new mix. what do you think?

[james mickelso]

I am having a problem with the roots of my orchids staying too wet so I have been experimenting with a new mix. It's not actually mine but I am trying something a little different from the standard "rescue mix" used by my club. I use 1/4 to 1/2 inch lava cinder instead of perlite) which is like pumice but heavier textured. I use this cinder along with 1/2 to 3/4 inch hardwood charcol (ya have to break it up to the size you want) which I buy at Home Cheapo not to be confused with regular charcol briquets. And I use fine grade peatmoss which helps maintain some acidity. Being at the end of the 400 mile long concrete river which conveys all water to southern california we can use all the acidity we can get. I put this mix (4 parts cinder/4 parts charcol/1 part peatmoss) in a bowl and wet it to get as much of the peatmoss into the pores of the cinder as I can. I then fill my pot a third the way up, place my orchid on top and fill around the remainder up to the base of the pseudo bulb. Sometimes a little over the top. My theory is that the bark stays too wet while the cinder and charcol will dry at a more even rate. And hopefully no matter how much I water, the mix will dry more evenly and not stay as wet in the middle of the mix. I'll let you all know how this does. I'd like some input from those of you who have similar problems with roots staying too wet and rotting. Or any other suggestions about your orchid culture. Thanks.