Advice on Cymbidium Mix

[Des]

Don't forget the dolomite lime!!

[SueK]

Originally Posted by orchids3

Sue K - If you can grow a 3 inch seedling to flower in three years your mix is good - if not you need to find a better mix.

Hi

I sure couldn't do that. I wouldn't buy cymbid tiddlers. I've heard they take many years to flower. Your mix sounds really good and obviously you have lots of cymbid experience - 3 inch to flower in 3 years - WOW. Your suggestion of potting medium sounds very good but here in Oz I don't know what Stalite is. Anyway it doesn't sound expensive which is what Linda wanted to avoid.

Sue

[lindad3406]

Originally Posted by Des

Don't forget the dolomite lime!!

Where do you get this stuff? Feed store? Garden center? Can you just spinkle the stuff over the top after potting?

[Des]

Your garden centre should stock dolomite lime , it is commonly used in gardens here.
It is used to keep the media ph within balance. Cymbids prefer a ph of 5.5 to 6.5 . I mix it into my fresh media and then apply about a table spoon to a 200 mm pot every 4 months as it does wash out of the pot over time ( less for smaller pots )

[Des]

You should be able to buy dolomite lime from a garden centre, it is commonly used in gardens ,especially if you grow sweet peas
Cymbidiums prefer a media PH of 5.5 to 6.5 . use it when you make up your mix together with an equal amount of gypsom this will go a long way to keeping the media "sweet" I feed my cymbids with dolomite lime every 4 months as it does wash out

[orchids3]

Tiddlers? A friend of mine once said that you will never be able to buy a nurserys best plant but if you buy enough seedlings you may very well get it. Cant help you with the stalite its not available everywhere even in the states . Am truly sold on the stuff myself.

[ANDYMOR]

Thanks all for the welcome. Des I will see you at the shop on Sunday! ANDYMOR

[Des]

Sorry about the double posting ,I tried to edit but something went wrong