Dgrma Winter Wonderland 'White Fairy' repotting

[Cove Lady]

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My 'White Fairy' needs repotting, I am not sure what exactly will make it happy. Well drained but what is best to use? I have been putting foam peanuts in the bottom with a bit of lava rock on top and then using a mix of NZ bark, charcoal,pearlite,and some leca. I just started cutting down on the bark, the fir bark that I had, just seemed to deteriorate to fast. Also I am getting a fogger for the greenhouse and my humidity will be much higher than it has been. I want the plants to be in a mix that won't get soggy. Am I on the right track with this? ,,,:two cents:,

[estación seca]

I don't grow this, but it probably doesn't like heat. How warm does your greenhouse get? If you cool down at night, could you grow it outside, or would critters get it?

[Cove Lady]

estacion seca, Glad you responded,

It doesn't get really hot here, usually the upper 80's occasionally into the 90's but cools off at night to the upper 60's ton70 and good humidity.This June and July were unusual with a number of days up into the 90's. I am in the mountains of NC.
I keep the greenhouse at a minimum of 50 degrees in the winter and my humidity drops quite a bit when the heat is running. That is not good for the plants.
I do have every thing is outside from mid May to mid September. I have a shade cloth over a bench setup. They get early morning sun for a couple of hours and then 50% shade. So far the raccoones and the bear have not bothered them.
The Phal's stay in the greenhouse for the summer, I have not been able to prevent the slugs from getting to them, it's like I put out a sign that says, 'come and get them'. They are happy staying in the greenhouse all summer.
I am wondering just how much bark I should use in my mix, I don't know if they want bark or can do with just a little bit.

[estación seca]

Until somebody with experience comes along... It's in the Oncidium alliance. These have fine roots that don't like to dry out for very long, but they need good aeration. Growing leaves develop crosswise pleats if they don't get enough water. A happy plant has lots and lots of roots, and makes plenty of vigorous new growths. They often remain in near-constant cycles of growth and flowering.

People grow them pretty easily in all different kinds of media. The potting mix you mentioned should work well for most Oncidium alliance hybrids. I have read comments here from people growing this kind of hybrid in pure coarse bark, pure fine bark, pure sphagnum moss, pure LECA, pure volcanic cinders and all sorts of mixes. A lot of people put foam peanuts in the bottom, and a lot don't.

Most people who use medium that breaks down over time expect to repot every 2-3 years, and choose a pot size to allow that much growth. Fir bark usually lasts just about that long. Is yours breaking down sooner than that?

I asked about temperature because a lot of hybrids with Odontoglossum in their background do poorly with warm summer nights. I would think your temperatures are fine.

It would be nice to see your flowers, if you have a photo!

[Cove Lady]

estacion seca,

I had planed to do some repotting today including the 'White Fairy' but after watering this morning our water went out. Spent the afternoon investigating what was wrong. It turns out a wire had come lose and so nothing worked. An easy fix, thank goodness, I had visions of running a hose several hundred feet form a neighbor's well.

So tomorrow the new mix will be used. As soon as the ultrasonic fogger gets here I will have a good deal more humidity in the greenhouse, hope that the NZ bark, and the other fast draining additions will keep everybody from getting soggy feet.


I do not have a picture of my 'White Fairy' will get one as soon as it blooms the next time. By that time I hope to have learned how to get a photo in to a message. I have no clue what to do and can't seem to find any post that tells me how.

[estación seca]

Go to Forums then Beginners then look at the second thread from the top.

[POLKA]

Hi
Degarmoara Winter Wonderland 'White Fairy' has been around a long time. Tho it has fine roots, don't worry too much about them. They like it hot, as the parents are a mix of cool and hot growers. They can take it from upper 30s to low 100s--from experience here in eastern Texas. They like to be watered often, so less bark would be better. Keep things large and chunky, tho they have the fine roots. All orchids need the air around their roots. Large bark if you have it. The other mix ingredients you mentioned are all good. Mix 'er up!

Best time to repot is when the newest roots are about an inch long or so. They will grow into the new mix easier that way. Potting at the wrong time is a very long wait for new roots, and they suffer for it.

If you have to wait for the new roots, they come when new growths are about two to four inches long.

If you have to wait, and have mushy mix, keep the watering to bare minimum--dry, dry before any watering. It will be okay. Then, pot it up into new mix when the roots are getting after it.

Sometimes new roots will form in response to new spike forming. This is not the flush of new roots I am speaking of. New root flush on new growths that are just starting to unfold their new leaves. That's the point you want to repot.

Hope this helps to clarify things.

Many of the intergenerics have been hybridized to create to handle hot and cold both. Yours most certainly will do this.

Have fun
May all your orchids bloom like crazy!

Rex
aka Polka