Potting Mixture (Peat Moss) Experiment

[lotis146]

So far it seems to be working with the couple that came already potted in it, I guess we'll see what happens. I'm hoping I'll make it to winter - not that I'm trying to think too much about winter but you know how it is with orchids - when I think I will see the biggest difference as last year many plants suffered much dehydration.

[bil]

Well, in theory, you can grow orchids in almost anything, but some substrates will require you to get it absolutely right all the time. I don't like working to those odds.

[lotis146]

That's a little nerve-wracking Bil! Guess we'll see what happens.

Now if I could just get some protection from the rain since moving the whole group is a NO. I really need to feed the group but it just rained AGAIN. Lol

[No-Pro-mwa]

Originally Posted by lotis146

That's a little nerve-wracking Bil! Guess we'll see what happens.

Now if I could just get some protection from the rain since moving the whole group is a NO. I really need to feed the group but it just rained AGAIN. Lol

I wish you could sent it this way, we need rain. Now you will over water OK that's not really funny. I hope they will do fine.

[Leafmite]

At our Orchid Society meeting, they were just talking about a mix that a local Paph. grower/florist makes and sells made of something shredded (foam? Tires?) mixed with peat. I guess quite a few people in our OS are having success with it. Many are growing their Paphs in it and some are using it now for other types of orchids. I guess it never breaks down so they don't need to ever change the medium.

[lotis146]

I took these shots a few days ago of some of the plants that I repotted with the peat moss mixture. A couple weeks in I'm not seeing any negative effects and we've had some rain let me tell you, more than I've been comfortable with. Admittedly I've not been on top of fertilizing b/c the rain is doing so much watering for me it enables me to forget that I still need to feed them. That said my Ianclarkara does have a spike popping out of its newer growth! Not sure how much I can attribute that to the new potting media b/c it could have been in the works before I repotted. Meanwhile my Neopabstopetalum has a new growth. The new growth on my Zns. Cynosure 'Alba' has grown, all of these at least being good signs to me that the plants are not - at this time - pissed. I think I can say with confidence that Liparis grossa seems to be happy enough in this media as the new growths have gotten bigger since the repotting although it was very much in need of a repot.

There is one plant though that doesn't seem to be so happy and that is my Prom. Chameleon however this plant I've had for a year now and it has done NOTHING. I bought it as a blooming size division, they said, with just two little plump pbulbs. Now both of them are losing their leaves rapidly. My other Prom in this media however - Prom. xanthina - appears to be the same as before the repot.