Potting medium for Phalaenopsis

[markr]

I grow all my non-mounted Phals in nothing but sphagnum and a little lava rock. Couldn't be happier with the combination. I do not live in a particularly humid part of the world.

The only disadvantage is that they must be repotted once a year (lava rock can be reused). That doesn't bother me much, I like doing it, but if there were hundreds of plants in my collection I might think otherwise.

I decided long ago that bark is not for me - too dry perhaps, slower root growth than with sphagnum in my experience.

[cb977]

Just another 2 cents:
all my hybrids phals are in straight aliflor. My Phal species are all in baskets or containers with holes, hung vertically so that they are on their sides, with sphag. They are all very happy

[Lorraine]

I was visiting an Orchid retailer today and got to talking. Asked him about his phals and what potting mix he was using. He had great looking plants using clear pots so you can see the roots. His mix was smaller sized hydroton, chipped charcoal and cocoanut coir (just enough to retain little more moisture). I liked what I saw and have a few phals that need repotting. I'm going to try it. With the pots being clear you always know what the roots are doing. He did not need to use peanuts in the 6" size. If you are using an 8" pot use larger hydroton or maybe some peanuts in the bottom 1/3 for more air circulation.

Hope this helps someone.

Lorraine

[Ray]

But Lorraine, we have to keep in mind that just because that's a great medium for the plants in that retailer's Florida greenhouse environment, it doesn't mean it's any good for those growers having different growing conditions and watering regimens.

My "beaten like a dead horse" example is my own conditions (greenhouse near Philadelphia PA) and plants I get from H&R in Hawaii: They grow a lot of their plants in a mixture that's primarily bark, coir, and diatomite. Their plants grow like gangbusters and display no root rot. Bring them to me, and if I don't repot them into something much airier, I'll start to see root suffocation and rot in a matter of a couple of weeks.

[Neverend]

I think I'm going to stay with sphagnum, though I'll be using much less of it and definitely pack it more loosely, and I'll see if it will work.

I always wanted to get those clear pots, but it's really damn hard to find clear pots of suitable size and number of holes.

Thanks for the suggestions!

[cupcake]

I use chopped coconut husk and have never had any problems, Judi