Phals in Sphagnum or bark?

[lore_tex]

For my phals, I use sphagnum for one, bark and charcoal mix for most of them, and lava rocks for two others as well. And sometimes I mix bark and sphagnum together.

[blueovalgal]

Thanks for posting this as I was wondering what everyone was using... I just moved my phals and phrags into clear cups/pots with spag moss. Easy to watch the roots grow and knowing when to water!

[justatypn]

I recently experimented with bark medium type verses sphag/bark mixed. Overall, sphag/bark mix wins hands down, definitely notice the difference in less than a week. Tried one as well mounted on tree-fern, nada does not like it at all

Clear plastic pots is a winner

[Tony]

I don't like pure sphagnum, my experience has been that they will do very well for a while, then suddenly lose all their roots and die. I use LECA now, and my lone Phal absolutely loves it, I've never seen better root growth.

[justatypn]

Tony is it the LECA or is it that the phal needs companionship

But I do a agree with watching those roots when using sphag only. I bought a zygo not to long ago, strickly in sphag, pulled it from the pot to take a look...oh my gosh, caught in time the sphag was very moist, roots, totally white and swollen, had to make a sphag change and hopefully it will recover.

[Lagoon]

I think sphag is a great media but I don't use it by itself. I cut it up first then use coarse rok #3 mainly in the middle area. place 'chids in clay pots and DON'T overpot. Change out you S.moss every 9 months.

This can work for anyone - I swear, I have catts in this media.

[justatypn]

Have not tried it with catts yet, next year I will be repotting all of them and will definitely give it a try. I have a cattleya my son bought me last year and it is in a mix with heavy sphag and between all the cattleya's I have this one is prospering beyond the others in bark. I'm with ya Gloria.

[Tony]

Originally Posted by justatypn

Tony is it the LECA or is it that the phal needs companionship

I used to have two Phals, but the other one came in sphag, lost all it's roots while blooming, and died.

[ladyslipper]

Hi Tony, what is LECA?

regards, m

[Bolero]

Actually I would go for coconut chips before the other two mediums.

Especially a good quality one. I have about 5 Phals growing in it and the roots are amazing.