Encyclia randii x sib

[plumania]

JPMC, I did not use moss because of high chances of rotting in our environment. We have more than 80% humidity these days. Every place I read about potting them up advised dry type of media and recommending clay pot is best. One person showed how his bulbs rotted in moss!
This is the only Enclyclia I have and cost me good money so I decided not to take chances of rotting. In dry medium ,I can water it weekly or more to keep moisture level better.
I do not know a lot about orchid growing, just trying what most places advise.

[Wynn Dee13]

A lot of people use moss as a meadium with orchids that don't have much of a root system. Like bare root plants like yours. The moss gets the plant to put out roots faster. Then once the plant has enough roots you can pot it up in the meadium you want to grow it in. The moss is just to baby the plant until it has a better root system. If you pack the moss loosely and use a clay pot with a few packing peanuts in the bottom the moss actually dries out really fast.

[plumania]

How about putting moss on top of the media,around bulbs to provide some moisture?

[Wynn Dee13]

I don't know. I have never tried that. I grow almost all my orchids in New Zealand sphagnum moss in clay pots and not just to get them to grow roots. My plants live in moss all the time. You could try it. I think I have read on here about people top dressing with moss. Maybe someone who has tried it will chime in. I don't think it would hurt to try it. Just don't put the moss too high up around the pbulbs. Make sure the moss is just around where the roots would come out.

[plumania]

OK. I do not have 'New Zealand' moss. It is a regular moss you get at Lowes. I think I will take off some media from top and put some moss around rooting area.

[Wynn Dee13]

Is the moss you get at Lowes sphagnum moss? It's fine as long as it is sphagnum moss.

[plumania]

Yes it is sphagnum moss. Glad to know it will work as an alternative. Thanks.