I found that that the combination of epiweb with a little CHC mixed works really well in a number of circumstances. The epiweb cubes keeps the substrate airy while not staying wet for very long. Thus when the weather is hot or the heater is on, the epiweb dries in a couple of hours. The outside of the CHC dries within two days even within the substrate, but retains moisture in its core. That makes it possible to use CHC in a stanhopea basket. When I water well and the weather is overcast, the surface of the substrate in the stanhopea baskets dries within two days, but the CHCs core retains moisture.
I use an epiweb and CHC mix also Vanda's in wooden baskets, albeit I use only 25% of CHC. I also use bits of CHC and thin cut to size epiweb sheets when mounting plants. I tend to use the CHC in the same way you would use spaghnum when mounting: a few pieces near some healthy roots. The epiweb sheet goes on top. I dont use full size sheet epiweb as it tends to collect water at the lowest point on some mounted plants. Also a thinner sheet 0.5cms is more flexible.
As I have a 7C temperature drop at night, ambient moisture in the greenhouse condenses on pieces of epiweb exposed to air. This is a fantastic property of the epiweb and stimulates root growth: roots will grow into the epiweb. This is particularly visible in the stanhopea baskets: roots will grow all around the outside of the epiweb basket. And also on mounted plants. It works a bit like moss, only that it doesn't compete with the plant or smother it. The same effect occurs when the fogger is on.
Never had any problems with mould on CHC. I once had a batch of CHC which got mouldy after immediately after soaking. Maybe a bad batch ... nothing since.
Last edited by Lars Kurth; 09-05-2010 at 03:25 PM..
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