EpiWeb Granular Growing Medium - Orchid Board

DebsC · #1 02-27-2008, 07:26 PM

First Ray's has this and I was wondering if if anyone has any experience with this?

Becca · #2 02-27-2008, 07:58 PM

Well I thought the granular growing medium was in chunks because of the picture, so hopefully Ray will see this and be able to clarify that. I guess when I think of granular....I think of something like dry granular fertilizer.

Anyways....I have tried the epiweb slab...I have a Cattleya schilleriana mounted to it....it's roots have grown through the epiweb almost as if it is hugging it...kinda like...give it to me! LOL! That is my only experience with it so far. Hopefully others will give their experiences soon.....I know there are others who are using it! My only wish for the slab is that it were thicker...the slabs I received were only about an inch deep...so it hasn't taken long for the catt to grow it's roots through to the back side.

samizook · #3 02-27-2008, 10:22 PM

I just placed an order for the epiweb granular medium and the RO system today. We'll see if it improves the growing conditions for my suffering plants.

cb977 · #4 02-27-2008, 10:47 PM

I have this and it's 1" squares of Epiweb...I also use the slabs. I love this stuff, and so do the 'chids.
The slabs are a neater way to grow than tree fern and the cubes are great to stabilize smaller plants in baskets.

Magnus A · #5 02-28-2008, 07:29 AM

I use the cubes mixed with bark for a super open medium. I also grow some in "pure" epiweb cubes and they seems to love the material.

Becca, why do you not glue two or three slabs together to get a thicker slab?

/Magnus

Marty · #6 02-28-2008, 08:56 AM

I use the cubes as a substrate in my carnivorous plant terrarium. Mainly to elliminate the weight. I'll be moving the tank around and didn't want to use LECA.

isurus79 · #7 02-28-2008, 02:02 PM

I've been curious about EpiWeb myself, mostly because I try and mount as many of my 'chids as possible. I guess I'm tacking on a question to Debs' question: How is EpiWeb better than wood?? If I mount my 'chid on a peice of wood (which I often get for free on the side of the road, for example), how is EpiWeb different?? I know it doesnt break down, but a good peice of wood or a solid small branch takes years and years to break down. Just curious.

Ross · #8 02-28-2008, 02:10 PM

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.

kavanaru · #9 02-28-2008, 02:19 PM

Hi Ross, I agree with you... however, my question here is what's the use of worrying about getting the roots out of EpiWeb? The product does not decay, and can be left as extra support for a big plant. If you need to divide your plant, you can also cut the EpiWeb in pieces...

Ok, ok, maybe I am just saying BS here, as I normally do not mount my orchids (the only mounted plants I had were those growing on the Trees at my garden in Venezuela, and which are still there growing and growing

), and therefore am not very aware on which would be the problems... just my thoughts about how I understand the process... please correct me if I am completelly wrong...

Ross · #10 02-28-2008, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kavanaru

Hi Ross, I agree with you... however, my question here is what's the use of worrying about getting the roots out of EpiWeb? The product does not decay, and can be left as extra support for a big plant. If you need to divide your plant, you can also cut the EpiWeb in pieces...

Ok, ok, maybe I am just saying BS here, as I normally do not mount my orchids (the only mounted plants I had were those growing on the Trees at my garden in Venezuela, and which are still there growing and growing

), and therefore am not very aware on which would be the problems... just my thoughts about how I understand the process... please correct me if I am completelly wrong...

No, you're fine Ramon. I guess I am a purest. I like to assure the leaves stay green, I like to assure the mounts look nice, I like to assure my collection looks nice even if not in bloom. It's just me. I have a Dendrobium anosmum (at the upper left in this photo)

that has overgrown a tree fern mount. I haven't done anything with it yet because the roots are through the fern. It disturbs me every time I look at it. The one to the right of it (in full bloom) is on cork. I plan to tease that one off the mount once blooming ends and remount on a larger piece of cork - it'll be real easy because everything's on the surface. That's all I meant