Orchiata tips

[jeremyinsf]

It can last from three to ten years, as in the actual media, but there are usually other reasons to re-pot beyond that. Many re-pot right after a blooming cycle.

[james mickelso]

I use orchiata almost exclusively on all my orchids. Those that don't go into orchiata are in lava cinder and I have a couple in pure sphagnum moss. I add charcoal and spong rock to the mix. here are some pics. My phals like the airy structure and grow very well. All are now in flower for the second and third time this year. My catts also are grown in it and thrive on the extra water I can give them because of the hardness of the bark. Remember that you are watering the roots....not the bark. I can go for a few years depending on the speed of plant growth with my mixtures.

[BKFSRS]

I moved all but a couple of my Phals, Catts, and Dendrobiums from CHC and regular bark to Orchiata and have been happy with the results. It does require more frequent watering for me, since it's very dry in Chicago, but I had a problem with overwatering, so this works for me. I like the idea suggested of putting some Spagnum on the top to keep moisture near the surface. I don't mix anything with the Orchiata yet, but may down the road. Great suggestions.

[Fairorchids]

I am puzzled by the fascination with Orchiata.

Standard bark/charcoal mix easily lasts the normal repotting cycle. For Paphs, where some recommend repotting annually, I just fail to get it. Can someone elaborate?

[james mickelso]

Orchiata is much more dense and won't get soggy like most other bark after the first season. I've used a few other like Sequoia and that stuff comes pre-moldy. A lot of the stuff that is on the market has a lot of very fine material in it. After 3 or 4 years most of the bark is still good.

[DavidCampen]

Originally Posted by Fairorchids

I am puzzled by the fascination with Orchiata.

Standard bark/charcoal mix easily lasts the normal repotting cycle. For Paphs, where some recommend repotting annually, I just fail to get it. Can someone elaborate?

A rhetorical question: what is "standard bark", is there an ASTM specification for potting bark?

[Fairorchids]

I have mostly Paphs (500+) and I do not want the mix to dry out in less than 5-6 days. I tend to leave larger plants in the same pot 18-30 months, smaller plants 12-24 months. I have used all the common bark brands, combined with some charcoal & Perlite, and have no complaints.

That Orchiata tends to be drier is a negative for Paphs. That it lasts up to 10 years makes no sense when the plant outgrows the pot in 18-24 months.

[Ray]

Originally Posted by Fairorchids

That Orchiata tends to be drier is a negative for Paphs.

I think you should have added "in my growing environment.".

I have many of my paphs in Orchiata, and they are doing quite well. I resell a lot of them out of Hawaii, and you'll find most of them are in Orchiata plus coarse perlite, and it's really hard to argue with their results.

I have no idea the brand of fir bark was I used when I first started growing 40+ years ago, but it led me to look for alternatives. One of those was Rexius, and I soon was looking for an alternative to that, too.

ASTM or not, Orchiata is the most uniform, most stable bark out there, and unlike any other, provides calcium and magnesium to the plants, which can be especially good for paphs.

[lexusnexus]

Originally Posted by Ray

The best prep I have found is to estimate the amount you'll need and pour boiling water through it.

Why the boiling water? Kill fungus or other baddies?

[Ray]

Originally Posted by lexusnexus

Why the boiling water? Kill fungus or other baddies?

Nope. The hot water causes the dried cells within the wood to expand more than cold water does, allowing it to absorb more water.