Waldor Famous Cymbidium Potting Mix

[drmab]

Seeing all these questions about potting media, May I add mine? I have just received 4 pots of mature cymbidium bare root, so I had to quickly pot them up in fir bark. Then I found some compressed bricks of coco coir from a year or two ago.
My question is: May I add this - the coco coir - to my bark (medium or large?) for more water rentention, and if so, in what percentage?
Any of you have experience with coco coir with dendrobiums, cattleyas and phals, which I have a few of?
Thank you
Marietta

[Roberta]

A lot of Cym growers use coco coir in their mix. Rinse it well... the compressed coir is probably pretty clean of salts, I have had problems with what I have gotten loose in bags. (You'll have to use water to decompress the bricks at any rate) But you can certainly mix it in with that large-ish bark with good results. Maybe 1/3 by volume of the coir, 2/3 bark will give you some extra moisture retention and still keep the mix airy.

[estación seca]

Coir retains more water than anything else you might use. It would greatly extend your watering intervals. Few people would use more than 10%-25% coir for any but the very thirstiest plants. It is not a good choice for people who cannot resist overwatering, but it works well for people who don't have time to water frequently.

I can't envision using it for plants like Catts that like to get somewhat dry between waterings, nor plants like Phals that need lots of air at the roots. Oncidium intergenerics, Dens in active growth, terrestrials - yes, sparingly.

[Roberta]

Cyms do like to stay on the damp side... the OP showed the potted Cyms in another thread... bark was pretty large so tossing in some of the coir could be quite helpful. (I use seedling bark for my Cyms... they stay pretty damp)

[drmab]

Thank you both! And yes, Roberta, you did comment on my large bark in my other post, which is why I thought of adding the coir.
I did not quite know how to add to my original post, hence this additional one.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by drmab

Thank you both! And yes, Roberta, you did comment on my large bark in my other post, which is why I thought of adding the coir.
I did not quite know how to add to my original post, hence this additional one.

You can add to an existing thread with another post (better than editing the original post if some time has elapsed and there are more posts, since those who have responded will get an email telling them that there is new material)

[drmab]

Thank you!

---------- Post added at 09:34 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:30 PM ----------

How do I find the original post, and I cannot seem to check box “quote message in reply?”

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by drmab

Thank you!

---------- Post added at 09:34 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:30 PM ----------

How do I find the original post, and I cannot seem to check box “quote message in reply?”

I think your original post was in the Pests and Diseases forum Shrunken bulbs with black spots on cymbidiums

You should see a button that says "Quote" on your posts... then the original content comes up in the dialog box for your Reply. (You can edit what you are quoting if you don't want the whole thing, otherwise just put your new text below the quoted part that ends with [\QUOTE]

[drmab]

“You should see a button that says "Quote" on your posts... then the original content comes up in the dialog box for your Reply. “

Thank you, I learned something else today! Good night!
Marietta

[estación seca]

If you click on your, or another username (long or right-click to open in another tab), you will be taken to the user's page. Click the Statistics tab and you can look at all threads started, or messages posted, by you or another member.

Or use the Advanced Search in the top maroon menu. Input a word from a post and username. Note: Accented characters are sorted differently from non-accented characters. You will not find my posts if you search on estacion seca, but you will find them with estación seca . Or type estaci and click Partial Username,