Wow... heavy organic soil...

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by TylerK

Was the medium a mostly peat & perlite mix? If so it might be pro mix rather than actual garden soil....Seems to me though like it would be more appropriate for terrestrial orchids.

Tyler

Even for terrestrial orchids the way the potting mix was put together sounds like a disaster in the making.

I've found that terrestrial orchid roots like to breathe as well. According to my observations it seems more critical to have a well drained soil with as little compaction as possible to grow terrestrial orchids well compared to growing other flowering plants (other flowering plants appear to be more forgiving in this department).

I usually find myself having to amend the potting media with additional media for aeration and drainage.

From what I understand, few terrestrial orchids actually grow in bogs.

[Pilot]

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

Even for terrestrial orchids the way the potting mix was put together sounds like a disaster in the making.

I've found that terrestrial orchid roots like to breathe as well. According to my observations it seems more critical to have a well drained soil with as little compaction as possible to grow terrestrial orchids well than it is for growing other flowering plants (other flowering plants appear to be more forgiving in this department).

I usually find myself having to amend the potting media with additional media for aeration and drainage.

From what I understand, few terrestrial orchids actually grow in bogs.

I am using organic potting soil less and less for my other plants and finding myself amending even popular brands like miraclegro a lot because they simply become to compact and heavy for plants. My amaryllis bulbs (hippeastrum) use to be in regular miraclegro potting soil until I discovered the wonders of large particle perlite made them grow faster, strong and healthier-- some are even in pure hydroton now. Soil is ok... but I find the more light the medium is and so long as the roots have their water needs met, plants LOVE a non-soil environment.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by Pilot

I am using organic potting soil less and less for my other plants and finding myself amending even popular brands like miraclegro a lot because they simply become to compact and heavy for plants. My amaryllis bulbs (hippeastrum) use to be in regular miraclegro potting soil until I discovered the wonders of large particle perlite made them grow faster, strong and healthier-- some are even in pure hydroton now. Soil is ok... but I find the more light the medium is and so long as the roots have their water needs met, plants LOVE a non-soil environment.

Wow! That is cool!

[TylerK]

Starting to transplant all my plants into hydroton as well. If it works for orchids I don't see the problem doing it with other plants. It also just seems cleaner than having big pots of dirt sitting in the middle of my living space.

Tyler

[Pilot]

Originally Posted by TylerK

Starting to transplant all my plants into hydroton as well. If it works for orchids I don't see the problem doing it with other plants. It also just seems cleaner than having big pots of dirt sitting in the middle of my living space.

Tyler

Tyler-- yes they will do fine, if not do much better. And it is the same case with your other plants as with your orchids in s/h-- best transplanted when the plant is actively growing. And i don't know what kind of plants you have but so far, every kind I've switch to hydro has done very well... my latest switch were several African violets after successfully growing new plants from leaf cuttings. The growth is very compact, but vigorous, solid and healthy. And considering AVs have small root systems and stay away from stale soil, there is no stale air or soil with hydro and their root systems have become rather extensive. As for my hippeastrum, they have thick roots like phals-- but without that core wire root-- but they fully envelop the hydroton and seem to do very well with it. the trick is to fertilize weakly weekly just like with your orchids.

[natasha]

Originally Posted by TylerK

Was the medium a mostly peat & perlite mix? If so it might be pro mix rather than actual garden soil. My mother got a phal potted this way about a year ago. I was shocked and horrified as well and did much the same thing as you... washed it off and repotted in moss. I was told later though that it was likely orchid pro mix, which many orchid nurseries use on their Phals so they don't have to watter them as often. Seems to me though like it would be more appropriate for terrestrial orchids.

Tyler

i'm not sure what's the mix actually. in malaysia, roses are usually grown in very light soil or organic soil. it is like very fine charcoal + coconut fibers. very light but compact. yeah, i don't know what is it actually

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Natasha, Miracle Gro is an American company that produces potting soil and fertilizer here in the US.

They apparently made a product called Miracle Gro Pro Mix which is made up of a mix of peat moss and perlite.

Peat moss has a low pH, and is acidic. Not all plants like low pH soils.

[Ray]

I have found that terrestrial plants - tropicals, fruits, vegetables, spices, etc. - can be "plopped" into semi-hydroponics at pretty much any time with no indications of stress whatsoever.

I theorize that the roots, being tailored to the compact nature of soil, take to the "breathability" of LECA easily.

[TylerK]

Nice to know I can do it any time even if it takes a while to get the hydroton. My local supplier recently doubled the price of the 10L bags so as to encourage people to buy the 45L bags. They're not nearly as easy to carry home. The store wouldn't have my business anymore if there were another option in my area.

Tyler

[orchidsamore]

Your mix was probably a heavy peat mix with bark perlite and maybe some charcoal. It is a common mix for professional Phal growers. Most mix their own.

It is extremely good for Phals.

It may not be what works best for hobbyist but Phals in bark will never grow in Florida heat nor as Ryan is finding out Colorado.

Phals should never dry out.

Phals grown in water culture can do the best.

Here is an article from the American Orchid Society journal describing a University study showing water culture made the biggest plants with the most flowers.

Frequency of Watering and the Growth of Phalaenopsis