Water makes the roots rot out. If you put one of your phals WITH GOOD ROOTS into water, those roots eventually rot off and the plant grows roots adapted to water. I would think Perlite would be a poor choice for S/H. It floats! How can it wick water when it floats on top? I have never triedto use perlite for my orchids, though. Has anyone else used it? What were the results? Satish, can you order Light-weight Expanded Clay Pellots (known as LECA) over the internet? I believe one brand -Ali-flor- is manufactured in the Netherlands. Is that a possibility for you?