Potting a peristeria elata

[Cpman]

Should i repot this plant, at the nursery i bought it at there were some about 3 feet tall with softball sized pbulbs but the thing that bothers me is that its in regular potting soil they all were I've read online that some people grow this plant like this but i cant shake the feeling that its going to rot what do people here grow this plant in and water it according to what its in???

[isurus79]

While this species grows on the ground, its roots are usually found growing in leaf litter and not within a lot of soil. I'd repot that into a fine grade bark mix.

[MattWoelfsen]

I have my Peristeria elata planted in fine bark mixed with coal, sponge rock, bits of sphagnum moss. I recommend you also consider using a smaller pot with good drainage. If you can get a clear plastic pot, you will have the ability to monitor the plant's roots. The pot pictured is too large. Can't tell how big the pbulb is but use a pot that will be an inch or two larger around the plant.

You are perhaps in a similar weather zone as this plant's original habitat--Panama, Columbia, Costa Rica, Venuzuela? I would probably consider growing it outside and let the weather take care of watering. In the winter it does have a drier period with more light and less water. Bulbs tend to wrinkle, but when it starts growing again in the spring, they plump up. Slugs love this plant so if you are going to grow it outside, consider putting it in a place impossible for slugs and snails to reach. I've seen some huge slugs in Puerto Rico--they will love this plant.

This plant is the national flower of Panama. It is on the endangered species list and almost extinct in its native habitat.

[Suzanne17]

Originally Posted by MattWoelfsen

I have my Peristeria elata planted in fine bark mixed with coal, sponge rock, bits of sphagnum moss. I recommend you also consider using a smaller pot with good drainage. If you can get a clear plastic pot, you will have the ability to monitor the plant's roots. The pot pictured is too large. Can't tell how big the pbulb is but use a pot that will be an inch or two larger around the plant.

Sorry for the threadjack- Matt, I just got a Peristeria elata in a 6" pot but it's broken out of it- 3 bulbs and a new growth starting. It's in spike but I want to repot- when you say fine bark, how small are you talking? I'm running low on medium but I do have some seedling mix from repot me- I think it might be too fine though. It's extra small orchiata, turface MVP, rice hulls, and fine petals sphagnum. The other mix that might work is an oncidium mix (small orchiata, turface MVP, small granite chips, small black lava rock) but I also have a million oncs to repot this weekend. But the elata takes priority since the pot is broken and it's falling out.

And then...I have a metric ton (ok not really but a lot) of horticultural charcoal (small) and I could pick up some perlite this weekend at Lowe's and hope they have some fine bark rather than gigantic coarse stuff...


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