Phals in Peat Moss vs. Bark... - Orchid Board

annehylee · #1 06-20-2009, 04:42 PM

everyone,

I just picked up a phal in peat moss. All of my phals are in bark mix so I've gotten used to using it. I don't know anything about the peat moss stuff...

Can you give me some pointers about phals in peat moss? I did notice that it holds water much more than the bark mixture. I think once it's done blooming, I will replant it in the bark mixture that I have for orchids.

Thank you!
Anne

RosieC · #2 06-20-2009, 05:13 PM

Personally I would repot straight away. I've read here on OB that Phals can cope well with this.

I think there is a risk of loosing the blooms but if you are not used to the peat moss there is a risk of loosing the plant if it does not dry enough and the roots rot.

I recently repotted my Miltoniopsis two days after buying it in flower and over a week later it still has all the flowers.

I've never grown in moss so I can't advise on that, but I think it can be important to grow in the medium you are used to.

seamonkey · #3 06-20-2009, 05:23 PM

By peat moss I'm assuming you mean sphagnum moss. I have two phals in pure medium grade bark, half a dozen in a bark/sphagnum mix, and a dozen or so in pure sphagnum. The medium I choose depends on the type of pot: I have a lot of ceramic orchid pots with holes all around the sides as well as the bottom, and these get pure sphag. Those potted in plastic get a sphag-heavy mix, and those in pots that really hold in moisture get lots of bark.

Of course, a phal you get from the store may be packed in sphag that is degrading, that has been kept too wet or packed too tightly. I think this must be part of why sphag gets such a bad rap.

Personally I'm a big fan of sphag and use it in mixes for many genera.

isurus79 · #4 06-20-2009, 05:23 PM

Do you mean sphagnum moss or peat moss? If its in peat it needs to be repotted IMMEDIATELY into something else! Peat is a soil mixture and will kill your orchids. Spag is less of a threat, though many growers shun it as the cause of their latest orchid fatality due to root rot. If your conditions are fairly moist, I would go with bark. If they are very dry (ie. <50% humidity on average), then spag with a porous pot might be best. Personally, I grow mine in spag, but I have to deal with strong wind and moderate to low humidity.

seamonkey · #5 06-20-2009, 05:23 PM

Agree with the above.

annehylee · #6 06-20-2009, 05:56 PM

Hmm... This may be dense thing for me to say but I really don't know how to tell apart from peat moss and sphrag...

But either way, I think I'm going to be changing the medium to bark. It's just what I'm used to.

camille1585 · #7 06-20-2009, 06:08 PM

peat moss looks like potting soil while sphagnum moss is cream colored when fresh (and a bit green and brown and black when it gets old and covered in algae) and forms long strands. Sphag is a very good medium, as long as it is not packed in tight. But many people still have trouble with it.
I agree, get it into bark if that is what you are used to.

Ranchnanny · #8 06-20-2009, 07:49 PM

To me peat would compact to much and smoother the roots. Spagum Moss is light and in strands and allows more air however it does stay very moist for longer periods.
Sheridan

annehylee · #9 06-20-2009, 08:19 PM

Okay, it has been repotted in bark. I'm glad that I replanted it because I was able to see the condition of the roots, which was very healthy. But the moss was really packed in!!! And there was a stinky wetness smell. Thank you everyone!

AThoele · #10 06-20-2009, 08:25 PM

I agree 100% with those who suggested you repot into bark immediately. I almost lost my first two orchids because they were packed much too tightly in moss. Almost all of thier roots rotted off and I'm struggling to bring them back as we speak. The same thing almost happened to my next orchid. I didn't want to repot it while it was blooming. However, the great folks on this board convinced me that it would be better to lose a few blooms now than to lose the entire plant. So far, all the blooms still look good and the final bud is begining to open. It seems to be adjusting well. In my limited experience, I've found that when you purchase an orchild in moss, it is simply packed waaaay too tightly. I was amazed at the amount of moss I pulled out of the orchids I purchased today. If you decide not to move out of the moss, I think you'd at least need to take out of the good bit of the moss and loosen it up.