Humus soil

[Chococatte]

I got my Peristeria Elata in the mail yesterday. Already my little gardener (son) prune of some of it's leaves off, thinking he was helping mummy. Anyways I want to repot in fresher medium. Is there any place to buy Earth's Finest Compost Peat Humus (local Lowe's retail store doesn't carry it )or another similar medium that this orchid requires online? Thanks for all your help.

[shahrezsyed]

i personally think that live spanish moss is suitable for peristeria elata but remenber that do,nt pack it too tightly in the pot and water it 2 times a week in summer and 1 time a week in winter.
glad to be of help.
shahrez

[Ray]

What makes you thing the plant "requires" composted humus? It is a typical epiphyte - sometimes a lithophyte - in nature, so its rots really need to breathe.

[kavanaru]

my two cents, I do not know very well how to grow this species as i have never tried it, but for sure it is not epiphytic!! It's terrestrial (some times lithophytic) and so far I know from friend in Costa Rica it grows similar than Spathoglottis, which is grown by my mother in normal garden soil, together with her other garden plants...

[Chococatte]

Originally Posted by Ray

What makes you thing the plant "requires" composted humus? It is a typical epiphyte - sometimes a lithophyte - in nature, so its rots really need to breathe.

Other Peristeria species are epiphytes, this one is planted in a soil mixture, not moss neither. According to the information on, IOSPE PHOTOS, it grows as a terrestrial or lithophyte. I want to keep growing it in the same type cultural medium as the grower has it currently.

[Chococatte]

Originally Posted by kavanaru

my two cents, I do not know very well how to grow this species as i have never tried it, but for sure it is not epiphytic!! It's terrestrial (some times lithophytic) and so far I know from friend in Costa Rica it grows similar than Spathoglottis, which is grown by my mother in normal garden soil, together with her other garden plants...

Hi Kavanaru, could you ask your mother for me if she adds anything else like Peat or Humus to her garden soil to condition it? The soil around my house has alot of clay in the sand. I think it would benefit better growing in a container verses in the ground due to soil conditions in the area that I live in. Thanks

[kavanaru]

Hi Choco,

she just has the plants growing outside on the ground (Venezuela!). No special treatment and they grow like weed since at least 25 years. But i can remember the ground has some clay and sand in it. It's the natural ground in the region. and so far I know, she has never fertilized her Spathoglottis!

[Junebug]

Miracle Grow sells an African Violet mix composed of compost, sphagnum peat moss, pearlite, and an 18-6-12 fertilizer. I've had success using this for terrestrials and with hold any additional fertilizer for about 3 months.