Repotting?? - Orchid Board

butterfly_muse · #1 05-10-2013, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cintirella

Can you tell me about your mix? ( bark/charcoal/perlite mix )-- what's the brand and where to buy it? Thanks

Amazon.com: Sun Bulb 5002 Better-Gro Special Orchid Mix, 8 Quarts: Patio, Lawn & Garden

I buy Better Gro Special Orchid Mix - The Lowes by my house has it, which is where I got my Phals from on clearance, so I just picked it up there. I'm not a "serious grower" at the moment so I don't want to dump a bunch of $$$$$ into something I might kill just yet, haha! My plants seem to like it, since I've repotted them, they have happily started growing new roots and one is even giving me a new leaf. The only suggestion I would have is to pre-soak the bark to open it up and kind of get it to a point where it will hold moisture better. I've potted orchids with it right out of the bag, but I soak them for two half hour intervals to try to moisturize the bark, and then I put a bamboo skewer in them and check their moisture every day.

Hope that helps.

Also, it's only $6 or so at Lowes, where it looks like it's normally $8 on Amazon, so you can get it there. If you don't have one, I would wager Home Depot might have it too, though I'm not sure. The Lowes is closer so I just go there.

Cintirella · #2 05-10-2013, 01:29 PM

That's what I use. Miracle grow for Orchids ( with Orchid food for up to 6 months )- but recently I've been wanting to try the bark. Seems every Orchid I've seen comes with bark. I may just Mix the two?

butterfly_muse · #3 05-10-2013, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cintirella

That's what I use. Miracle grow for Orchids ( with Orchid food for up to 6 months )- but recently I've been wanting to try the bark. Seems every Orchid I've seen comes with bark. I may just Mix the two?

Is the Miracle Gro a mix? I'd be cautious with that, Miracle Gro's mix I've heard (I have never seen/used it) is more like soil, which is damaging for plants that are epiphytic and not terrestrial. It could damage the roots and cause rot. I'd recommend if you want to mix for more moisture content, mixing the bark mix with maybe some good quality sphag.