Best medium? So conflicted

[bellini girl]

I grow the majority of my orchids in SH. Restrepias, masdevallias and pleurothallids I grow in moss. A couple I have mounted. A small number in straight hydroton, no reservoir. These methods work for me under my growing conditions

[Vanda lover]

I like coconut chips mixed with lots of perlite. This works well for most of my orchids. I don't like bark because it seems dry on top, so you tend to water it. It is hard to tell when it is dry. Underneath it rots and gets soggy. This has happened to my neighbor's phals. She keeps watering them because they are wilted, but I think the roots are rotting.
I also have some in s/h in lava rock that do very well, especially my phrag.

[silken]

Originally Posted by Vanda lover

I like coconut chips mixed with lots of perlite. This works well for most of my orchids. I don't like bark because it seems dry on top, so you tend to water it. It is hard to tell when it is dry. Underneath it rots and gets soggy. This has happened to my neighbor's phals. She keeps watering them because they are wilted, but I think the roots are rotting.
I also have some in s/h in lava rock that do very well, especially my phrag.

Your neighbour should try the kebab skewers in her pots. I find it works very well. If the skewer is wet when you pull it out-don't water! I keep them in place so they are absorbing as much moisture as whatever the media is doing.

[RandomGemini]

Skewer method is the way to go with bark. After a while, you can tell when something needs watered by the weight of the pot, but the skewer method is a great way to get you started.

[Paul]

There is no such thing as a "best media". Period.

As others have mentioned, it all comes down to experimenting and finding out what works for YOU. We can give you suggestions but you will have to take those ideas with a grain or two of salt. I have found that to be the most intimidating and frustrating thing for newbies especially. Human nature being what it is, we all want a surefire "recipe" to follow. Unfortunately, the reality is that there are simply too many factors at play.

• the type of orchid (Even within genus Phalanopsis, for example, there is no one care rule that covers ALL members of that genus.)
• your temperature range (and seasonal changes may be significant)
• your humidity range
• how much air circulation is present
• your watering habits (do you like to fuss & water frequently or do you tend to "forget")
• planning on trying s/h (semi-hydroponic) style or "normal" growing methods
• potted, in a basket, or mounted
  

All of these factors matter. And while it may seem daunting it really isn't all that different than growing plants outside in a garden. What works for you may not work for your neighbor even though your homes are only 20-40ft apart. Heck, the rosebush that flourishes in one spot in your yard might languish in a spot only 5ft away. Just the way it goes.

Once you determine just what your answers are to the above, I'd suggest returning and mentioning that to the crowd at large. Then it may be possible to whittle down the recommended suggestions a bit. You'll still have to plan on experimenting a bit, but might make your choices easier.

[Dante1709]

Originally Posted by silken

Your neighbour should try the kebab skewers in her pots. I find it works very well. If the skewer is wet when you pull it out-don't water! I keep them in place so they are absorbing as much moisture as whatever the media is doing.

I let the surface stay dry for a few days and lightly mist the aerial roots. I find it helps to have a clear pot as well. I think that whatever media you are using, you should definitely let the surface stay dry for a while ; it's inevitable that the center of the media will stay moist.

[Vanda lover]

Originally Posted by silken

Your neighbour should try the kebab skewers in her pots. I find it works very well. If the skewer is wet when you pull it out-don't water! I keep them in place so they are absorbing as much moisture as whatever the media is doing.

I'll suggest that to her. I tried that for a while but found the skewers rotted. Maybe I'll try it again but replace them often.

[silken]

Originally Posted by Vanda lover

I'll suggest that to her. I tried that for a while but found the skewers rotted. Maybe I'll try it again but replace them often.

My skewers do eventually rot, but I don't find it happens real often. I buy them at Dollarama, 100 skewers for $1.00 so even if I do have to replace them it is not a big expense.

[RosieC]

I agree with the comments that the best media varies from person to person, and from place to place, and from plant to plant.

I was told by many orchid nursaries/supplies stockists that I shouldn't use leca/hydroton because it will dry far too quickly and they don't sell it for that reason. So I bought a massive bag of it from my local hydroponics store and it does great for me because I can water as often as I like without worrying.

I was told by one nursery that the compressed CHC they sell is the best because it acts like little sponges... well I tried it and for me it stays too wet and I don't get on well with it at all. I've found I actually prefer moss (which I would never use for Phals) for the small little Cym & Onc plants I was buying from them at the time. For small Dens I've also experimented with CHC, or Moss, or Lecca and found I prefer moss.

Find something you are happy with for a given plant and stick with that, don't let others tell you it's wrong if it works for you.

[Vanda lover]

Originally Posted by Leafmite

What type of orchid is it?

---------- Post added at 06:08 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:06 PM ----------

I have been using red lava rock for most of my orchids and for those that need a little more moisture, I top the red lava rock with sphagnum moss. (this is always in basket/net pots). I just went to a vendor, however, and bought a box of clay pellets and I re-potted most of my new orchids into them and for the phals, I topped the pots with NZ sphagnum moss. I will water when the moss is dry. Makes it easy.

I always have trouble growing Catts and I am wondering if this would be a good idea for the potinara that I am re potting. The grower had it in bark in a regular pot with no additional drainage and the roots have rotted.I think it should have had extra holes in the pot at least.