100% Aliflor?
 

I have been reading info regarding s/h....and I've been trying to find something else to help my dendrobium that I received this past summer, and I recently repotted it into a bark mix, because I discovered that it was in 100% sphag, and the roots were TERRIBLY rotten. I am actually worried that it won't make it. Even though the foliage looks lovely, and there are two new canes starting...still, the roots were so bad. So I wanted to repot into something that will not break down at all. And I thought about doing 100% aliflor, but not using a semi-hydro pot....just a regular bottom draining pot. Is this a good idea, and will I be needing to water it much more often than it needed to be when in bark mix...also, if this medium is appropriate, would it be good for my phals, cattleya, paphs, and my new miltonia?

Hi, I use aliflor but I put a little sphagnum in the bottom then a little aliflor put the plant in and fill in with more aliflor it seem to working out good for me. It helps hold the water a little longer but not to long.

Hello psyc1210, I had bought a NOID Dendrobium from a Lowes last year that was really terrible looking. It was planted in sphag. but the foliage was in good shape and had a few small roots so I wanted to see if I could save it. Well, its now growing really good in bark/clay pot shards in a 4 inch clay pot and I water it quite often now that it has roots. I would let it dry out a little before the next watering and give it plenty of humidity.

I sometimes use LECA (PrimeAgra, not Aliflor) in a normal pot, and while it does require more frequent watering (using a plastic pot will slow the drying a bit), it's perfectly acceptable for most plants. Phals like to stay moist, so if you try that, you'll need to water a lot.

I avoid amixing organic components to the stuff, as it makes it harder to reuse.

If your root system is weak, I would suggest you use a sphagnum/bark mix first, as LECA might be too dry. When roots start to appear it might be safe enough for you to switch to LECA.

Almost every plant in my collection is in 100% aliflor :nod: and they love it. It's much neater to work with and it doesn't break down so you have less repotting (and repotting costs) due to decomposition.

Anyone know if Aliflor is available in the UK, and if so where..? I've gone looking on the internet and can't find a thing. :scratchhead:

I've a feeling I'll be buying an awful lot of stuff from the London Orchid Show in March. :biggrin:

Hi , Ive been using Hydroton which is similiar to the aliflor. My dens love it I have a couple in a coconut husk chip mixed with some hydroton and they are good too I can water them more often. They just don't like being too wet and prefer being potbound with roots all over. Get rid of the old dead roots and park it in a clear pot so you can watch the new roots.

Lorraine

I Googled Hydroton in UK and there are several places to purchase it. I use it instead of aliflor. It comes in small and medium grade rounds clay sizes looks like clay marbles.
Lorraine

Many thanks. I now understand that you're talking about clay pebbles.... :coverlaugh:

I can understand why that'd degrade less than bark etc. Will have to go looking for a source online.