Another way of thinking about this... work backwards from the needs of the plant, which will give you some clues about the appropriate medium. Phals are dominant epiphytes... in nature they grow on branches of trees with their roots exposed to the breezes. When it rains, the roots absorb the water, then the sun comes out and they dry out. We use pots because we aren't in an environment where it rains nearly every day and humidity is 80% or more (and it is hot). Thankfully! So we choose a medium that lets the roots get air, the medium makes for "humid air". Then you have Oncidiums and similar orchids. They have fine roots. In nature they grow as epiphytes, but the roots hold more moisture. So, they need smaller bark to preserve moisture. Paphs grow on the ground or on rocks with their roots in leaf litter - always damp. So pot and choose medium accordingly,
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Hybrid Mode
