Aerides potting

[aliceinwl]

What is the best potting option for Aerides Pussadi (falcata x odorata)? I have a small plant that will be growing outdoors. I’m thinking of potting it up in a Vanda basket. For media I can do bark, rock, or moss. I have a temperature tolerant Vanda Santa Barbara Fizz doing fine in rock but I have my Neos in moss. I’m not sure what the best media would be for this one.

[Fairorchids]

Aerides likes high humidity in the root zone.

I grow mine in a greenhouse in NJ, in Vanda baskets filled with a spaghnum/bark mix (3:1). That allows me to get by with one watering a week in winter, and two in summer.

[Roberta]

My Neos are doing well in moss, too. I know that others say "pack it" but for my watering practice (frequent) I find that looser moss is preferable, giving lots of air, and drying out faster. For less frequent watering, I expect that tighter-packed moss would be beneficial. So whatever works best for you.

[Fairorchids]

Just remembered that I have a photo of a very happy Aerides odorata in my mix:

[aliceinwl]

Thanks for the replies! I had to put it in something and from what I read, it sounded like the Vanda/rock option would be best so that’s what I went with. We’re getting rain so it should be happy through the winter. If it suffers when things start drying out, I’ll move it to a moss / bark mix.