changing medium?

[SusanE]

....and what is the opinion about charcoal??

Susan

[smartie2000]

charcoal doesn't decompose so it is sort of like perlite or sponge rock, keeping the mix open if it decays. It also has absoptive qualities that help remove toxins in a decaying mix. I do add some to my mix.

It a good additive but from a conservation perspective it isn't good because it requires a lot of rain forest habitat destruction in it's production.

[Ross]

Originally Posted by SusanE

....and what is the opinion about charcoal??

Susan

I use mostly Fir bark (have for years) since I have best luck with it. I use 3 sizes (obviously fine, medium and coarse) which range from 1/4" to about 2" size. I mix in about 1/3 by volume of large charcoal chunks. Have been experimenting with Diatomite (a chunked natural earth product) but it is about same as medium fir bark for growth. I use fine fir bark for seedlings and small (mini) plants up to the largest for Cats, Oncidiums, etc. For me, the secret is lots of ventilation of the mix, so I use Waterlily baskets as the containers, and run a small PC fan 24/7 over my setup.

[Lin]

Repot, repot, repot.

Orchids from Norman's (and I won't order from them again) generally come VERY tightly packed in spag. and in crappy, thin, cheap plastic pots.

Also, look out for scale.

Can you tell how I feel??

[Lagoon]

LOL, Yes Lin somewhat
Just curious Susan, you said you had others in Bark ... "If" this has been working for you in the past, why do you want to change it?

[SusanE]

Gloria--
I don't want to change it--I just started down this orchid path in the past few weeks, and some of the orchids I got were in moss while others were in bark. I had no idea if there was a reason for this or not--so thought I would ask before I repotted the ones in moss.

Susan

[Lagoon]

Oh I see now, the clouds have cleared
Some orchids do like to dry out quicker then others, Sphag can really hold on to the moisture as it ages, so longer time before drying out.
I no longer use bark in most of my orchids, still have some to switch over. In my growing conditions, it dried out much to fast and repotted was a nitemare. I grow in clay pots and fan ALOT!

If you keep your orchids in both of these mixes for a while, you will learn the diffences within time, even pots types - plastic VS clay will make a difference

Happy growing!

[cb977]

Hi Susan,
I repot everything the minute it gets here, whether it's blooming or not. Until you do, you have no idea what's going on underneath....and I only use spag moss when I'm mounting a 'chid

[justatypn]

It is a great thread started about medium choices and what chid likes what..but from the previous posts, it seems that all you received were potted in sphag noting you were surprised of them being seedlings verses NB or IS. My only thought would be that the vendor opted to start his seedlings in sphag and once they are received by the buyer its an optional choice to repot. I think your in good shape with your arrivals and your next move.

Some repot as soon as there new chids arrive, personally I keep them apart from the growing area for a few days and then place them where I think would be sufficient lighting, not saying its the best choice but we all have our own ways with growing. Quick to repot an already stressed plant due to shipping conditions, is not always the choice for some...its what your comfortable with and yes some do well with repotting the new arrivals. I think you have a great start and heads up on some good suggestions. Don't hesitate to ask if you have any more questions.