Paph is blooming in straight sphagnum moss—I think it needs repotting. What medium?

[ccole93]

My Paph is actually blooming right now! It’s my first orchid and it took me 8 months of grow lights and fertilizer to get it to bloom so I’m super excited (it’s called Black Magic or something like that).

It’s actually potted in 100% sphagnum moss. I think it has packing peanuts along the bottom (it’s something white and kind of oblong that hasn’t rotted in the year since I bought it). I’m considering buying good quality sphagnum to repot or when the bloom is over since I was so successful this time around. It only had one other bloom and leaf cluster so I think it’s a young plant.

I’m afraid if I buy another mix I’ll underwater it. Right now I water once a week or as soon as the pot feels light and that’s working well—had slight mold a couple months back but it disappeared once I started getting air flow going. I’ve read some conflicting stuff about potting media and when to repot—just wanted to see if there’s a premixed one I could buy or if anyone else had success with straight sphagnum.

[aliceinwl]

I’ve had good luck with both straight sphagnum and bark based mixes. Sphagnum has worked best for me with an air gap at the bottom (like the peanuts are creating). Sphagnum breaks down pretty quickly so be prepared to repot annually if it’s your media of choice. I’ve switched most of mine over to bark because it’s easier for me to deal with and is more forgiving if I procrastinate on repotting.

[estación seca]

Most people recommend repotting Paphs in organic media every 2 years, even if in bark. Their media break down rapidly due to remaining constantly moist.

I grow mine in semihydroponics with LECA as medium.