How long to soak potting medium

[boxerfan]

I recently repotted a Phal in a pre-packaged medium bark, perlite and charcoal medium which I soaked over night. Now I have to water the plant every day, it's not holding any moisture. How long should I soak the medium so it holds water? Thanks, Lisa

[Sharyn]

Lisa: I found soaking the bark for 24-48 hours is best. Usually, I go for 48 hours. If you used a pre-packaged mix, the bark may be a little large, at least that's what I found with the pre-mixed stuff. The larger bark pieces caused my phal to dehydrate. I actually cut the bark in smaller pieces for the phal.

Some have recommended soaking your pot for 15-30 minutes several times a week to get the bark to hold moisture. Lets see if others weigh in with some suggestions.

[mayres]

All barks are definately not created equal. I have found properly prepared bark will start absorbing water right away, but others can be stubborn and take weeks/months to start acting like wood instead of rock. I vote with Sharyn - soak your pot, roots, bark and all each time you water until it starts absorbing water. The longer you grow phals and the more you repot I'm going to wager that eventually you will switch to a more moisture retentive option. Good luck - mike

[sandra]

I'm with Mike on this boxerfan. Not all barks are created equal. Also, I think soaking time depends on where you live. If you're in hot, humid climate (like I am), moisture retention is never a big issue. I soak my bark around 3-4 hours and after I'm done soaking, I take the already wet bark, put it back in the bag and seal it tight. I don't know if you've read the threads here on "sphag. in a bag" but that theory applies to what I have successfully accomplished with the bark. Keeping it tightly sealed after it's soaked for a few hours, keeps my bark moisture retentive.

[kmarch]

I believe there are 2 seperate issues at work here. I suspect your having to water a lot has much to do with how moisture retentive the mix is and little to do with how long the bark was soaked before potting. These are 2 separate issues. Regarding the frequency of watering, I suspect, as Mike indicated, that as you go on you'll move toward a more moisture retentive mix. I use the same mix on both my Paphs and Phals. Also as you're in summer now you may be watering more because it is wamer and things dry out faster. You may find that come this winter you may only have to water a couple of times per week.

Regarding the soaking of potting mix, I've been buying big bags of orchid bark which are pre soaked. This makes them a !#@%& to haul around but it is so convenient to just open a bag of bark and pot that it's worth it. It also cuts way down on the dust factor. But I'm in Australia. Do any of you in the US buy bark in big bags pre-soaked?

Cheers

[palito]

Boxerfan: are you absolutely sure 100% sure it is fully dry? the bark pieces in the top of the pot may look dry, but the center of the pot may be moist enough.

[boxerfan]

I'm using the skewer method and it is all but dry in the center every day. Very frustrating. Thanks all, Lisa

[Sharyn]

Originally Posted by kmarch

Do any of you in the US buy bark in big bags pre-soaked?

I've never seen any pre-soaked bark here. The Schultz potting bark bags seem to have more moisture than others I've tried. Usually, I mix up my own combinations, but I'm curious about storing bark in a zip lock bag that still retains moisture. Aren't you worried that it may develope mold, especially with hot weather?

[Hummer344]

Your potting mix may be to big. Anything without a pseudo bulb I plant in a fine mix. Usually fine dyna-roc, fine bark, perlite and charcole. This gives me more water retention in the phal and paphs. I soak my fine bark & rock for a minimunm of 12 hours before using. The bigger the mix the longer I soak it and it dry's out quicker.

[Sharyn]

Lisa: I agree with Hummer. The bark mixture is probably too big. I've had this problem in the past. Since you just repotted recently, I'm not sure if it would be a good idea to start over, If it were me, I would. Phals are forgiving and I already lost one due to this problem and not doing an immediate remedy.

One of two things: You're going to have to soak several times a week for 15-30 minutes to get some moisture in the bark, OR, start over with the repot

Soak some bark for 48 hours. Take a pair of sterilized snippers and cut the bark into smaller pieces after it's soaked. Hummer is right, you need smaller pieces of media to keep the roots moist. Usually, the pre-bagged phal mixes have bark that's too big. If you have some sphag. moss, you can cut up a little and add it to the bark, along with some charcoal and perlite. The moss will help to retain some moisture.

I think Mayres mentioned, you may steer into another direction with your media. Gradually, I'm switching over to more moisture retentive media and it seems to have solved this problem of dry bark and dehydrated roots.