Essential supplies for a growing orchid collection

[Jayfar]

Originally Posted by Bud

now why didnt I think about stone before? I always used styro-peanuts....stone would really weigh down plastic pots and wont topple easy

Yep, I've learned that the hard way. Some of my bigger, leaning Phals were tipping over their pots when the mix dried out enough to make the pot lightweight, so I've had to place largish stones near one edge of those pots as a counterbalance. Now when I repot, except for the smallest pots, I add a layer of river pebbles at the bottom to lower the center of gravity.

[RosieC]

One thing about stone though, because it's not porous the water clings to the outside, and in my experience the gaps between the stones are more easily blocked with water than with something slightly porous like Styrofoam.

I stopped using stones (plural) for that reason as I got more problems with slow drying. However I think one big stone could be a lot better as it reduces the volumne in the pot, adds weight and does not have the same gaps for water to cling in

[rangiku]

Clearys 3336F fungicide.