Jennifer, there was an article in a recent ORCHIDS magazine about some people growing their orchids semi-hydroponically, (literally, "water culture") and they seem to have been pretty successful. The ceramic pellets you're talking about (I think) are used as a substrate to give the roots of hydroponically-grown orchids something to hang on to. I'm guessing here because I can't remember the details, so if I'm way off base, my apologies.

The stuff Brutal and I are talking about are round, rough clay "balls" about half an inch in diameter that have been kilned and which are used as a substitute for bark mix. They don't decompose like traditional mix will; they're porous so they allow air to get to the roots, and they retain moisture. The grower we met who uses it grows Cattleyas, waters once every 7 to 10 days, and swears by the stuff.....