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.

[prc11]

Sounds good, tell me how it works out.

[RJSquirrel]

IMO and as others have told me whom I respect a great deal,you need to put the roots down into the pot not on top off the mix 3rd way down..You dont want the roots sitting on top of the mix..If the roots are down in the bottom of the pot the water just passes over them.you start sitting roots on top of the mix you get rot.

Ive tried to be unique in making media for orchids, but theres a good reason most use the tried and true. Bec it works and is simple. You can get as complex as you want making a special blend. If you arent complimenting the plants water needs, it doesnt matter what you drop them in they are still going to rot.

[james mickelso]

Please allow me to clarify. I fill the pot a third of the way with the mix, then put the orchid in and finish filling the pot with mix until the bottom of the pseudo bulb, above the rooting zone is covered. That usually means about an inch or so below the roots and an inch or so above depending upon the size of the plant and the type of pot and the type of plant. I do not overpot either. The problem with the tried and true medium is that, in my environmental conditions it stays too wet in the bottom and middle of the pot. I have very good air movement and good temps in the GH. My theory is that with the cinder and charcol, the mix will dry at a more even rate. I have bought phals from Home Cheapo which were planted in sphag and looked healthy. Once I put them in my GH the roots down in the middle of the pot started getting way too soggy. If I cut back on watering, the plants suffered from lack of moisture to the roots at the top of the pot. I repotted them in bark and they produced healthy new roots again. But after awhile, the roots at the bottom and inside started getting soggy again. Bark wasn't breaking down but stayed very wet. I use clay pots and knock the bottoms out putting 1/4 inch hardware wire to hold the contents in. It isn't a mold or virus problem. It seems that the inside stays too wet. I have good healthy roots all around the outside of the pot but in the middle of the mix, the roots are grey and soggy. So I went to a drier environment but all that did was dry out the roots that were near the surface or exposed above the mix while the inside medium stayed too wet. I tried peanuts below the roots but that didn't seem to do anything. So hence my search for a medium which will allow me to water frequently to help keep them healthy but not too wet. And as for rot, all I can think of is that the roots stay too wet down inside the pot. I see the plants here on OB and they look very healthy. But I do what seems to be the tried and true methods based on what I see others doing, and something is rotten in Denmark. Or should I say, inside my pots. Oh, and I also emerse my plants in a fungicide bath every two months or so. I've used fine grade bark. I've used 1/2 inch medium grade bark. I've used bark and perlite. Bark and agricultural pumice. I've used sphag (and killed most plants I've put in it. So somewhere there is a problem so I need all the advice I can get from the establishment. Rocky, what do you use for most of your plants? What is your humidity like? How deep do you place the rooting zone of your repots? How much above the rooting zone do you put medium? I live at the beach in So. Cal and it usually has 50/60 % humidity with temps around "pleasant". My GH is 65-80 day and 45-55 at night. Higher night temps in summer. Around 60-65. Any thoughts? Thanks.

[Orchid126]

If the medium is still wet you're watering too often. You might try peanuts up in the center of the roots, as this area will remain barren of roots, and medium in the center will only stay wet because there will be no roots to utilize the moisture.

Also, it may not be wise to use peat moss in the mix. If you need the peat moss for acidity, put some in a stocking and soak it in the water, then use the water.

It's better to have the rhyzome above the medium than below. Half in and half out, actually. If the rhyzome is buried, it will rot.

[james mickelso]

Just a quick update. My orchids are doing much better in the rescue mix. Roots everywhere and lots of new growth. Side by side comparison shows the new mix works better than straight bark or bark/perlite combo. So I'm planting all my orchids in this mix. I'll keep all informed.

[tucker85]

The addition of rock and charcoal will keep the mix drier, just as you've said. But, of course, one mix is not perfect for all orchids. Good luck and keep us updated.

[quiltergal]

Seems like the peat moss would fill in the air spaces between the charcoal and the cinders. I think I would have mixed in CHC instead.

[Orchid126]

I agree with quiltergal about the peat moss. It compresses too much and smothers air circulation, which orchid roots need. CHC would be much better.

Have you tried baskets?