Preparing Orchiata Chips for Repotting

[HiOrcDen]

So it's my understanding that you want to soak the Orchiata chips before repotting into it, I guess half an hour for small chips.

My basic question is... is it a good idea to soak them in half-strength orchid fertilizer solution, instead of plain water, before repotting?

[Roberta]

I don't soak Orchiata at all. Scoop out of the bag and repot. Why make life more complicated? Just water more frequently than you did before you repotted, and the bark will get wet naturally.

[HiOrcDen]

Originally Posted by Roberta

I don't soak Orchiata at all. Scoop out of the bag and repot. Why make life more complicated? Just water more frequently than you did before you repotted, and the bark will get wet naturally.

Well suppose someone were my kind of lazy! X3

I would rather soak in advance, than water heavily. Is there any reason this is a bad idea?

If it's okay, should I use plain water or some fertilizer (maybe even 1/4 strength)?

[Roberta]

It probably can't hurt. Plain old water should be fine. I think that fertilizer in the soak water would be pretty much wasted, will wash out when you water the plant. When you fertilize the plant, the roots absorb the fertilizer right away. Not that much stays around in the medium.

[HiOrcDen]

Originally Posted by Roberta

It probably can't hurt. Plain old water should be fine. I think that fertilizer in the soak water would be pretty much wasted, will wash out when you water the plant. When you fertilize the plant, the roots absorb the fertilizer right away. Not that much stays around in the medium.

Oh I see. That makes sense, thank you. My issue is... that lately I tend to go to sleep late and wake up in the afternoon. And its very hot these days, so I'm worried if the chips aren't soaked, they'll dry too quick, before I have a chance to water them more heavily as you suggest.

[Ray]

You do not want to soak Orchiata before use, as that will extract some of the dolomitic lime that is used in the aging process.

If you're not going to use it straight out of the bag, prior to use, trickle hot water over it, so that it is wetted, but without a lot of drainage. Wait 30 minutes and repeat. When it's cool, it's ready to use.

I doubt adding dilute fertilizer to that would hurt, but it probably does no good, either.

[dbarron]

I think this is a case of being lazy is the right thing to do.
As to your concern about sleeping till afternoon, well if that is a problem, then you should use a more moisture holding media.

[gdupont]

I'm surprised to hear you're supposed to use orchiata straight from the bag, I always thought it was important to rinse off the fine bark dust so it wouldn't bother the orchid?

[Roberta]

Orchiata is pretty clean. Maybe a bit of dust at the bottom of the bag, but I find it quite ready to use, very little in the way of wood or other stuff that is unwanted.

[Mountaineer370]

I've used Orchiata for six or seven years. Initially, I would use it straight out of the bag. The last couple of times I bought it, though, it seemed quite dusty and would have the occasional stray wood chip or stick in it. Different supplier? I don't know. I think it all comes from the same place originally. So now I have to rinse it thoroughly before I use it. What I do I would not call "soaking," though. I have never pre-soaked my Orchiata.

If you are repotting from a more moisture rententive media to plain Orchiata, you are going to have to water more often, whether you pre-soaked your bark or not. If you do choose to pre-soak, I think adding fertilizer to the soaking water is just throwing your money away.