Paph. Media

[CTB]

What is a good Paph,. soil mix.? I have been using fir bark and it just seems too dry, they always seem to break into bloom when I start watering more frequent. I repot once a year.

[Bud]

I am new with Paph. growing ...but I did research on its media and found out that a mixture of:
Small Coconut Husk Chips, Medium Hydroton, Small Sponge Rock, Coir and Rice Hulls
works just fine for me...

[Leisurely]

I switched to Orchiata bark last spring and I find it superior to anything I have ever used. It lasts for years so you don't have to re-pot often. It does not have to be soaked like other bark to get it wet. It contains vital minerals and it is also Ph balanced.

[Carpe Diem]

I played it safe and ordered a bag of paph. mix at repotme.com

Mine grow in straight coconut husk chips without anything mixed in. The roots really grab on the chips.
They are medium size CHC.

[quiltergal]

I use small CHC, charcoal and perlite.

[Vanda lover]

I use coconut, Peat moss, perlite , and charcoal with a little small bark mixed in.

[InspirChid1712]

I have one paph growing in finely-shredded osmunda and it seems to be very happy! I packed the osmunda fairly tight in a plastic pot... we'll see if the plant blooms this spring. My other very successful medium is wild moss from my parents' back yard in Pennsylvania... they seem to LOVE it! I suppose it mimics their natural forest-floor conditions. (I guess you can't buy it anywhere, unfortunately...) In fact, MANY orchids absolutely THRIVE in this moss, from paphs, to dendrobium, phalaenopsis, and stanhopea... its quite the miracle medium depending on how you pack it, and what you add for drainage!

[Vanda lover]

I have been thinking of trying other mosses but you always hear that sphag is the one to use. We live in a rain forest area and have loads of moss, especially at this time of year, so I'm going to give that a try. I haven't found any sphag. Right now I have a paph in s/h in lava rock and it seems happy with it.

[Ray]

• If you're going to stick with bark, go for Orchiata. It wets well, provides the calcium and magnesium they need, and lasts for years.
• Consider semi-hydroponics, using a relatively tall pot. I have yet to find a paph that doesn't thrive grown that way.
• Be wary of CHC, as it is really loaded with potassium, and there is some evidence that excessive potassium, when not offset by calcium and magnesium, can lead to toxicity in paphs (maybe others), long term. Bark has a lot of K too, but in the case of Orchiata, they add dolomite solution to provide the offsetting Ca and Mg.