Gin's right, I tried some dens and phals in Diatomite. I already had a B. Little Stars growing well in it and figured it was worth a shot. Weeelll....so far, after a few months....the phals were looking rather sad and when I dumped them out of their pots I found some very DRY roots! Granted the phals had been in sphag previously....but I never dreamed they'd be too dry! I even watered alot more often, too.
The Dens seem happy in Diatomite, but again....I'm watering more frequently than when they were in bark! Why is that? I grow indoors under fluorescents and expect to water more than if in a gh but I thought Diatomite would hold more water, longer than bark?
The B. Little Stars that just loves this stuff....once a week watering/clay pot and it's in a west window!
Another thing I did was try AG on some and, so far, I'm NOT seeing the mix staying too wet. At least the roots are more moist, which I think has to do with the other stuff in AG and not the Diatomite. My problem is figuring out how dry is too dry, as the instructions say not to let it dry out or you have to soak the pot for a couple of hours.
I'm guessing....but I think the Diatomite may actually wick the moisture OUT of the organic stuff in AG and that's why they claim you can't over water in it???
I even tried some phals in clay pellets only, in plastic pots (non sh)...BAD idea for me...again, nearly every root had dried to paper. In a gh it would be great, but growing indoors didn't work for me since I refuse to water every day.
Just thought I'd toss in some thoughts on what I did and what didn't work in case anyone else wants to point out something I might have done better.
Maggie