Anyone here use tree fern?

[varda.elentari]

Yes, that's what I gathered from what I've read - that it wicks moisture throughout the pot and so apparently dries evenly throughout.

By S/H, you mean in LECA with water in a saucer at the bottom?

[varda.elentari]

Thank you all for responding. I decided to give it a try and potted up my Coelogyne today.

[Fairorchids]

Tree fern was what 'everyone' (hobby growers) used back in the 1960's. However, it drains rapidly and holds no moisture for the roots, so it is not recommended, unless you like to water every 1-2 days.

For the past 20 years, I have used mostly bark/charcoal/perlite mixes, except for Cymbidiums (in terrestrial mix) and Vandas (spaghnum/bark mix).

More recently, I have been switching Paphs, Lycastes, Chysis & Dendrobiums back to the spaghnum/bark mix (usually about 4:1), as this provides moisture longer, and thus minimizing the frequency of watering.

[varda.elentari]

I wonder if the moisture retentiveness varies from product to product and with size because when I asked in another group if anyone there uses the particular product I was thinking of buying more than one person said it retains moisture for about as long as sphagnum. But I'll keep an eye on it. Thanks for the warning.

Not related to my original topic but I'm very curious about how you grow your Vandas in sphagnum/bark. I recently got a few but I've never grown them before.Wouldn't a sphagnum/bark mix dry too slowly for their liking or is it very loosely packed?

[Fairorchids]

In my opinion, tree fern fibers hold zero moisture (water runs right through). In the two orchid societies where I attend meetings regularly, I don't know of anyone using it.

Spaghnum/bark mix: I use it loosely packed for Vandas (in baskets), but fingertip firmly packed for Paphs in plstic pots & Dendrobium in clay pots.

This works with the watering schedule in my greenhouse (twice weekly in winter, three times weekly in summer).

[Steve83]

What that person is probably describing, is the New Zealand tree fern media/slabs. It holds a fair amount of water, and it does dry evenly, which is awesome.

chantinii.jpg - Google Drive

BcWaipuna.jpg - Google Drive