Simple Guide to Transitioning Orchids into Leca | Repotting Seedlings into Semi Hydro -Relax & Repot
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- Опубліковано 9 лют 2025
- Hi all! In today’s video I’m going to be transitioning two of my seedling orchids into semi hydro. I’m going to walk you through what I look for when I transition orchids over into this system. I’ll also discuss why I don’t transition some orchids over and when it’s best to wait.
0:00 Intro
1:25 Removing Organic Material
2:05 What to look for when transitioning to semi hydro
3:26 Removing overgrown orchid from basket
3:50 Cutting through net pot to free roots
4:43 Orchid Roots - Alive or Dead?
6:50 Cutting the rest of the net pot
7:35 Root die off in Semi Hydro
8:48 Not forcing orchids into semi hydro until they have good root systems
10:13 Removing stuck bark from roots
11:38 Potting up Seedling 1 into 10 oz cup
12:08 Importance of wicking with Leca - Potting Tightly
13:30 Preventing Dry top Layer
14:34 Air gaps
14:54 Removing stuck tree fern from roots
18.31 Cutting Dead Roots
20:01 Difference between Semi Hydro vs. Self Watering w/ Leca
21:25 Potting up Seedling 2 into Deli Container
22:09 Modifying Deli Containers to use Self Watering
22:44 Tightening up Leca in Pot
23:37 When to not transition into Semi Hydro
24:41 Outro
Check out Plantio La Orquidea Here: plantiolaorqui...
Check out Carter & Holmes Here: www.carterandh...
Check out the UA-cam Channel the Orchid Room here: / theorchidroom
Channel is an excellent resource to folks who grow in Leca, and I learned to use the pebble top layer from this channel and have had great success with it.
IG @nicoledeannaorchids
Growing Conditions & Climate:
Almost all orchids grown indoors
Eastern Exposures (4-5 hours direct early morning sun) & LED Grow Lights
Most orchids grow under the lights
Only cool growers & orchids in bloom grow under my Eastern facing windows
Grow space doesn’t get any additional sunlight other than the LED’s
Zone 7a - Humid Subtropical
All of the products I use are linked below. Disclaimer I may earn a small commission on any of the Amazon Links that you use. Thanks for your support!
Javi Coffee: try.javycoffee...
~Pots I use~
Self Watering / Leca:
7.5” Self Watering Pots (New): amzn.to/3saQiPH
7” Self Watering Pots (New): amzn.to/36zr9G7
5” Square Self Watering Pots (New): amzn.to/334Y5kR
4” Square Self Watering Pots: amzn.to/337Uh2a
6” Round Self Watering Pots: amzn.to/3aXsjdH (Fits 6” Repotme Inner Pot)
4” Round Self Watering Pots: amzn.to/3eLKswm (Fits 4” Repotme Inner Pot)
4.5” Round Self Watering Pots: amzn.to/2RfN25I (Fits 5” Repotme Inner Pot or Small Deli Container)
7” Round Self Watering Pots: amzn.to/3nF7eKc (I add S/H holes for flushing - No Inner Pot)
6” Round Self Watering Pots: amzn.to/3aWLXqm (I add S/H holes for flushing - No Inner Pot)
Inner Pots:
4” Clear Inner Pot: amzn.to/3xIAMvh
3” - 6” Clear Inner Pot Assortment: amzn.to/3e7hkAp
Cheap Swap: 16oz Deli container is the same size as 5” Repotme pot, just shorter
Organic / Non Self Watering:
5” Pots With Saucer (New): amzn.to/3h7amMx
5.75” Pots with Saucer (New): amzn.to/35km8jR
4.25” Pots with Saucer (New): amzn.to/33FEj35
3.5” Round Ceramic Pots: amzn.to/3vx4aTh (Fits 2” & 3” Repotme Pots)
5.5” Round Ceramic Pots: amzn.to/3vy4zoo (Fits most 5” Inner Pots)
4.7” Round Ceramic Pots: amzn.to/2QRufO1 (Fits most 4” Inner Pots)
~Materials I use for Repotting~
Self Watering / Leca:
LECA: amzn.to/3aStSth
Pebble Top Layer: amzn.to/3nD4s8q
Wicks: amzn.to/337Bcgt
Organic:
All Purpose Monterrey Bark Mix: amzn.to/3tgAic1
NZ Sphagnum Moss: amzn.to/3aTVhv0
Coconut Husk: amzn.to/36HkHJQ
Horticultural Charcoal: amzn.to/3riqXRE
~Fertilizers, Supplements & Pest Control ~
Naturalyte Insect Control: amzn.to/3o0NLFh
Bloom City Clean Kelp: amzn.to/3vElju3
SuperThrive: amzn.to/3vBhAh3
Neem Oil: amzn.to/3xDQAPL
Calmag: amzn.to/3vAezxl
MSU Fertilizer: amzn.to/33FEj35
MSU Slow Release Fertilizer: amzn.to/33FEj35
PH Control Kit: amzn.to/3vBY2ce (I use the test vial to measure the PH)
~Lights & Equipment~
Wifi Smart Plugs: amzn.to/31smm72
Power Strip with Timer: amzn.to/3gW1hHC
Levoit Humidifier: amzn.to/3eMcBn1
Shelf Liners: amzn.to/2SaiH8T
Shelves (3 Foot): amzn.to/3gUV0vH
Shelves (4 Foot): amzn.to/3Fawv6p
Monios Lights: amzn.to/2Sk12vI (Have bloomed Cattleyas for me)
Kihung Lights: amzn.to/3eLyPW4 (Good for Medium & Low Light Orchids)
Continuous Water Mister: amzn.to/3nHG3ON
Orchid Hobbyist Lights: botanicalleds....
