AEC,

I'm growing a few Hoyas using the semi-hyrdo leca stones. Let's see - a carnosa 'KQ. One that is green cuttings off my 'KP' (it was my first experiment with this method because I have SO much of it!) Sp. 'Nong Nooch', which just sat there for the longest time but has taken off in semi-hydro. A small piece of variegated kerrii, which I find interesting because it does put on some new growth, but it's like it's miniature leaves. A rooted cutting of cagayanensis that started to die back for me - it has since perked up and put on new growth. Oh, and globulosa, which grows like a weed in the stuff! I think it's a great way to grow them. But I do prefer to grow it with the special pots and the indicators that tell you when to add water, and they're a little pricey when you get all the components, so it won't be my primary way of growing them unless my raft comes in (I've given up on a ship!)

Denise in Omaha

Glad you started a new thread. Rays has a starter kit that I used. It was a good low cost way to start a bunch of small plants. Coarse/medium is strongly preferred, for everything. I've had less than ideal results with the Fine medium and it's harder to control. Bigger rocks = easier to catch before it clogs your drain. :)

You brought up containers earlier. I consider this an issue with leca. His containers have holes that pee when you fill them, so they must be taken to the sink. That's not my general habit. I bought a case of jam jars from walmart that I really like for cuttings. The pots are better if they're deeper, so you have room for the reservoir at the bottom. If you choose a closed-bottom (no drainage) system like waterroots, then you can imagine a taller container will leave more room at the bottom for that reservoir.

Oh, look at Ray's starter kit again. He gives a recommendation for how much leca fills his containers. I think two 6" pots can be filled with 5liters. His recommendations worked for me. Sorry I'm sooo Ray's Ray's Ray's, but I haven't tried anything else and I've only been playing with leca for the past year.

Why I like leca... One day I came home to a 6m old dying violet and finally realized the soil was actually a chunk of wood. I pulled the wood out accidentally, thinking it was a dry glob of soil or rock. More than half the pot was now empty. The pot was broken and I didn't have another pot on hand. I had a 2L on hand, though, that I could cut in half and fill with some leftover leca. Fine is recommended for violets, but all I had was coarse. Ray's says some use coarse with violets. So, I filled the bottle with leca, potted the violet, and didn't worry about the lack of drainage because I could visually see the water level. If I had used that 2L bottle with ordinary soil, I would have worried so much about the drainage and rot. Anyway, I think this chunk of wood is also why the violet never flowered since I got it about 6 months ago. But, it started flowering and growing almost immediately after. Definitely didn't skip a beat, it seemed to cheer. :)

I've read that many plants pout a little if they're having adjustment issues, but rarely do they completely fail. When I'm worried about that, I take comfort that I can typically SEE what the roots are doing anytime my mind starts to worry.

I agree with Denise about the container cost. You've got to get creative!

I'll try to take some pictures tonight. :)

Great to hear more recommendations for hoyas and LECA and yes, I did see the starter kit at Rays but didn't see what liter size does what, so much there to read. A kit is perfect for right now, glad that's possible. I know, all the components add up really fast especially when the total for everything for one plant is more than I paid for any one of my plants. It may tho end up being a good solution for this group of plants.

All photos or info is greatly appreciated :)