Good Phal Potting Mix??

[Ray]

One of the important aspects of orchid growing that is often overlooked is that there is no one, single parameter that determines success or failure. Instead, it is the interactive combination of all of your cultural parameters that do.

A particular plant may have a target zone of temperature, light, humidity, nutrition, and water that would be ideal, but 1) they are - to some extent - adaptable, and 2) there are many ways to "skin a cat" when it comes to providing for its needs.

Questions like "what's the best medium" or "what's the best fertilizer or fertilizing regimen" are sort-of like "is it best to hold the plant with your left- or right hand when repotting?" The only time it might be appropriate to use someone else's suggestion with no further consideration is when they are growing similar plants in your same environment - i.e., your local friends and OS members.

So, when deciding on a potting medium, you have to consider:

1. The needs of the plant. How much, and how constant of a water supply does it want?
2. How does your temperature, humidity, light level, and air movement affect evaporation from the pot?
3. How much do you like to "mess with" your plants? That is, do you want to pay a lot of attention to them and water frequently, or would you prefer to just leave them alone?
4. Will you be using a plastic or clay pot?