How long to soak potting medium?

[boxerfan]

I recently repotted a Phal in a pre-packaged medium bark, perlite and charcoal medium which I soaked over night. Now I have to water the plant every day, it's not holding any moisture. How long should I soak the medium so it holds water? Thanks, Lisa

[dennis]

overnite should be fine. when you mean it is not holding the moisture if this is on the surface that is normal. try using a pencil or a skewer and stick it in towards the middle to see if it is damp. if you are watering everyday you are going to cause the roots to rot

[Ross]

I agree with Dennis on this one. I just repotted 2 Phals that were holding too much water. This mix should dry out a bit. There is more moisture there than you think, especially with the mix you describe. The only thing I may be doing differently is using Dynagro KLN as the first soaking solution. And I mean soak - I plunge mine down to top of pot in 5-gallon pail of solution. Then I let the pot dry out for several days before I water again. This is indoors growing.

[Dorothy]

Ross - How much KLN do you add to 5 gallons of water?

[Ross]

1 tsp per gallon. I also add 1 tablespoon per gallon MSU mix.

[justatypn]

Daily watering of a phal, only if mounted. I have both potted and mounted and when I refresh their homes I soak only for an hour or so and water in the summer (potted) every 3rd day if needed. Using a sish-ka-bob stick angled toward the middle of the pot will show you what your medium is retaining.

Ross I have read where you to the dunk trick on your potted chids....duncking in a 5 gallon bucket, your not concerned with spreading bugs and such amongst them? Have always wanted to ask...did this a few weeks back and man was I uncomfortable not knowing if Peter ran to Pauls to go see Mary than back again spreading the ca-ca mung...dang Ross what's up with that????

[Ross]

Originally Posted by justatypn

Ross I have read where you to the dunk trick on your potted chids....duncking in a 5 gallon bucket, your not concerned with spreading bugs and such amongst them? Have always wanted to ask...did this a few weeks back and man was I uncomfortable not knowing if Peter ran to Pauls to go see Mary than back again spreading the ca-ca mung...dang Ross what's up with that????

I've done this for years (maybe 10 years or so) and never really had a problem I could trace to this. This is probably because I am pretty thorough in going through the new aquisitions. Only time I had a significant problem was with Bergstrom's Orchids in Hawaii. One day I'll get around to flagging this guy, but he is bad news. I think I get away with it only because I am so careful with the individual plants. Also, I have no choice - my growing situation demands it. Hope this helps. I don't promote it, I just practice it.

[justatypn]

I am looking for something that would be easier as well, my growing area is up to almost 100 in a breakfast nook and walking to the kitchen sink gets old, takes 4 hours to do a thorough watering...hummmm guess practice makes perfect huh...

[Dorothy]

First, orchid porn.. ( I'm still not looking )
.. now an orchid STD .. ca-ca mung!
What next? Orchid prophylactics?
I wonder how I can market that?

[Ross]

Dot, you're killin me