schultz orchid potting mix

[jkhom]

For what ti's worth, I use farfard.
My neighbor used the shultz and it wasn't as "fine" as yours. I didn't care for it though.

[book_diva]

Hello, everyone. I am a novice orchid grower. I just repotted a phaleonopsis using this mix, and now every time I water it the water goes right through. I am worried that the plant will not get enough moisture. I have a moth orchid for comparison, and when I water the moth (in the store's original potting mix) the mix retains a lot more moisture. I can see this through the clear plastic pots I have for them.

Any suggestions?

[Paul Mc]

There may be a few things going on here. the moth may be in older more decomposed mix so it would retain more water as a result, though you did not say what it was in. Sphagnum moss retains far more water than bark if it is in sphag.

You may need to water your phal more often or let it soak in water for a few minutes until it holds more moisture since its new. On my orchids in new mix, I find I must water a tad more frequently than those in older mixes.

As a side note, both your moth and phal are the same. They are both phalaenopsis.

[dounoharm]

you want a chunky potting mix for phals....when you water, the water should run right thru it....hold the plant under running water for a minute or so till the bark absorbs all it will of the water....gl

[book_diva]

Thank you Paul and dounoharm ,

I appreciate the quick feedback. I shall water that plant more frequently...and will eventually learn more about the botanical names.

Oh...if I leave the potting mix under lukewarm running water for 5 minutes, and then follow with an orchid fertilizer splash...will that be sufficient?

Thanks,

book_diva

[dounoharm]

that should do the trick, just be sure to drain well....gl

[The3birds]

Hi Dounoharm I thought you should always fertilize before watering because the plant absorbs the water and then has no room to absorb the fertilizer?

[RosieC]

The question of if you water then fertilise, or include the fertiliser in the water, all depends on how strongly you fertilise.

The old way of thinking was very strong fertiliser once a month. In that case you were advised to water first so that the strong fertiliser did not burn the roots (because wet roots would absorb less).

Current thinking tends to be to fertilise with every watering but a much weaker mix ("weakly weekly" is the way it's often referred to). In that case the fertiliser is not really strong enough to burn the roots and so it is advised NOT to water first. The aim is to get as much fertiliser into the plant as you can without burning the roots, hence the new way of thinking.