mold in quick drying moss?

[Roberta]

There aren't really any "bad media"... there are "inappropriate media" depending on the type of orchid and your conditions. So work backwards from the root environment that you want to achieve. Moist all the time? Sphagnum can be very good. To make it more airy, you can use a plastic basket instead of a pot, to get air circulation - then it will dry faster. . Need to mostly dry out? Sphagnum can work but you will have to observe carefully, you want to get "almost dry" but not dry-dry which then can be really hard to rewet. Truly needs to dry out? Moss not so good for that last reason. Once it becomes crispy-dry, it needs a good soak to re-wet. So... it can be great for Pleurothallids, Maxillarias, Oncidiums, Paphs. With careful attention to "almost dry" conditions. can be good for Phals. I would not use it for Catts or most Vandas (though certainly can work in the "caution" scenario with Neofinetia falcata)