the roots.
Check out this site: www.waterroots.com
Gabi
Thanks Gabi.
I bookmarked this site.
Thanks for that link Gabbi; it was very interesting reading. In reality, her method is exactly like the semi-hydroponic system in the link I provided, with the exception that she monitors the water level by looking through the glass, rather than relying on holes in the side to get rid of excess water. I really have to get off my duff and give this system a try. I have everything I need right at my house. I can't really see any disadvantages to growing this way. At the very least, it will be a fun experiment.
Doug
Back in the 70's I grew a couple of house plants in hydroponic pots with those little round light brown colored clay pellet things. I remember there being one pot with no drainage (reservoir pot) and another basket weave type plastic pot with all the holes in it that you put the plant in with the pellets. They had some gauge on the outside that showed the water level and you could watch and know when to add more water. From what I remember it worked really well. Plants seemed happy and thrived.
I hear ya, Doug. I keep thinking that I want to try this technique, but I am a creature of comfort and habit, and I like my current growing technique. I should at least try one hoya using hydroponics. Also, I love the look of glass and it would be a great use for one of my many vases.
Gabi