PAPH soil mix

[greg sytch]

What does everybody use for their soil mix? i AM STRUGGLING growing them despite my other orchids thriving...I keep the spaghnum they came in but they appear too wet. Also, the ones I bloom indoors that go into my shadehouse appear REALLY slow.....Greg in Tampa Bay

[Roy]

Greg, spagh is always a problem for many growers to grow plants in. Some are successful some aren't.
There are 2 main mixes growers use, 1 is fir bark, alone or with additives. 2. Coconut husk chips, alone or with additives. If you wish to see some of the best Paphs in the world, a drive to Apopka, Krull-Smth Orchids should answer all your questions.

[Lagoon]

Hi Greg, what are you using now?

It's taking me awhile to figure out what my paphs needs were. Some too wet, some to dry. Needless to say they went thru abit of torture til I could figure out their needs & my growing conditions.

They need to be keep moist, not soggy. Think of a moist gritty mix, this will allow good drainage and air flow, even if you overwater by chance. A mix that's more forgiving lets say.

I use peatmoss, small bark, perlite and a kiss of charcoal. I water 2x weekly. I grow under lights and maintain air circulation with fans during the day. Some are potted in clay others in plastic (I prefer).
This mix also works very well for my catts, oncids, phals. It's just a matter of tweaking til you get things right

[Gin]

I received advice if growing in Spag. to layer it with pieces of styrofoam non melting type, works well , it keeps the moss from packing . Happy Growing .. Gin

[bertafly]

After they bloom in the original medium I repot with a mix with small bark spagnum and a little perlite. Mine seam to do fine you can tell if they need water better. And Fertilizer is key.

[unhappykat]

If they are staying too wet in spag try moving them into clay pots. This will let you use the moss while still being able to water with most of your other plants. If you are growing outside makesure you are giving them a difference between night and day temps or else they might become stressed. Also Paphs can be slow, very horribly slow, it depends on the species or hybrid parents used. If it has Rthschildianum, Parishii, Lowii, Sanderianum, Kolopakingii, Or Philippinense you are in for the long haul as far as growth is concerned. Some of these species and their hybrids can take twelve years to bloom from seed in ideal conditions.

[stonedragonfarms]

You might also try a mix of fine treefern fibre, chopped sphagnum (not sphgnum peat!) and medium perlite in equal portions. Moisten this mix before using it for repotting, but it will stay light and fluffy, provide a lot of air at the roots, and stay quite moist. If you use unglazed clay pots, you will provide further transpiration at the root zone. Good luck!
Adam