Great video. Looking forward to hearing more about self watering vs semi hydro.
Thank you Vanessa! I should have that up next month. Appreciate you watching 💓
Thank you! Very helpful to understand different semi hydro setup options.
I'm glad it was helpful. Thank you for watching 🌺❤️
Good morning and thanks for sharing.
Thanks Michelle ❤️
I am very instructive, I am waiting for the rest of your videos
Thank you 🤗
As usual excellent video on repotting in lecca. Thanks for the update. Love it very thoroughly done. Happy growing. Thanks and blessings 🙏🙏💕
Thanks so much 💖 I'm on repot #89 today. I'm almost done!
Great video Nicole nice repot video looking forwards to updates on those orchids 😘👍
Thanks so much Stephen! Today I made it to #89, almost done 🎉
@@NicoleDeanna great news Nicole nearly there 👍
Very good video. You do awesome repotting. I just recently started using tree fern and I found that the orchids seem to really like it. I’m going to repot my mini Neofinetia in it. Thanks for sharing this video. Have a great weekend. 🥰👏🌺
Thanks so much Shirley ❤️ I've never used it, but the orchids I've unpotted from tree fern look really good. I may consider it in the future. Seems to have good moisture retention as well, but doesn't suffocate the roots which is key. Let me know how your neo does ❣️
Very good and helpful 😮
Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
1:25 Removing Organic Material
2:05 What to look for when transitioning to semi hydro
3:26 Removing overgrown orchid from basket
3:50 Cutting through net pot to free roots
4:43 Orchid Roots - Alive or Dead?
6:50 Cutting the rest of the net pot
7:35 Root die off in Semi Hydro
8:48 Not forcing orchids into semi hydro until they have good root systems
10:13 Removing stuck bark from roots
11:38 Potting up Seedling 1 into 10 oz cup
12:08 Importance of wicking with Leca - Potting Tightly
13:30 Preventing Dry top Layer
14:34 Air gaps
14:54 Removing stuck tree fern from roots
18:31 Cutting Dead Roots
20:01 Difference between Semi Hydro vs. Self Watering w/ Leca
21:25 Potting up Seedling 2 into Deli Container
22:09 Modifying Deli Containers to use Self Watering
22:44 Tightening up Leca in Pot
23:37 When to not transition into Semi Hydro
24:41 Outro
That second one is a good example of why bifoliates often dump their roots when you repot them, they break so easily and they will always die up to the break point. Unifoliate roots might crack, but the root will usually survive.
That's a great point. You can also see how much flimsier those roots are in #2! I'm expecting new roots to start pushing through in the next month as it warms up. I timed a bifoliate repot badly once and it sulked for 6 months. I try to do them only in the spring now or when I start seeing many growing root tips.
Why do you need the holes? Couldn't you just draw a water level line with a pen? Sending lot's of love 💖 from sunny 🌞 Arizona 🌵. Take care of yourself and each other 😷
@@suzisaintjames TYSM for your comments and support ❤️ The holes are to be able to flush the orchid and get the salts out:)
What a great informative video Nicole. Question: can the use of Leca/self-watering become heavy over time? You know for those of us old folks who have Uncle Arthur visit? tia..
Glad it was helpful! With the pebbles on top and the water reservoir, I'll say that these can get heavy. With that said, anything in a pot under 6" is fine, but when you get to 7" is heavy! Thanks for watching 💖
They look very nice!Do you maybe have experience with sopronitis?Recently renamed Sophrocattleya. If so, do you recomend them to begginers?
Thanks for watching! I don't have one, but I've read that they can be a bit more finicky so I haven't gotten one. You can certainly try, but for beginners, complex hybrids tend to be more forgiving and vigorous.
Buy a deli container? I just reuse the big yogurt containers... they are free...🤔 Oh, they're not clear😵💫.. So maybe splurge and buy some potato or macaroni salad. If I just need one, I've ask the deli man for one with my meat order. Truth is... If you want clear you can use a glass jar... If you want holes there's a special drill bit, but it's all doable. 💖🌞🌵😷