Phal species potting mix - Orchid Board

OzPhal · #1 03-01-2012, 09:11 PM

G'day Everybody,

I know this topic has likely been beaten to death in one format or another but I was hoping you might be able to assist. I know that typically species are, for the most part, performing at their peak when they're mounted... my environment and maintenance capacities limit the suitability of that at this time (at least until I get my dream glass house). In the meantime I need to pot them up... There are few 'specialist' orchid mixes that I've found in Australia - most cater for Cymbidium spp so that necessitates that I will formulate my own. I've been thinking about a mix of:

- 4 parts Small aged pine bark
- 1 part Perlite
- 1 part Charcoal

What are peoples thoughts? would you include a little sphagnum moss for a slight amount of water retention or would the bark be sufficient if you give them a good soaking say, once a week (more in hotter weather)

Thanks for your assistance

tucker85 · #2 03-01-2012, 10:15 PM

I think your mix sounds very good. As a matter of fact it's an exact match for one of the mixes recommended by author Steven Frowine in his book 'Moth Orchids'. Here are the two mixes he uses.
For small phals
-4 parts fine grade fir bark or fine grade coconut husk chips
-1 part fine charcoal
-1 part small grade perlite or small aliflor (LECA)

For larger phals
-4 parts medium grade fir bark or coconut husk chips
-1 part medium charcoal
-1 part medium perlite or aliflor (LECA)

OzPhal · #3 03-02-2012, 04:14 AM

Hey Tucker, well there ya go! I didn't know or expect that

Would you deflask seedlings in to that mix also or is it best to go with the sphagnum moss there for the first 12mths or so?

Discus · #4 03-02-2012, 04:48 AM

I don't have a lot of experience with deflasking (and none with phals) but I suspect that the high moisture of sphag is very good for plants that have just been used to very high humidity and essentially constantly moist roots.

The Mutant · #5 03-02-2012, 04:52 AM

Do the species Phals require charcoal in the mix, or can they thrive without it? I only have five species Phals at the moment and I'm thinking that maybe I should put the schilleriana in something better than just pine bark.

Sorry for hi-jacking the thread...

OzPhal · #6 03-02-2012, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Mutant

Sorry for hi-jacking the thread...

Don't be sorry at all! it's a great question! and one which i'm interested in the response to as well

tucker85 · #7 03-02-2012, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OzPhal

Hey Tucker, well there ya go! I didn't know or expect that

Would you deflask seedlings in to that mix also or is it best to go with the sphagnum moss there for the first 12mths or so?

I have no experience with deflasking but in the same book 'Moth Orchids' the author says that either sphagnum or the fine bark mix can be used. He says that the only difference is that sphagnum would not need to be watered as often.

---------- Post added at 08:14 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:59 AM ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Mutant

Do the species Phals require charcoal in the mix, or can they thrive without it? I only have five species Phals at the moment and I'm thinking that maybe I should put the schilleriana in something better than just pine bark.

Sorry for hi-jacking the thread...

I don't think any orchid requires charcoal in the mix. I've grown phals in several different mediums, with and without charcoal. Many commercial growers use sphagnum moss by itself. The author that wrote this book on phals has had good success with that mix and it's worked well for me also. Everyone has their own environmental and cultural elements to consider but I think the mix we're talking about is a good place to start.

The Mutant · #8 03-02-2012, 02:10 PM

Thank you for answering my question.

At the moment I use pine bark, sphagnum, and perlite in my medium. I would really like to try using charcoal as well, but I have no idea on where to find any sellers in Sweden.

tucker85 · #9 03-02-2012, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Mutant

Thank you for answering my question.

At the moment I use pine bark, sphagnum, and perlite in my medium. I would really like to try using charcoal as well, but I have no idea on where to find any sellers in Sweden.

I think your mix sounds like a good one. If you're getting good results with it you should probably continue to use it. I certainly wouldn't worry about charcoal if it's difficult for you to find. It's only used in small amounts anyway.

The Mutant · #10 03-02-2012, 03:05 PM

Alright, then I'll do that.

I have no idea whether it works out just yet since I only have two Phals potted in the mix, but I'm considering using it on more of them and see how they'll grow compared to the others which are potted in plain pine bark.

In the beginning of my orchid fever I hadn't even planned on mixing my own medium, but somehow I started doing just that anyway. Just as I've tore down my broken Venetian blinds to give my Phals as much light as possible as well as started hanging moist towels on the radiators to provide them with enough humidity - I had no idea I would go as far as this to care for them.

This is what an orchid forum might do to the unaware so beware people!