Problems watering orchids in sphagnum moss
 

Did some searching here, but am still confused.

I have had three orchids for awhile (one paph, odontoglossum, and a cattleya). They are all planted in a loose bark and do well with my watering schedule. I try to use 2-3x the volume of the pot in distilled water when watering.

I recently (7 months ago) bought a Jewel Orchid and it came in Sphagnum moss. I didn't know much about it and kept the same watering schedule. Well... Sphagnum stays wet a long time! Well, the Jewel orchid has seen better days.

The main plant is, well, gone. There is a small bud that is growing leaves that I am hoping will keep going.

I then got a Phal (not getting up to get exact name) and it showed up in Sphagnum... sigh. I tried to adjust my watering and let it dry out a good bit between, but it doesn't seem to be doing well.

I was just given anther Phal and it also came in Sphagnum moss.

Now, if I can't get this straight I am about to replant all these in a bark.

How do you water Sphagnum planted orchids? Just water lightly and not flush the pot with water like a bark planted orchid? Do you let it dry out really well between watering? Or just water very lightly?

And do they need to be in Sphagnum? I really like my bark.

I keep all my Phals in sphagnum. The trick is to water it, and YES flush it thoroughly, and then wait until it's crunchy dry on top before watering again. Another tip is if in doubt with any of your orchids insert a wooden skewer (kabob stick, chop stick) or freshly sharpened pencil into the center of the media, pull it out and if it's damp hold off on rewatering until it isn't damp when inserted. Some people say to leave it in but I just can't buy that. It should be dry before inserting, then checked after. HTH !!!

BTW, :welcomeflowers: To our forum !!!

its about you and your plant getting to grow each other...you trust your instincts.
if you are comfortable with bark...then do it.
or you can do the skewer method in moss media
then learn how to do that.
find a comfortable watering/fertilizer regimen that works for you and your plant depending on your grow zone, temperature, light and humidity inside your room...
but the jewel orchid needs to be watered evenly moist not wet...I put mine in small bark. lava rock, charcoal and clay chips...and 50% ordinary potting mix...I heard it can also thrive well in S/H method

Wow, fast replies. Thanks!

I am in Louisiana, humidity is not in short supply here, even inside. Maybe that is keeping the moss moist too long? A good watering will keep the moss wet for weeks!

I may need to try a different medium for my plants. I really don't want to harm another one.

That's where Bud is right, you have to learn and adapt to YOUR own environment.

OH>>>BTW>>>WELCOME TO ORCHID BOARD !

and Thank You, Chryss !

I've had the greatest success with sphag when I limit it's use to pots that are under 4" in diameter, because they dry out faster. Also, sphag gets compacted so I mix a few other things with it to aid in providing air space and drainage. Charcoal, tree fern fiber and sponge rock or small pieces of styrofoam have worked well as additives. I'm not fond of the skewer method. Instead, when judging for a time to water, I check for the depth of crustiness on the top one inch layer and I feel the weight of the pot. When they need water, I'll drench them at this point or sometimes just water them lightly. It all depends on the type of plant and how much moisture it's roots can tolerate.

Having stated all that, I have a stanhopea that's planted in a 12" basket almost entirely in sphag. This particular plant needs a moist root environment and I've learned to maintain just the right amount by watering it every day to about 1/3 capacity. It's also grown outdoors and receives great air circulation. If it rains too much it's brought under shelter to prevent it from becoming too soggy.

Thank You for the Stanhopea tip: Junebug ! I have a 8" netpot entirely in moss(I guess I need to water more)

Thanks, Bud. I can't stress the importance of air circulation. My plant is grown outdoors in Central Florida and it's given plenty of space around all sides. During Summer when it's hot and dry I have to water at about 50 percent capacity and it's growing in subdued dappled lighting just above my phals.

In my case I chose a wire basket over a netpot because the sun and heat causes plastic to get brittle. Now I'm not so sure my choice was a good one because the latest growths are protruding between the wire along the sides. I mean those babies are big and they're jammed in so tight that getting them out of there would be an impossible task. Then the thought occurred to me, that even if I could get them out then how in the heck do I repot this silly plant with growths popping out the top and sides??? After a Google search I found some photos posted by a professional grower who's stans were potted in wire baskets similar to mine. I don't know how they change out their medium but last year I tried teasing out the old stuff and replacing and tucking in some new sphag with a little charcoal and tree fern fibers thrown in. The plant is growing well and has never looked happier, so I guess I'll keep going at it like this until the wire basket rusts away. Another OB member, Nancy, has had great success with stans and she fertilizes her stans with horse poo. I don't have easy access to horse poo, so I substituted a slow release product called Milorganite with periodic additions of fish emulsion. :)

Wow! Milorganite, unless mistaken, is processed Human! Supposed to be very good!
I have been gifted two potinaras "little toshee", in small plastic pots of sphagnum. What I know about orchids is that I always kill them. It is obvious to me now is that I'm keeping them too wet. I live on the Northern California coast where it's cool and "generally" humid.
I've put the cids outside but am concerned that 50 degrees overnight, and 60-65 daytime are too cool.
Filtered sunlight, and/or shade under the eves.
The giftee said tray of pebbles watered for moisture/ humidity. I have new leaves, (they bloomed last October), but indoors the newbies were reaching for the light so moved them outunder the translucent patio cover. Don't want to burn them due to too much sun.
I think I'm in zone 8 in Eureka, Calif. what do you think?