Thoughts on Scott's Miracle-Gro for Orchids

[Nanook 2010]

I have to agree with most posts I've read on OB recommending not to use this product. MG for orchids doesn't have anywhere close to the same consistency of any other type of potting medium that Is recommended for orchids.

I wonder why they still produce it? ....it must sell and make a profit for the company..I'm sure Scotts is in the business of making money and have biologists type people on staff......

Does anyone out there use it?

Thoughts?

[WhiteRabbit]

I got some once for a terrestrial orchid, even adding medium bark chips ... plant died . Since I still have the remainder, I have added a bit of it into mix for Cyms and for Christmas cactus cuttings ...

I have read of a few people using it with success ... There's now a "chunky mix" which sounds better ...

[SlipperGirl]

There are some peaple that have done well with the mix, when I used it I rotted all the roots off my orchid and it is now in sphag and bag showing no signs of growth

[KrissieLynn]

I once heard some one say they used the Miracle-Gro orchid potting mix for their gerber daisies by accident, and they looked amazing, but didn't use it for their orchids.

Also, when I was looking for fertilizer for my orchids, I came across the MG one, but the nitrogen in it came from urea, which I've read is not recommended. It's my understanding that while some orchids (phals, if I'm correct) can use nitrogen derived from urea, it takes too long for the urea to break down into a form the orchids can use - by the time the urea has broken down into that form, it has already been washed down the drain three waterings ago.

[gnathaniel]

It gets a bad rap but then so does sphagnum moss, IMO both are great for many orchids provided you pot and water accordingly. A lot of professional growers use sphag and peat-based media because they allow/require an infrequent (labor-saving) watering schedule. One of the best hobbyist Phal growers I know uses nothing but tight-packed sphag in clear plastic pots, IIRC he usually goes 2-3 weeks between watering and the roots on his plants are fantastically healthy. Others I know who favor peat-based media (like the MG orchid mix I've seen) water similarly and do very well by their plants. YMMV, of course...

[Lagoon]

I don't really care for this one too much, it cakey and doesn't real wet up well.
I like fafard with some extra perlite. I use this so many of my orchids, even catts and dens along with some bark chunks.