EpiWeb Granular Growing Medium

[kavanaru]

BTW, your Dendros look GREAT Love them...

[Becca]

The only thing I can think of is I have problems with fungus growing on my wood mounts and I have tried using Physan 20 and it hasn't helped. I know epiweb wouldn't have this problem. Yes the wood looks nicer I agree, but my 'chid really seems to like the epiweb. I think when it comes to needing to move it to a bigger mount, I will just order a larger piece of epiweb like Magnus suggested to me earlier and then the problem is taken care of. The good thing is is that I can cut the epiweb easily into whatever shape or size I need...so I don't have to stick with a traditional square if I don't want to.

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by Ross

Epiweb is meant to replace tree fern - not wood. I don't mean to be funny here, but they are different like plastic pots and slat baskets. Really not comparable. I tend to only use solid mounts like wood, cork, branches, slat cedar mounts, etc. because as the plant grows you sometimes need to remount it. Getting the roots out of tree fern or epiweb would be nearly impossible in my estimation. I agree that most wood mounts take many, many years to break down. Even in a orchidarium with 99% humidity they last a long time.

I see!! I did not know that EpiWeb replaces tree fern!! As I dont use tree fern for anything, I guess that's why Ive never seen EpiWeb as a viable alternative! Thanks Ross.

[Faerygirl]

This topic is of great interest to me because I am considering using perhaps a substantial amount of Epiweb in my new pondless waterfall project.

Having never actually seen a piece of Epiweb up close and personal, is it rigid? Will it stand on its own, like treefern? How bendable is it? Can you wrap it around things (like, say, a large diameter PVC pipe?

I'd probably want to layer some moss over it for a more natural look, how would that be on Epiweb?

And now for my next (and probably, REALLY DUMB question, but here goes bombs away....):
Has anyone ever used the innards of AIR CONDITIONING FILTERS as a media, and if so, how would that compare to Epiweb?

[razka3]

ahahahhaha - sorry, that was really funny.

Seriously though, I think that would be rather expensive, depending on the MERV rating of the filter. I use MERV 11 filters and they are about $25 a piece, and not much material in there - well actually I guess they are heavily pleated (4") so stretched out would cover maybe 3ft. I think there is some fine metal wire running throughout - might rust.

I don't know if the roots would be able to permeate through the material or not - which could be an important bit of knowledge.

[JamesK]

Ross, My friend,

Please do not take the dendrobiums off their current mounts! Just attach the mount they are on to another piece of cork and let the plants grow right onto the new cork. The same can be done with the epiweb, just attach it to another mount, old mount and all. No need to take the plant off the old mount. In fact, much less stress on the plant if left alone. No set back, and plenty of more room to grow.

[Faerygirl]

No man, I'm talking about the cheapie Walmart type AC filters. They are about a dollar each. Most don't come inside metal. I don't know what that stuff is, is it plastic fibers? Isn't that what Epiweb is, recycled plastic drink bottles?
The only thing with the AC filters is, they seem to all be blue, or white. They'd need to be heavily disguised with moss.

But please, I am TOTALLY SERIOUS with this question.

[John D.]

There used to be a coarse washable furnace filter material that might be worth a look. Came in green.

[Magnus A]

Faerygirl:
I would say like this
Ridgid, stand own its own YES
Bendable, YES! No problem at all!
Moss over epiweb, yes as long you have high humidity and you water it, it will grow and prosper on Epiweb

Take a look at the homepage to get a feeling
Epiweb
The basket is made from plain slabs that has been bent and glued together. And there is a lot of more information on this pages!

About AC filter a do not know! The problem could be durability in wet condition under "strong" light.

/Magnus

[Faerygirl]

Thank you, Magnus!