Potting Medium?

[mrk135]

I've been doing alot of reading here about potting mediums, and I'm concerned. My phals are both potted in fir bark, only fir bark. This is what they were in to begin with, so I used it again. Now I'm thinking this is a mistake. Also, I'm beginning to think I packed them too tightly ... should I repot them now? Also, I don't know what to use for my den-phal.

Help!

Michele

[Anton]

I use bark and chunks of polystyrene foam mixed in with it, nothing else.

Went through the coconut coir chips phase but was losing plants to rot, so ditched that idea, and haven't looked back.

I use a fine bark mix for seedlings and species Phals, medium for intermediate size plants (most of my collection) and large for Catts, Blcs, Vandas/Ascocendas and Cyms. ALL with the foam chunks.

Allows for good drainage and air to circulate throughout the mix so it doesn't go as stale so quickly.

[Ron]

Hi Michele.
I live in a coolish climate were I have to provide heating for my Phallies in winter.
Outside it can go down to zero some nights but average about 7 to 10 C in winter nights.
So I use a very open mix with good results, Just plain 15 mm treated pine bark with no additives.
See Photo of roots growing in clear pots, use this mix for most of my other orchids. See the flower spike forming
It is a open mix so in hot weather may require watering more often.
I suppose their are hundreds of different Phallie mixes but this works well for me.
Cheerio
Ron

[mrk135]

Thanks Anton and Ron. I feel better knowing this has worked for others as well. Ron, I live in a dry climate, summer days are 85-100, so I do notice I have to water more often than normal.

Thanks again!

Michele

[mayres]

I would like to encourage you to try some different media types as time goes on. There is no question that bark has been used alone and with other media types blended for decades with super results. However, when compared with media which is less "open" in nature - such as sphag or coir - most phals have been shown to exhibit superior results when grown in side by side tests. This concept surely doesn't work for everyone, but is worth taking a lot at for your environment and culture habits if/once the time arrives that you are prepared to venture. In the meantime - enjoy your phals in bark!

[Anton]

I agree with Mike, experiment, I did, mind you, with some devistating results, but I learnt from it and went on from there.

Experiment with plants that you can afford to lose, such as cheap "rescues" and document what mix you put into each pot, and eventually you'll come up with a range of mixes for different plants.