[Sharyn]

I ordered some coir. What I received is ground up, looks like Schultz Peat moss. Is that the right coarseness to use in phals? I thought I'd try some of this when I repot.

What kind of perlite are you folks using? Is the stuff sold at the big box stores (like Miracle Grow Perlite) too small and lightweight? I'm asking because the perlite sold online specifically for orchids is larger and has a more coarse appearance.

And then, there's sponge rock - is that used the same as perlite? If so, what's the difference?

Last, but not least, what are the advantages & disadvantages of cocconut chips? I currently have at least one catt. in these chips & the stuff is as hard as a rock.

I know there's no one recipe for potting all orchids, but as I experiment, I'd like to get a better understanding of materials available and when to use them.