Bark medium

[Mikeg]

Ok well thanks guys!!! I really appreciate it.

[peeweelovesbooks]

I only pre-wash LECA to get rid of the dust. Otherwise, no pre-washing for me.

[Wrebbitrocks]

i personally dont like repotting because my plants usually die soon thereafter. idk what i do wrong. sooooo....i just let them grow in the mix. i dont know why people say bark breaks down though, i have a couple orchids that have been in bark or spagh for llike a year now and it shows no sign of deterioration. it looks the same and the plants dont seem to mind it, just grow new roots and whatnot. either way, i have a bag of orchid mix on hand. since orchids tailor their roots, theoretically, shouldnt he be able to use the "soil" so long as the new roots grew into and accostumed to it. idk, i have no idea, just from what ive read here. some people grow their orchids in JUST water

[johnblagg]

Even thourgh I have heard of people managing to keep a orchid alive and even rebloom on in soil .....It was someone with very good skills at growing plants that accomplished it ...in most cases this is going to be a sure death for the plant .....as for tayloring roots to adapt they would heve to grow into the soil I would think from the mix they are in to start with ...even going to s/h from bark means a lot of stress if not done right and can when done at the wrong time set plants back terribly ....New roots Must be emerging to replace roots that will die from the change from one condition to another wetter condition....

And that is even with good air flow ... in soil and wet ?????

[Orchid126]

One of the reasons for soaking bark is that merely wetting it will just wet the outer layer. In order to reach the core of the bark it has to be wet thoroughly, otherwise water will just run over the outside of the bark and not penetrate it. The bark will dry out too quickly and not serve its purpose. Once the inner core has been wet the bark will respond by soaking easily.

[Call_Me_Bob]

if you dont soak the bark for even a little bit, it will suck the water out of the roots. and it will make the whole process of repotting more stressful to he orchid