Miracle Gro Orchid Potting Mix

[andyburr]

Should've also asked re phal potting medium....
how about cedar bark? cypress?

[susiep]

Andy and Diane - I may be giving you bad advice because I don't even know where you are. If you are an inside grower up north, I am sure what I do would kill most of your plants. So keep that in mind. That is why it is good to put that info in your profile so it will show up at the top of your posts (location, zone). Keeping that in mind...
Diane - I always mix the "orchid dirt" with a chunky mix(ie phal mix). The roots need the air pockets.
Andy - I always just use the commercial phal mix (bark-perlite-charcoal) that you can pick up at any garden center.

Next you need to check with the expert growers here. They have a dozen other methods involving semi-hydroponics, mounted, lava rock, coconut husk, .. it is amazing. Probably best to find someone with similar growing conditions to yours and really pump them for info. Everyone here loves to share what they have learned. Just keep posting until you've got your answers! And always post pictures if you have them.

[andyburr]

Thanks Susiep,
I'm in Orlando (well, Winter Garden, actually).... I'll work on my profile ;-)
Just built a shade room outdoors! For my first re-pots, I used Better-Gro phal mix. only at home depot 10 miles away, $5.60 for 8 quarts.

[Singingirl96]

I've had good luck with the better-gro brand from lowes, and also with another brand from walmart. I bought miracle gro once, and didn't like it at all, like you said, it wasn't chunky enough.

[andyburr]

I found several varieties of Better-Gro 'chunky' orchid potting mix at Wal-Mart today, at about $3.80 per 8-qt bag instead of the $5.40 I paid at Home Depot!

[susiep]

I have noticed that Walmart is much cheaper for the exact same item. Orchid hooks, clips, tie wires, wood baskets, pots, and mix is all cheaper.

[Claudia]

I was going to write a similar post about miracle-gro orchid potting mix. I bought it and was very disappointed. I repotted my oncidium (Wilsonara Tigersette) nonetheless but I am quite worried.....

[kanikedude03]

i know exactly the mix that you speak of. Definitely don't use it on your phals without mixing it. I lost a phal because i used that mix. Now i only use sunbulb's mix.

[D&S Mabel]

Claudia - I think you will find that your Onc. type isn't going to like this mix either. Keep an eye out for root rot. It leaves no breathing room for the roots and doesn't dry out enough between waterings, at least in my growing conditions.

I use the Miracle-Gro mix for my phaius and like hybrids, spathoglottis, and vanilla with fairly good results.

[Singingirl96]

Claudia,
The cymbidium I had in the miracle gro mix died of root rot even though I was careful to not over water. I put it outside for the summer and it just got too wet, I guess.

I posted earlier in this thread saying that I liked better gro phal mix and another walmart brand. Those are still ok, but if you buy it from a big box store, I found that better gro special mix is best (lowe's).

But I recently graduated to higher grade mix (Medium Fir Bark Mix with Diatomite: MIXMFD, Paph & Phrag Fir Bark Mix MIXPP and Medium Coconut Husk Mix MIXMC), which I bought from Quarter Acre orchids (quarteracreorchids.com) I love this stuff, and this is a reputable store. I met the owner at an orchid show, and have bought from her eversince. It's more expensive, but he quality is superb.

Get rid of that stuff or you'll regret it. Get some better mix, it'll pay off in the end.

Good luck.