Phals in Peat Moss vs. Bark...

[annehylee]

Hi AThoele, I've noticed that as well - when I first buy orchids, it's either (i) packed to tightly by moss or (ii)filled with decomposed bark mixture. So it holds too much water and always results in root rot. My repotting is completed and thanks goodness that both of my phals had good roots so I didn't have to mess with it too much.

[Zdenglan]

I repot phals as soon as poss after buying them, You never know how old the media is or what lurks underneath. I once bought a lovely phal in bark mix and when I repotted it I found a core of sphagnum moss directly under the crown, stinking anaerobic and full of rotten roots. It must have been grown in sphag first and the whole thing was then plunged into the bark mix - two different media, two different watering requirements. Not good.
Deffinitely repotting first thing since then.

[breeindy]

so was it in sphagnum moss, peat moss or coco peat? I know a orchid grower who also has a nursery and he pots all his catt's in half coco peat, half perlite and swears by it. I think it's to fine but i have some of his plants left in it and there growing great.

[RosieC]

Originally Posted by Zdenglan

I once bought a lovely phal in bark mix and when I repotted it I found a core of sphagnum moss directly under the crown, stinking anaerobic and full of rotten roots. It must have been grown in sphag first and the whole thing was then plunged into the bark mix - two different media, two different watering requirements. Not good.
Deffinitely repotting first thing since then.

I bought a Miltoniopsis recently which was similar. A core of rotten Sphag just under the plant with bark arround it. This one even had 'Oasis' cubes at the bottom of the pot.

I was really glad I decided to repot a couple of days after getting it. That was almost two weeks ago and I've not lost any flowers and repotting seems to have not affected it.

It's wasn't a Phal, but the lesson for me is that you never know what's in there unless you repot and you can't care for something with a mess like that in the pot.

[quiltergal]

I know of one grower in the Seattle Washington area that grows all of his Phals in real peat moss....the stuff that looks like potting soil. The one Phal. I bought from him nearly died of root rot. I asked him why he uses peat, and he said he hates to water, and when you have many hundreds to water it takes too long. I think he goes as long as 3-4 weeks between waterings.

[RosieC]

I was interested that my Mum has said she prefers a bark mix for Phals which is far more soil like, the sort of stuff I would steer well clear of. When she was using bark like the stuff I get on well with, she said they did not do well for her at all.

Now you have said that Terri, I remember that my Mum forgets to water her plants all the time and they all (orchids and others) have to go long periods without water.

It just goes to show that what works for one person does not always work for everyone else.

[kp53]

I have little phals that are in sphagnum and are doing great. I use bark or sphagnum in larger plants and have had good luck with both.

[annehylee]

It's funny that you mentioned the soil-like bark mixture Rosie because as you know, all my phals are in the bark mixture. I buy the same brand orchid bark mixture and every bag is a little bit different. One bag consists entirely of bark with maybe just a dust of soil and another bag I bought has smaller bark pieces with more soil . So you never know what kind of mixture you're going to get. But you're right; what works for one person may not work for someone else. Btw, I think it was Sphag moss and not peat moss - nontheless, the moss was soaked and wet - kinda smelled like stinky feet, lol ...

[RosieC]

When I bought bark locally it was the same, some good and some bad.

After a bad batch almost killed two Phals (which are still recovering) I found a better supplier on-line.

His stuff if really high quality, you buy either large, medium or fine grade and it's pretty consitant. Even the fine grade is consitant fine bark chunks with hardly anything really broken down to soil. It also comes VERY dry with a warning that a mask is advised while handling, stuff I got locally was often damp and already decomposing.

I could really recomend this supplier... except he's UK based and I doubt he ships to your side of the pond.

[learning2letgo]

I used both various barks AND sphagnum moss on my plants and have had great results with both. I don't even order my barks offline. I go to the local pet store and get my barks from the reptile bedding area. Inexpensive and a huge selection to choose from. My moss I buy at Lowe's or Home Depot; whomever has it cheaper at the time I need it.

Medium mixtures are all a matter of personal choice and if you feel comfortable with what you've been doing and experience good results, stick with it!