Aussie Gold potting medium

[Vanessa]

Does anyone grow their orchids in Aussie Gold potting medium?

[cb977]

Hi Vanessa

I tried it and wasn't really happy with it. In my opinion, the cost for something that doesn't really make the 'chids happy isn't worth it. I'm sure you'll hear from others who've tried it

[Vanessa]

Thanks cb977.........what do you grow yours in? Different mediums for different types of orchids? Right now I'm kind of sour on bark.

[cb977]

I'm Sue

I have everything except the vandas in straight aliflor.
I used to keep the slippers in paph mix but have switched them over too and they are lovin' it

[Vanessa]

Thank you Sue. Good info to know.

[Gin]

I have a couple of Paphs. in it they are in bloom .
I tried other type orchids , they did not do well in it .
I also use an aliflor type pellet straight on some ,mixed with bark on others .
Most of the Phals. are in Spag. moss .which would probably be a disaster if you grow outside .
Sue is in Fl. her conditions are more like yours than mine are . Gin

[Becca]

Hi Vanessa! I'll try my best to keep this short, but my post usually end up long Anyways.....there is a local grower in my area that swears by the stuff so I decided to give it a try. I ordered a bunch of seedlings that came bare root so I potted them up in it. At the time I was using humidity trays with pebbles and would set the containers on the pebbles up out of the water. Do to my schedule, I was also watering in the evening, which I later found out I shouldn't do. I always seemed to have problems with a white fuzzy fungus growing on the top layer of the Aussie and then I started noticing the same fungus in the bottom holes of the container...I think that was over a couple of months, so I got tired of it and repotted my plants into some bark mixture I had on hand until my s/h material came in and I have been since working on switching all of my plants over. I had some mature Cymbidiums in the Aussie that seemed to really like it, but I had problems judging when to water, because the claim that you cannot over water with the Aussie is not true....I managed to rot quite a few seedling & mature plants roots, which are now in sphagnum moss and then I will transfer them to the s/h when the time is right. I think the Aussie is good, I just had a hard time of knowing when to water...and I think the fungus was due to watering in the evening. I still have a two seedlings in it that are doing great and I no longer use the pebble humidity trays...but I really like the convenience of knowing when to water so I will eventually convert them as well to the s/h. If you give the Aussie Gold Orchid Mix a try, let us know how it goes...like I said I know a few people who swear by it here locally and they are growers and AOS Judges and I have been very helpful on my journey of learning!

[Greenman]

Vanessa,

If you live in Florida, don't bother. I tried it here in the Miami area and a rotted out several plants. It just stays too moist down here under our conditions. I'm currently growing in a bark, aliflor, perlite, charcoal mix and they seem to be doing fine in that.

[Vanessa]

Thanks ladies and gents.........you have taught me of some options I never considered. Man do I love this board or what?

[cb977]

Spread the word, Vanessa

OB rocks