Is Sphagnum good or bad...

[ebsheal]

I just bought an orchid, not my first btw, and I want to try something new. I also have bought some sphagnum moss as a media for that orchid. I bought the orchid at this awesome orchid grower, Carter and Holmes, and I really want it to do well. It is a phal and I really want to put it in the moss, but I don't know if I should, cause I have heard some bad things about it. Should I mix it with something else or is it just fine by itself. Thanks guys, you all have been great!
~ebsheal

[FLBob]

I grow all my Phals in moss. I use long fiber Chilean moss. I wrap the roots loosely with moss, and keep the moss moist. I change the moss every year. I have good air flow around my Phals. I'm happy with my results. I appear to me in the minority...

[fred]

I would suggest mixing the sphag with some orchid mix
I find sphagnum moss to be a very good medium
I have my phals in a medium bark mix

[Laura81]

I have found that the roots grow really well in sphagnum. The key is just to have it very loosely packed. Plus it is a lot easier to stick a finger down into the center of moss than bark mix to see how dry it is.

[digitalgate]

it all depend on how you water the plant. If you water once every 10 day may be that would be alright. If U , like me will get a spasm once -if i don't water once a day. Then pink bark is for you.

[hulaorchid]

WELCOME! You will get great advise here from many different geeks! We are one big happy family!! I am still experimenting with moss so I have no advise as of yet on this issue!

[fred]

I think this may help you also ebsheal

http://www.orchidgeeks.com/forum/gen...tml#post123957

[ebsheal]

OK so I need to keep it loose and airy. My roommate is urging me full force to do it with just moss like we have seen at Carter and Holmes, PS I live 15 minutes from the nursery!, and I want to mix it with some bark. I have a mix that I bought off line for my oncidium, and i could blend in some moss to that. what do you think, just moss or mix? Thanks for all the warm wishes I love plant people!

[FLaCo]

I use Spaq. to mount plants onto their mount (did that make sense?). They help the plant retain moisture while mounted. I try to avoid Spaq. in pots because of retaining TOO much moisture. On a mount it is usually dry the next day, but in a pot the water lingers for too long.

That isn't to say it won't work for you.

[FLaCo]

Originally Posted by ebsheal

OK so I need to keep it loose and airy. My roommate is urging me full force to do it with just moss like we have seen at Carter and Holmes, PS I live 15 minutes from the nursery!, and I want to mix it with some bark. I have a mix that I bought off line for my oncidium, and i could blend in some moss to that. what do you think, just moss or mix? Thanks for all the warm wishes I love plant people!

The best idea is to just remember what you used and compensate your watering. If you use just moss which retains moisture for a longer periods of time then you should hold off on watering until it is almost dry. If you use a mix plus the moss then hold off a little less, and if you use just airy mix then your watering will have to be frequent. If you over water your plants root system will rot and eventually die.

Also, keep in mind of the climate. Are you indoors or outdoors? How warm is it in the summer? Is it windy? Your watering will change throughout the year depending on the season. Evaporation is less indoors than outdoors because of the natural factors. Hopefully this isn't over whelming...it will seem easy as you start getting a feel for it.

I prefer an airy mix in my potted plants and moss on my mounted ones. Hope that helped.

[FLBob]

I never let my moss go dry, it's always moist. The roots of the Phals are always plump and greenish. My moss is only wet right after I water. I keep defending growing Phals in moss because it's the only way I've been successful.
I don't know what others are doing that causes root rot, but I can tell you it's not a problem I have.
I don't over pot. So I tend to have a high ratio of root volume of to moss.
I maintain good airflow around and over the plants.

[FLaCo]

Phals in general shouldn't be left to completely dry out. That is why I mentioned almost dry, moist to the touch but not drenched. I should have made myself clear. Sorry about that.

I grow my upside down potted Phals in a tiny bit of moss and they do well. The water just drips off right away. I haven't had the best of luck with just moss when upright, water just sits. I try maintain good air flow with two big fans but I still have to work hard to keep fungus form invading during the summer.

Ebsheal, your best bet is to just plant it and see if it works. With orchids, sometimes you just have to experiment.

[ebsheal]

Pics of the unhappy little soldier....

[Hummer344]

I have campaigned against the use of moss for the casual home grower for a long time. I will take any plant I buy that is in moss and repot it in my mix within a few days. If moss stays to wet it will rot the roots. If to dry it becomes water phobic and will not absorb moisture. When too dry you will have to soak the whole thing to re-wet the moss. If you are a person to watch your plants closely then moss might do well for you. I am rather haphaszard about my watering so moss does not do well in my case. My orhcid talks are geared toward the casual home grower and I reccomend that they, like me, repot anything that is in moss.

[PhalPal]

I have learned to grow phals in just about everything, but I have also learned to adjust my watering habits to suit just about everything!!

If moss scares you a little bit but you still want to try it, mix it with one more ingredient that will keep it light and fluffy without adding to the water retention. My favorite is tree fern. It is not readily available in
stores so i get it online, usually repotme.com.

Another big, big help is to use the skewer method no matter which media you choose. It will take the guess work out of when to water, and overwatering is what makes sphagnum a little tricky.

[digitalgate]

Originally Posted by PhalPal

I have learned to grow phals in just about everything, but I have also learned to adjust my watering habits to suit just about everything!!

use coconut. Sure you can fine one or two in ca.

[PhalPal]

Digi I love coco husks and grow my cyms and catts in it. I have recently used it shredded for phals and paphs. I like that it doesn't break down like bark, which is the only medium I do not get along with.

I have two Twinkles growing in coconut halves; it looks really cute and nice for the patio.