I keep seeing the same complaint over and over again ( "They don't wick well". )

I ordered LECA from Amazon.com ( https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004IAM29K/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 ) for use in the Self-watering Planters I ordered for my Jewel Orchids ( https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09XLJ4KYG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1 ).

The LECA product photo plainly displayed a Quarter sitting atop the LECA, and the vast majority of the shown product was far smaller than the diameter of the Quarter.

What I receive was a bag of HUGE LECA! Most of the LECA pieces were about 3/4 inches in diameter with many pieces being elongated sphericals/ellipsoids of no less than 1 inch in diameter and as much as 2.5 inches long! There is absolutely no way these could possibly fit in the 5 cylindrical sections of the planter liner which descends into the water reservoir! The central column is 2 inches in diameter at most and the 4 columns positioned towards the corners are about 1 inch in diameter! I absolutely needed something much smaller and quickly return the LECA for a full refund! I then found this Ceramsite which was the perfect size for my needs ( https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08XLKGP1W/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1 )!

Granted - It doesn't wick fast, but it most certainly wicks water!

To prepare for use. Soak the Ceramsite thoroughly AND PROPERLY before use!

TRICKLE water into the Ceramsite container VERY SLOWLY so the air within each sphere is forced out as the water in the container rises and each sphere has ample time to wick the water the very first time. I used the original package container and placed it in the kitchen sink and set the water flow from the faucet to a moderately slow drip and left it alone until it overflowed after a little more than an hour. DO NOT GET IMPATIENT!!! If you trap air inside the Ceramsite spheres, they CANNOT wick water effectively! This initial soaking procedure cannot be rushed and a proper soaking is CRITICAL!

To use for my Jewels, I filled the bottom of the planters with all cylindrical columns filled with Ceramsite and continued until there was about a half inch layer across the entire inside of the planters. I then added my MOISTENED Orchid Soil mix on top of this bottom layer of properly prepared Ceramsite and continued planting my little Jewels in the usual manner. The Orchid soil mix has never dried out although I need to top off the reservoir about every two weeks A little scattering of Ceramsite as a top dressing looks pretty too!