Potting media discussion/poll

[johnblagg]

Have to go with peeweelovesbooks on the it depends on the plant.

I just discovered leca can be used for s/h and my catts are loving it.

My phals and dens love rice hulls which I discovered by experimenting with everything I could from peagravel on untill I discovered rice hulls

My Phauis does fair in rice hulls but Im still working on whats best with it It does well in the rice hulls..But....it did its best this year after they broke down so Im going with something a little bit more like a terrestrial mix this year.Rice hulls and the rice hull compost that has broke down about half and half.

[Bayard]

I have about half of my plants in coco husk chips mixed about 50/50 with Aliflor and #4 perlite in clay pots. The rest are in Orchiata (aged pinus radiata bark from New Zealand) mixed about 70/30 with #4 perlite in plastic pots. I gave up on fir bark because it breaks down too fast.

[TylerK]

I'm a chronic underwaterer, and slowly moving as much as I can into semi-hydro using LECA (hydroton). Since doing this I can finally grow Phals again. Previously they would be limp, wrinkled and looking very pathetic within weeks of me getting them. Pure bark or CHC has been death to any orchid I've put in it. I've had some luck with sphag mixed with medium sized chunks of charcoal.

Tyler

[Psyguy10]

I agree with a lot of you. I use different things for different plants. But one thing I use in copious amounts is Sphagnum moss; for seedlings, smaller plants and as an additive for moisture loving 'chids.

One thing i have been using lately is tree fern fiber, I have found that bulbophyllums love it mixed with moss!
And I have learned that i need VERY quick drying media for Cattleyas... i've rotted a number of 'em. Thus they get lava rock now.

[b amateur]

I would be another vote for different media for different plants.I don't think in terms of 'one size fits all' when dealing with the wide range of growing conditions in a varied collection. Brad

[Jeff9]

I keep it simple, some bulbos in pure sphag and the majority of the others are potted in medium to large chunks of bark in transparent pots so the mixture dries fairly quick and doesnt decompose that fast

[Ephemere]

For Cattleyas, Dendrobiums I use small chopped coconut husks mixed with genuine charcoal. For Paphs. and Phalaenopsis I use primarily "Orchiata" 100% Pine Bark Shell (Pinus radiata bark/Orchid substrate) and maybe 3-4 PUMICE Stones in the middle of the pot where the roots touch.

Cheers, Michael

[shadytrake]

I mainly grow s/h or mounted. Hydroton is my medium of choice. If it won't go in s/h, then it gets mounted with Sphag moss.

I do however have 4 exceptions. My Ascda and Renantanda are still in baskets waiting for me to figure out "the plan." I have one Scaphyglottis that is still in the grower medium it came in because it has been blooming profusely and I don't want to jinx it. I have a Better Gro baggie plant that I just got which is still in grower medium and segregated from the rest of the GH until I'm sure it is free of any pests etc.

Lastly, the compots are volcanic rock, hydroton, and sphag moss combined which seems to work really well.

I tend to over water so s/h works best for me.

[Tommyr]

Sphagnum moss and perlite mix.

[RenéeS]

All my plants are potted in bark, some in bark mixed with sphagnum. This works well for me but thinking about experimenting a little when I have the time/money/resources
Good idea by the way, this thread