Potting media/mix for Phaiocalanthe ?
 

Being terrestrial (my ONLY true terrestrial orchid), I don't know what type of media to use.
I have some coconut husk product, fine chips and fiber - would that with some perlite be decent? Fine bark w/perlite? Sphag? Peat w/perlite? :scratchhead:

Help, suggestions appreciated. Thanks! :)

I don't know if my method was correct or not, but I made my own mix of perlite, charcoal chunks, styrofoam peanuts and Miracle Gro's Orchid Mix - all mixed equal parts. It seems to love the mix as it has 3 new growths this year as opposed to just the one from last year.

I would treat it as any other Phaius or Calanthe. It seems to be working good for me.

Sonya, I've never used any coco products with these. But they do really like to stay moist with good drainage. I treat them as a jewel but with higher light.

They worked well with sphag and bark with added perlite. They also love peatmoss coupled up with some bark and perlite. I think you can be very flexable with any media that contains good moisture levels.

Easy and wonderful orchids to grow - HTH :)

They do well in semi-hydroponics, too.

I tend to treat terrestrials the way I do potted epiphytes, but view them as being much more tolerant of a less-airy root zone environment - i.e., a finer, moisture-holding mix.

Thanks everyone

Paul, yes, I was thinking this might be the time that miracle-gro orchid mix might be suitable - can't remember where I have seen it for sale, wouldn't you know?

Gloria - I've had this plant for a bit, initially did well for me, but previous winter, I think it was over-watered as well as insufficient light - tried to bounce back over summer. Kept it drier this winter, but I think still too little light (was just recently reading these like more light than I thought they did).

Thanks Ray - I was thinking the same (media similar as for epiphytes, but lots of moisture retention, less worry about lots of air at roots) - I have read they CAN be potted in regular potting mix with a liberal amount of perlite, but I just can't bring myself to try that. I may try the s/h route, if I can find some hydroton/leca locally for not too much $

The mix I make for cyms (medium and very fine bark, perlite, pumice) retains moisture very well, so that could work, but wouldn't you know - the brand of bark I used to get (WonderBark), their fine bark is VERY fine (too fine for epiphytes, but good mixed with the medium for cyms) - I haven't seen in stores here for a while (they also had a terrestrial orchid mix - I used for Christmas cactus) grrrr -

Guess I need to hit a few stores and see what I can find - OR - just mix a bit of everything I have and see how that goes lol

Thanks for the input everyone! :)

I find the Orchid mix and perlite in Home Depot's or Lowes in bags.

Thanks - I was just there and did find some - of course when I got home I spotted, on a low shelf, some terrestrial orchid mix lol *DOH!* I have plenty of perlite :)

I was wondering - if I use the miracle gro mix - it has added fertilizer - do you fertilize normally anyway? or fertilize less?

Thanks for your help!