Total newbie, new orchid

[Frank_TS]

I hear the orchidaceae family is the most numerous, and more species are being added all the time.

Personally, I think the most beautiful orchids are Myrmecophilas and Dendrophylax.

[Frank_TS]

The orchid grows slowly but steadily. I water it several times a day, with purified water, enough to keep the roots green.

Today my sister brought tezontle for her cacti, and I am considering using some for the orchid. I have seen it before at the bottom of transparent orchid containers. The grain is about 1/4 inch, average.

I think about this because some settling has happened. The substrate now is more dense at the bottom of the pot. The roots are 90% above it. The larger orchids I have seen have their roots completely covered (mostly brassavolas and phalaenopsis in malls and flower stores) like ground plants. I know orchids are epiphytes, but just how much of the roots can (or should) remain uncovered for the plant to be healthy?

Last but not least, in my quest for peat moss or spagnum locally a neigbor gave me a pair of bags with something he calls "bog soil". He cites that for growing carnivorous plants, and tells me it comes from the same environment as the orchids. Could this be what I am looking for?

Thanks again,

[Connie Star]

I suspect "bog soil" is synonymous with peat moss, which comes from peat bogs. If it's for carnivorous plants, it is likely quite acidic, making nitrogen not readily available to the plant. Carnivorous plants get their nitrogen from the insects they "eat".