Potting Soil for Zygopetalum?

[Havoccity]

Would anyone here who has grown Zygopetalums in potting soil recommend doing so instead of in the usual bark/sphagnum mix? Asking because I saw MOG's video where she said her Zygos did much better when repotted in potting soil and I wanted a second opinion before trying it out myself.

[Ray]

"Potting soil" is too generic of a term to know if a particular one is appropriate.

Personally, I would not go that way.

[Roberta]

Zygos like to stay damp (like Cymbidiums) but I sure wouldn't use anything like potting soil. Unless it has a very high sand content (very free draining) it's going to suffocate roots.

[Leafmite]

I have grown them in potting soil mixed with perlite and pine bark and they did fine. I used a clear pot so I could observe the roots. The problem was that I had to use a pot that barely fit the roots and that meant frequently repotting (once they get going, they send out multiple new pseudobulbs, sometimes three times a year) and those roots crack easily. I am currently growing them in 1/4 inch lava rock and they seem to be doing well in that, too

[Keysguy]

So, the real question that your question poses is....."I don't know. What's your culture regimen and growing conditions going to be that you can realistically supply"?

That answer will narrow down the possible potting substrates that would likely work but I agree with Ray, I doubt any of them would be "potting soil".

[KatieM]

I am zone 9a and grow all of mine outside. I was actually curious on this so I did experiment and I used the basic miracle grow green and yellow bag and I also used a very very fine oncidium type bark mix (seedling type mix). And lastly, I actually used a super fine cymbidium mix. As funny as it sounds and much to my surprise the one in the miracle grow actually bloomed the most and grew the best. They're all 3 the same type and in the same location. Doing that also allows me to not have to water very much. I do think doing anything heavier or more dense would definitely suffocate the roots. But as everyone says it's really about your environment as well. I personally would not put them in chunky bark. I get a lot of humidity and even here I don't think that would do very well. Take a look at repot me cymbidium mix that's kind of a nice in between. Best of luck!

[Keysguy]

Mine are in a mix of fine bark, sponge rock and charcoal with a sprinkling throughout of sphagnum. (I'm talking maybe a half dozen pieces of sphag).

Seeing as you are in Canada, you could do it that way but I'd double the amount of sphagnum.

[Havoccity]

Thanks guys. I guess I'll stick to my usual bark-sphagnum mix for now. Maybe I'll try what Katie did sometime in the future, when my Louisendorf gets large enough to make a division.

[Fairorchids]

I have grown Zygos in spaghnum/bark mix (about 4:1 ratio), and they do fine.

I have also grown them in my Cymbidium mix, and they do just as well. My Cym mix changed about 3 years ago, since I can no longer get chunky peat (it should be available in Canada though).

Original recipe:
4 parts chunky peat
3 parts composted cow manure
1 part bark
1 part perlite

Now I use cedar mulch in place of the chunky peat. Works well, but I have to water more as it drains very rapidly.

[MateoinLosAngeles]

Has anyone here tried to grow Zygos in full Kanuma? I have some with a bit of Kanuma added into the mix, and they seem to like it. It is acidic and inorganic, so I'm unsure about the longevity of the experiment, and I don't have "cheap" zygos to experiment with!