Paph, Dendro, and Oncidium potting mixes

[shaelyn]

Hi all,

So my recent trip to Trader Joe's didn't just land me the paph I inquired about on the ID board, but also a dendrobium and a mini oncidium.
I've been looking up repotting mixes, since I've never grown any of these before at all. I checked repotme, and I was surprised that their mixes for all three types of plants are very similar, with a few differences (in spite of the dendro being a terrestrial, even - that surprised me).
I'm trying to save a bit of money here; my collection is getting too huge :S so uh, do you guys see any reason that I shouldn't use one mix for all three?

similarities:
-small CHC chips (and additional medium CHC chips for the dendros)
-small sponge rock
-small granite chips

differences:
-coir for the paph
-rice hulls for the oncidium
-pea gravel for the dendro
-small lava rock for the dendro and small red lava rock for the paph (is there a difference?)
-medium stalite for the paph and small stalite for the onc

[jeremyinsf]

I find Paph's to be more forgiving of the medium as long as YOU understand how to water it and keep it fresh. For me, it's more on the moist side, but never soggy.

I looked at the picture on the ID board - that's a very common flower - it's in sphagnum moss now, which is typical for a trader joe's Paph. If they are like the ones I get from there, it's probably good to stay in that for a year or so, until your current cycle is complete and new growth appears. Just don't over water it!

[billc]

Don't know anything about Dendros but paphs and oncidiums can go in the same mix. Actually, oncidiums and the intergenerics will thrive in just about anything.

Bill

[kevin1217]

Dendrobiums are NOT terrestrials, they are epiphytes that grow on trees. Also, these orchids well thrive in most types of mediums.

[WhiteRabbit]

All of these orchids do not want to have really dry media - especially the Paph.

Dens (den-phal? ), may approach dry, or just become dry (winter mostly), but gravel, lava rock will require very frequent watering, unless the lava rock is quite small. I have a small den- phal ( small height-wise, but a pretty fair number of canes), 3" pot, chc and fine pumice mix ( tho there is a styrofoam pnut in the center), needs water every 2-3 days (about twice a week in winter). I have other Dens in a mix of fine pumice and perlite, 4" pots require water at least every 3 days in summer; smaller pots more frequently.

Any fine mix that retains moisture should be fine for Onc and Paph. A slightly chunkier, tho still retaining moisture mix for Den.

[shaelyn]

I figured out what to do. I'll keep paphs and oncids on one mix (once I figure out which to get), get some all-purpose stuff for the dendros and switch my phals over to it, too - they need something that retains moisture just a bit better anyway.

thanks guys!

[NYCorchidman]

They are basically all the same. If I had to choose one mix to use for all three, I would pick their paph mix. It drains really well and retains moist nicely as well.

They use pea gravel in their dendrobium mix to add weight. Dendrobium can get really top heavy, so in order to prevent tipping over easily, they decided to add something heavy. so it is not really necessary as long as you use a heavy pot instead.

You can use anything for dendrobium. Many people in the tropical area use just broken brick pieces or lava rocks or charcoal (this is really light so clay pot must be used to secure the plants).
Whatever you use, the drainage must be excellent or the roots will rot in no time.

Paphs and oncidiums should be potted in something that drains well but also retains quite a bit of moisture (not dripping wet, but moist).

[shaelyn]

that helps a lot. if I start it off in Paph mix, I can move the Dendro over to the same mix as the Phals when I'm ready to switch the Phals to CHC instead of bark (which is going to be a while - I still have half a bag of bark left)

thank you everybody! you guys are awesome.