African Violet potting soil for Pahps

[dannym4243]

I know I'm weird buttt if Pahps grow on the jungle floors in leaf mold why then can't you use African violet soil for a potting mix. It is nothing more that peat moss and perlite. Has anyone tried it? Or am I as weird as I think?
Thanks
Danny

[Vanda lover]

I haven't tried it for paphs, but I know that a lot of people use it for cyms.

[tuvoc]

When I started growing orchids mannny years ago, Paphs were grown as terrestrials in the kind of potting soil you're talking about. They did pretty well in it. My only thought is that they could stay too wet in it if you're not careful. In other words, give it a try, just pay attention to good drainage.

Kim

[Vanda lover]

I think that it would be easier to feel the soil to see if it's dry, just like any other plant in potting soil. I have trouble telling if the media is dry or not, when it's bark or coconut fibre. The scewer method isn't always reliable

[dannym4243]

Thank you all for your kind advice. I just can't believe it would not work so I shall try one and see what happens. Hell's bells I've killed a few orchids in my time so what's another one.
Anyway guys thanks so much....P.S. What is "the skewer method" I told you I was inquisitive
Danny

[Vanda lover]

You put a wooden skewer, such as the ones used for barbeques, down into the potting mix and leave it there. When you want to see if it is time to water, you pull it out and check it to see if it is almost dry.

[dannym4243]

Oh how deliciously clever! I'm on my way to buy skewers...
Thanks
Danny

[glengary54]

I grew Paphs in similar mixes years ago, trust me, it is easier to use a bark mix. Paphs grow in leaf litter which allows air to get to the roots and although it is always moist it never gets soggy and sour like soil. Since switching years ago, I have not lost a single Paph to root rot and that is coming from someone who has a very heavy watering hand.

[WhiteRabbit]

hehe - I'm always advising using skewers - I have them in all my orchids, and they've been doing much better since - especially with the crazy weather we've been having (very hot several days with the low humidity that comes with the heat here -now back to unseasonalbly cool, and the higher humidity - keeps me from overwatering in the cooler weather)

I'm so not a Paph expert, and the few I have I grow in the same mix I use for cyms (sans the biggest chunks of bark that don't fit in the small pots the Paphs are in) - about a 50-50 mix of chunky and quite fine bark - and some perlite and pumice. I have found this actually retains moisture very well - I actually water my Paphs LESS than a lot of my other orchids. That being said, don't know that they couldn't grow in AV mix - I'd be adding a lot of perlite and maybe pumice too if I were trying that. Some AV mixes contain a lot of sand - makes for good drainage, but might be too heavy ? idk - others, don't have all that sand in them. Let us know how it goes!

[Vanda lover]

I agree that it would be better to mix the potting soil with orchid mixtures, such as perlite, charcoal, etc.