Transplant medium with "peanuts"??? - Orchid Board

Celtic100 · #1 03-19-2011, 03:01 PM

I just transplanted a 2 year old catt that bloomed last year but this year, the bud turned yellow and died. I noticed a lot of the air roots also were turning brown. When I took it out of the pot, a lot of the roots were brown. I think it must have been time to transplant. Anyway, I noticed that it had Styrofoam peanuts in the bark - is that something you want in your medium? Also, a lot of charcoal - is it ok to keep that? and use down the road for another transplant? Picture of last year's bloom and this year's not so much bloom. Thanks for any help.

Discus · #2 03-19-2011, 03:33 PM

Hi Celtic,

Roots turning brown is usually a sign of either over-watering or too much fertiliser/salt buildup in the pot.

Styrofoam peanuts are OK, although they're most often used at the bottom of the pot to improve drainage.

Charcoal often gets a bad rap for soaking up salts - this may be the case here.

It's best to use new potting medium when you repot, don't try and recycle the old stuff; things like styrofoam or rocks can be reused, but are best sterilised - particularly if being used with a different plant.

Celtic100 · #3 03-19-2011, 04:58 PM

Hi - thanks for thorough answer. I really try to avoid over watering - and let them dry out between waterings (put slender spike in pot to test saturation). I let the water flow through the pot thoroughly which I have heard will wash out too much buildup of most things. I also do the weekly (about 10 days for me) weakly fert thing so don't know if that is it. Obviously, something was going on - maybe it was just time for the transplant. I just bought it in '09 (it was "born" in 08 according to tag). I put it in all new bark medium and will follow your advice for the charcoal. Thanks again for your input.

Orchid126 · #4 03-19-2011, 08:29 PM

The peanuts can be used mixed in with the potting medium for better air circulation, or in the bottom of the pot not only for air circulation to the roots, but for drainage. They can also be used in the middle of the medium when lots of roots have died and have to be cut away. The peanuts take up room that medium would, medium that would stay wet because no roots were there to utilize the water. Always be sure that the peanuts are not the kind that dissolve.