Potting media for brassolaelia - Orchid Board

mimigirl · #1 03-10-2015, 02:48 PM

I had bud blast on this poor plant. I should have known sooner to take it out of the pot and look. The leaves were dull and listless. Root rot! I cut them off and notice one poor liitle newroot struggling to hang on. Please help me by suggesting potting media and advice. I have a mix with bits of spag, which i think is moisture retentive. Both mixes are from Rays but i didnt mark the bags.

Leafmite · #2 03-10-2015, 05:20 PM

I grow all the Cattleyas in LECA or red lava rock and basket/net pots/plastic Vanda baskets. Two Brassavolas are mounted and one is in a clay pot with no medium. With this set up, I don't need to worry about the roots...or re-potting every year.

PaphMadMan · #3 03-10-2015, 08:25 PM

With the diversity of species that have been called Brassavola and Laelia, it might depend on what Brassolaelia you have. Without more information I would suggest going for a mix without sphag, something open and not very water retentive.

WhiteRabbit · #4 03-10-2015, 09:31 PM

I use skewers in all my orchid pots to help me judge when to water, and it really turned around my orchid growing

That said - depending on the size of the pot, if it were mine, I'd go with either a medium bark mix, or chc mix. (Bark for bigger pots, chc for smaller)

mimigirl · #5 03-10-2015, 10:18 PM

Thanks! It is now in ICU!

---------- Post added at 08:18 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:17 PM ----------

WhiteRabbit do you leave the skewers in all the time?

WhiteRabbit · #6 03-11-2015, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mimigirl

Thanks! It is now in ICU!

---------- Post added at 08:18 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:17 PM ----------

WhiteRabbit do you leave the skewers in all the time?

Yes, I do