Bark - Orchid Board

Pete · #1 04-01-2010, 08:11 PM

Ok folks, need some opinions here.

I repotted a novelty phalaenopsis that I purchased into a bark mix that consists of 85% medium sized bark with the rest peat and sponge rock. Water runs through this medium like a sieve! I am confident that I did a very reasonable repotting job. Is bark supposed to behave in this manner?

I can see having to water the orchid every 3 days or so and maybe more in the summer. Not that I'm complaining, just don't want the orchid to become too dry.

sadiejoy08 · #2 04-01-2010, 08:28 PM

Pete,

Yes, water will run through bark like a sieve. What it really loves is to be placed in a tub or bowl of water and left to soak for 15 minutes. Just the pot, not the leaves. This allows the bark to take in the water so it won't dry out as quickly.

Good luck!
Sadie
IncredibleOrchids on Ebay

Izzie · #3 04-01-2010, 08:28 PM

That's pretty normal for bark or any large medium. Did you soak the bark before you potted? That will help it hold water better.

dounoharm · #4 04-01-2010, 08:51 PM

all of the above....it will flow thru, just let the water run on the orchid for a while....and drain it well....be patient! and gl!

Pete · #5 04-01-2010, 09:03 PM

Whew, now I don't feel so bad.

What about the fertilizer that I put into the water. That runs right through the bark too! How do the roots draw the nutrients? Is there another method for me to fertilizer a "bark" orchid?

JenHowlett · #6 04-01-2010, 11:29 PM

I've done a lot of reading on here and it seems that the biggest issue people have with orchids is root rot which is caused when the roots are too wet or soggy for extended periods. They're not like normal plants that like moist soil; orchids in the wild grow on the sides of trees without dirt at all.

Its generally best to water in the morning so that your plants don't go to "bed" all soggy, thus discouraging rot/fungus. Start by flushing the pot with water, just set it in the sink, and spray over so that you can rinse out any ickies that may have accumulated since the last watering. Then, fill your tub or sink up a little, pour the fertilizer in, and stir until its dissolved. Either use a special orchid fertilizer or a reglular fertilizer at half strength. Sit the orchid in the water and fill it up to just the top of the pot, I like to use the sprayer from the top just to keep any especially dry bark pieces from floating up. Allow it to soak for about 15 min (if you didn't soak your bark initially when you potted, you may want to do it for 30 min or so just for the first time). Drain the water in the sink/tub, leave the orchid there or put it in the drip tray for a few minutes, and put it back into its spot.

It seems most need to be watered (soaked) about every week, though it will depend on pot size and humidity. With a phal, you don't want to let the bark completely dry out in between waterings, but let it get pretty close, that way nothing has a chance to rot.

trdyl · #7 04-02-2010, 01:01 AM

Also pot size and type come into play. The larger the pot the longer it takes to dry out. My general rule of thumb for 5" pot and larger I would give a good soaking about once a week for plastic pots with holes only in the bottom. Smaller pots would be watered more often.

Izzie · #8 04-02-2010, 01:56 AM

You remedy it running straight through by soaking for a few minutes to re-saturate the medium.
Just be careful, as Ted says, to keep be aware of when it dries out. You can stick a bamboo BBQ skewer into the medium to check if it's dry all the way through.

RosieC · #9 04-02-2010, 07:28 AM

Yeah, as you've already been told it runs through. Orchids like a well draining medium so if it's doing that it's good.

Like others I soak for about 15min by standing the pot in water. When fertilising (once a week for 3 weeks out of 4) I add the fertiliser to the water it soaks in, on the 4th week I run water throught the pot for several minutes or soak in plain water to wash out the any build up of salts.