Hello from Idaho! - experimenting with Leca/Styrofoam/Moss
 

I was very happy to find this forum, I am a recent orchid addict, I started with just one and now find myself with ten. In my enthusiasm I repotted my first and favorite chartreuse phal in a store-bought mix, which I proceeded to overwater and nearly kill with root-rot. Perhaps over-reacting, I have switched to a mix of styrofoam, leca, and sphagnum moss in the hopes of improving root health and protecting my plants from overwatering. I've gone a step further and maybe overboard by making tons of holes in the pots to ensure aeration. Hopefully I haven't made a huge mistake, time will soon tell. I'm glad I found this resource and hope I can learn from others' experiences!

Welcome to orchid board! The holes are great!

Thank you, it was very easy, orchidgirl on youtube has a great video tutorial.

Welcome to Orchid Board :welcome:

Very good. I have bunch of holes on mine too, and they love it.

I usually put about half as many holes in my pots, but that is okay if you have extra!!

Phals do just fine in big, chunky bark. You might also enjoy putting an orchid on a mount if you are scared of overwatering. You just need some sphagnum moss, fishing line, the sterile stick/mount of your choice, and the orchid!

It's supposedly impossible to overwater mounted orchids :D

I think you're on the right track with what you're doing. Now you just have to learn when to leave the orchids alone so you don't love them to death (ahem, that seems to be a problem that I have, haha!!). Welcome and enjoy!!

Shelleymom where are you from in Idaho? I am from Emmett close to Boise. I am also a new addict to Phal Orchids having now 12 plants in my first year. Marle

Welcome! It looks good to me. Now it's just a matter of matching your watering schedule to that type of pot and mix. Good luck.

:welcomeflowers:

I'm in Shelley, near Idaho Falls :hello