Potting media discussion/poll - Page 4 - Orchid Board

Izzie · #31 03-18-2010, 01:26 PM

Ray makes a good point.

So what mediums would be good for a grower prone to overwatering, besides s/h or mounting? (think phal)

Leisurely · #32 03-19-2010, 09:06 PM

I have been growing in a 50/50 mix of diatomite and orchidata bark and it has worked well. Recently I discovered that I had run out of diatomite when I needed to re-pot a few things. I use pumice in my mix for growing cacti and I had three, two gallon boxes of pumice so I potted three plants in the pumice and orchidata mix. Has anyone ever used pumice for orchids? If so, let me know what you think.

Izzie · #33 03-20-2010, 01:22 PM

Leisurely- Repotme sells pumice, and I think I've heard a few people using it.

WhiteRabbit · #34 03-20-2010, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leisurely

I have been growing in a 50/50 mix of diatomite and orchidata bark and it has worked well. Recently I discovered that I had run out of diatomite when I needed to re-pot a few things. I use pumice in my mix for growing cacti and I had three, two gallon boxes of pumice so I potted three plants in the pumice and orchidata mix. Has anyone ever used pumice for orchids? If so, let me know what you think.

I am a pumice fiend! lol I have been adding it to my orchid mix, and last year potted some Catt types in straight pumice and they have been doing very well! I also have latouria Dens in a combo of perlite and pumice and they too are doing well

Izzie · #35 03-20-2010, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhiteRabbit

I am a pumice fiend! lol I have been adding it to my orchid mix, and last year potted some Catt types in straight pumice and they have been doing very well! I also have latouria Dens in a combo of perlite and pumice and they too are doing well

What do you use for Phals and Oncs, out of curiosity? Would they do well with more perlite? (I've been thinking CHC, perlite, and charcoal, but have no idea what ratio, and if it should be different for phals/oncs)

ETA: I AM prone to overwatering, but I'm getting out of the habit. I've been thinking of having a loose layer of sphag on top of all my pots to help keep it a little more moist in the dry CO air.

Leisurely · #36 03-20-2010, 08:08 PM

Thanks for the input on the pumice. I will try a few more when i re-pot and watch them closely to see how they do.

I have grown phals in just about everything and each time I try something different I think that this is the perfect mix later to become disenchanted. I am currently using a mix of equal parts charcoal, fir bark and diatomite. I have about seventy five plants and those that are in clear plastic are showing some of the healthiest root systems that I have even seen on my phals.

WhiteRabbit · #37 03-20-2010, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Izzie

What do you use for Phals and Oncs, out of curiosity? Would they do well with more perlite? (I've been thinking CHC, perlite, and charcoal, but have no idea what ratio, and if it should be different for phals/oncs)

ETA: I AM prone to overwatering, but I'm getting out of the habit. I've been thinking of having a loose layer of sphag on top of all my pots to help keep it a little more moist in the dry CO air.

pretty much all my oncidiums are now in chc, perlite and/or pumice, sometimes if I remember I throw in some charcoal. I have grown them in fir bark mixes (small grade), and have a Burr. now in straight perlite - I was having problems with it, so I figured wth lol - it seems pretty happy so far - been in perlite since last summer.
I don't do much real measuring lol - maybe 2/3rds chc to the rest tho I am sure I sometimes have more of the perlite/pumice etc. I figure more aeration can't be a bad thing

Idk - most oncidiums like to stay slightly moist - I would just use smaller grade chc or bark than for phals.

I have skewers in all my orchid pots now - really helps with determining when to water - especially now that I have been playing around with different media

Our humidity yesterday was 6% during the day according to the weather site I use. That is extremely low even for here, especially this time of year, but tends to be rather dry here too. I don't do anything special to increase humidity except for spritzing the mounted plants and the haraella. If it's brutally hot and dry - cyms get a misting and I wet the ground around them. Mounts need watering twice a day then also.

And phals hate me, so I can't say much about their care lol

WhiteRabbit · #38 03-20-2010, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leisurely

Thanks for the input on the pumice. I will try a few more when i re-pot and watch them closely to see how they do.

I have grown phals in just about everything and each time I try something different I think that this is the perfect mix later to become disenchanted. I am currently using a mix of equal parts charcoal, fir bark and diatomite. I have about seventy five plants and those that are in clear plastic are showing some of the healthiest root systems that I have even seen on my phals.

wow! that's awesome! I can't seem to make phals happy no matter what I have tried

I have two small ones mounted, and I've kept them alive for over a year - so that's something for me

Leisurely · #39 03-21-2010, 05:03 PM

Whiterabbit, I think that a good long fiber sphagnum also works real well if you don't pack it; just place loosely in the pot and periodically fluff it so it does not compact on its own. Also let it dry until crisp on the top. Phals can actually be grown like vandas if, like vandas, you mist them every day. I have a couple of miniature phal species growing on a wooden plaque and their roots dry with an hour of watering. They seem quite happy like that.

WhiteRabbit · #40 03-21-2010, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leisurely

Whiterabbit, I think that a good long fiber sphagnum also works real well if you don't pack it; just place loosely in the pot and periodically fluff it so it does not compact on its own. Also let it dry until crisp on the top. Phals can actually be grown like vandas if, like vandas, you mist them every day. I have a couple of miniature phal species growing on a wooden plaque and their roots dry with an hour of watering. They seem quite happy like that.

thanks for the tip! I have tried sphag in plastic pots - felt like it wasn't packed but still had rotted roots - I'm sure I must have still over watered *sigh* Of course - now that I think about it - it was pretty crappy sphag - probably didn't help matters. Might look into good long fiber sphag.
I have been thinking maybe sphag and styro pnuts in a clay pot ? idk - I have a couple of small phals mounted (the ones I rotted the roots in sphag) - I just don't have space for larger ones to be mounted. I did for a bit have a phal doing well in bark in a plastic pot with an inverted net pot inside - roots looked good, and growing, but I must have gotten water in the crown because the plant rotted *sigh* - so now I have a pot of good phal roots with no plant

This really frustrates me! LOL