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Jun 6, 2022 7:10 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Katy
Clovis, New Mexico, USA (Zone 7a)
Bookworm
Has anyone heard of Grow Stones in the lower 48? They seem to be calcium or limestone. They are used in hydroponics but are not expanded clay pellets. Thanks.
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Jun 7, 2022 4:47 AM CST
Name: Big Bill
Livonia Michigan (Zone 6a)
If you need to relax, grow plants!!
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Never heard of them.
Perhaps a new product on the market.

But let me say this, the whole reason I use Hydroton/Aliflor in my orchid mix is because it does not break down but helps to keep my mix open and draining well.
What would the purpose be in using it? There might be cheaper ways to accomplish that if that is your goal. If find that the clay pellets do help in retaining some moisture.

Thumb of 2022-06-07/BigBill/add569

The image above is my mix. I use it for almost everything.
Orchid lecturer, teacher and judge. Retired Wildlife Biologist. Supervisor of a nature preserve up until I retired.
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Jun 7, 2022 4:51 AM CST
Name: Big Bill
Livonia Michigan (Zone 6a)
If you need to relax, grow plants!!
Bee Lover Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge) Orchids Region: Michigan Hostas Growing under artificial light
Echinacea Critters Allowed Cat Lover Butterflies Birds Region: United States of America
I found them on the web.
Are you aware that the maker of "grow stones" went out of business on January 26th, 2019?
Orchid lecturer, teacher and judge. Retired Wildlife Biologist. Supervisor of a nature preserve up until I retired.
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Jun 7, 2022 6:24 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Katy
Clovis, New Mexico, USA (Zone 7a)
Bookworm
BigBill said: I found them on the web.
Are you aware that the maker of "grow stones" went out of business on January 26th, 2019?


I was not aware. I watch "Ed's Orchids" on Youtube. He uses them in his Phragmipedium mix. I will try to find out what they are. I think they are limestone chips. Don't know, but they are white. They are not for aeration or non-carbon-based media, they are for trace minerals. I am now using rock dust. (Gaia Green) but wonder if it is more basalt than limestone.
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Jun 10, 2022 3:23 PM CST
Name: Ted DeWitt
Brea, CA (Zone 10b)
Orchids Container Gardener Butterflies Plumerias Hummingbirder Growing under artificial light
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BigBill said: Never heard of them.
Perhaps a new product on the market.

But let me say this, the whole reason I use Hydroton/Aliflor in my orchid mix is because it does not break down but helps to keep my mix open and draining well.
What would the purpose be in using it? There might be cheaper ways to accomplish that if that is your goal. If find that the clay pellets do help in retaining some moisture.

Thumb of 2022-06-07/BigBill/add569

The image above is my mix. I use it for almost everything.


Bill, I am finding when I buy Hydroton/Aliflor lately there seem to be more small stones than ever. Are you seeing this and if not, where do you get yours
TIA
Showing up is 88% of life
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Jun 10, 2022 4:06 PM CST
Name: Big Bill
Livonia Michigan (Zone 6a)
If you need to relax, grow plants!!
Bee Lover Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge) Orchids Region: Michigan Hostas Growing under artificial light
Echinacea Critters Allowed Cat Lover Butterflies Birds Region: United States of America
Yes, there is a mixture of stones. Some days I guess that their sizing sieve is broken or has holes in it allowing the sizes to mix.
But regardless, if I am using aliflor straight, different sizes do not really matter. I order medium and I might find 5% coarse and 5% small within the bag. That is not a problem really.
If it is in a mix like mine, size really doesn't make a difference either.

I was just thinking about this yesterday. About 10-12 years ago, Krull/Smith was selling all of its' large Cattleyas in a media called "Stalite". That looks like medium gray Grow Stones. They swore by it as a media. My first though was, "This stuff is extremely heavy!!!" It might have been wonderful for keeping plants upright, hard to knock over but I thought about the stress added by 20 or 30 plants like that on a bench top!

Look carefully at my mix above. You can easily see different sizes of aliflor. But I carefully select my media within my media if that makes any sense???? If I am potting a big Cattleya, I gather up handfuls favoring aliflor, charcoal, perlite and medium bark.
If I am potting up a Paph., or an Oncidium, something requiring more moisture, my selected handfuls become more about seedling bark, perlite and charcoal. I kind of stay away from a lot of aliflor and medium bark on purpose.
Orchid lecturer, teacher and judge. Retired Wildlife Biologist. Supervisor of a nature preserve up until I retired.
Last edited by BigBill Jun 10, 2022 4:13 PM Icon for preview
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Jun 10, 2022 4:25 PM CST
Name: Big Bill
Livonia Michigan (Zone 6a)
If you need to relax, grow plants!!
Bee Lover Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge) Orchids Region: Michigan Hostas Growing under artificial light
Echinacea Critters Allowed Cat Lover Butterflies Birds Region: United States of America
Oh, I didn't answer where I get it? I have not bought any since moving to Michigan. I DID MOVE a 50 pound bag from Florida. I am not even half way through it.
But I would pick it up at a show. IF I ordered it by mail, I was scared away by thinking about the extra postage due to the weight!!
But honestly my Phragmipediums, Novelty Phalaenopsis and Bulbophyllums all take a good deal of Sphagnum moss within the pots. In Florida with a dry season of 8 months with 10" of rain, I had to think about watering frequency. Throw in a 4 month rainy season with 40" in 4 months and I worried about too much water!!!
Sometimes we just have to do the best that we can.
I just wish I could show all of you just how well each and every Phalaenopsis that I have, each and every Brachypetalum Paphiopedilum is doing in my "Oreo mix"! It is like night and day! Shocking in fact.
All of my Phragmipediums will be getting that same treatment this summer as they get repotted!!!!
Orchid lecturer, teacher and judge. Retired Wildlife Biologist. Supervisor of a nature preserve up until I retired.
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Jun 11, 2022 8:12 AM CST
Name: Ted DeWitt
Brea, CA (Zone 10b)
Orchids Container Gardener Butterflies Plumerias Hummingbirder Growing under artificial light
Dog Lover Tropicals Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Herbs Garden Ideas: Level 1 Cactus and Succulents
Thanx Bill
This summer is re-pot the Phals, Paphs and Phrags time. I am going with your new Oreo potting method. I followed your last one and all the plants got happier. They should love the new mixture
Showing up is 88% of life
Last edited by Ted5310 Jun 11, 2022 8:32 AM Icon for preview
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Jun 11, 2022 8:19 AM CST
Name: Big Bill
Livonia Michigan (Zone 6a)
If you need to relax, grow plants!!
Bee Lover Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge) Orchids Region: Michigan Hostas Growing under artificial light
Echinacea Critters Allowed Cat Lover Butterflies Birds Region: United States of America
Good luck Ted! You will be pleased with this method! Thumbs up
Orchid lecturer, teacher and judge. Retired Wildlife Biologist. Supervisor of a nature preserve up until I retired.
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