What potting medium are Most of your orchids growing in?

[Dave]

Okay I thought I would give this poll thing a try:

What potting medium are Most of your orchid growing in?

[phillipinmissouri]

I have grown oncidiums in rolled pumice and I hear of rock wool and also of osmundia fiber, I have not been able to find rock wool or osmundia.Any comments?What about moisture retention gell pellets?
thanks phil

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Small perlite (4) and coursely sifted peat moss (3), and now I am experimenting with a little builders sand added (1/4 or less). Everything, except standard Cymbidiums (Cym mix), and some Epidendrums (fine bark) and a few Calanthe/Phaius (some of above 2 items), are in this mix. 5 months of results so far and everything (500+ plants), except a couple of Vandas, out of a dozen, are doing very well in this. A small percentage of these plants are actually in perlite and coir. Of these, some are showing minor signs of salt burn on the tips of leaves, inspite of very extensive pre-rinsing and testing the run-off water with a TDS meter during the rinsing process and a long soak in hard water prior to the final thorough rinsing. Think I will not be using coir any more. Too much work and too little or negative benifit.

I will be repotting once a year, and this is a very fast, easy process, with no or little damage to the roots, as the mix can be washed from the root ball with a hose. Also, I use very small pots, as I only have to plan for one years growth. This helps me accomodate so many plants in a temporary 8'x12' GH plus attached coldframe. Cynthia
http://www.pbase.com/schnitz/temporary_greenhouse

Update: Currently using 3 parts perlite to 2 parts peat, and 3/4 cup EB Stone pelitized dolomite to 1/2 cu ft mix. Very happy with results and am moving all of the fine bark plants into this mix.

[Sallyd]

I have moved everything into semi-hydroponics (about 100) and love it. My orchids are much happier.

[orchidaddict789]

Most of mine are in some sort of mixture containing bark. There are many types, ranging for coarse chunks to a finer texture, sometimes even mixed with peat moss (got to be careful with that!). Sometimes I mix bark with sphag to get a more water retentive mix, though I don't use sphag except for the youngest phal seedlings. Sphag is too dry and I used to be an overwaterer so I've used bark for a long time. Works really great. I did get a bit curious and tried my hands at growing a den in lava rock, which yields satisfactory results.

[machiela]

I like the inorganics like DynaRok, Aliflor, LECA. I also like mounting on cork & tree fern. Most are available on eBay

[Shannon]

The majority of my orchids are in DynaRok now. Bought from Machiela, of course

[orkidlady]

Hi there,

I mostly use coconut bark and have had very good luck with it. I am finding I don't have to repot as often as the medium does not break down as fast.

[Orchidlady]

Tindara Mix is working for me!!! Sandy

[lunaticvulpine]

coir/diatomite and spagh depending on requirements of individual plant . i think most of my plants are doing rather well but i cant tell just yet. but i tend to pot bigger because i grow moisture loving plants and also i dont have the time to repot on a continual basis as some of my plants seem to just take off running.

[Srivida]

90% of mine are in LECA, 5% in sphagnum moss and the rest are mounted.

[Kristy Tinner]

I am new to orchids, how do you water without causing the roots to rot. I tend to over water, but know 2 of my flowers are wilting. How do I water moss correctly??

[greg_s]

since I am relatively new, all of mine are in different mediums as I experiment. Got one in a bark mix, one in sphag, one in a charcoal mix, and one mounted on grapewood.

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Kristy, look for posts discusing the use of bamboo skewers. There have been plenty of these. Cynthia, Prescott, AZ

[I. C. Unicorns]

Yes, yes, yes. use a bamboo skewer. It saved my Phalenopsis from my overwatering! I repotted in bark and pumice bits and figured this stuff could never be overwatered. Curiosity made me check a month later after my plant looked worse and the bark was sodden at the bottom in an orchid pot and many roots were dead! I put styrofoam peanuts in the bottom, mixed half the bark with spaghum moss and put a plastic bag around it for a month. My orchid is doing great and sprouted a new leaf. The skewer stays wet far longer than I expected, so I know exactly when to water now.

[Usha]

Hey My name is Usha,I'm from Trinidad.I've been growing Orchids since 2005.I love them,they are my precious jems.

[Usha]

Dendrobiums are my favorites

[Tmai]

Hi, Usha, welcome! May I ask how your dendrobiums are potted?
Tami

[Mothman]

I was at the local Loews today and saw a product made by Better Orchids called "Phalenopsis Orchid Mix", designed specifically for moth orchids. It cost about $6 and seemed to contain bark bits, perlite I think, and small white fertilizer balls.

Anyone use this before?

I noticed that alot of ppl taking the poll use bark..any particular reason? Is it better than moss?

thanks

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Less chance of rotting roots using bark than moss. There is no one right mix. Cynthia, Prescott, AZ

[arleneg]

Althought I use bark in all of my potting mix, I'd like to try coconut husks with a few of my orchids. Does anyone know where I can get/buy these?

[eikon]

most everything i have is in bark/perlite, i have a Brassavola Nodosa that's happy as a clam in decomposed granite(ya know, the stuff they put under railroad tracks) and i am dying to try putting a phal in course beach glass