AOS indorsed?

[Phalcycle]

Hello all,

I am here today to warn you about Better-Gro orchid mixes.

I am still a newbie orchid grower, but I have learned what mixes are good and which aren't good

Better-Gro bark mix for Phalaenopsis is NOT a good mix.
It says it is AOS indorsed, so I thought it would be a good gorwing medium...
So, I opened the bag, and then noticed that it was awfully wet and humid inside. I thought to myself, okay, maybe its a good things it's premoistened... So I proceed to taking a hand full out, only to noticed the bark was really soft.
It seems as though the bark is already rotted, or used.

and the bark peices were awufully large sized, they were the size of MagicRub erasers.

[dounoharm]

i have given up on the prepackaged mixes, they are all horrible....i mix my own and buy from an online source.....repotme.com is good, as well as many others....google orchid bark or orchid potting mix and you will get a good number of sources....gl

[syndywindy]

I get mine from repotme as well. The quality is excellent and you can create a mix to your own liking and orchids.

[fred]

AOS endorsed could mean two things
one is maybe some of the powers that are in place in the AOS use the mix and are letting all know its good stuff.

or two AOS endorsed maybe just for financial gain to sell more products

the old saying goes if you find a product and are happy with it stick to it

many geeks make there own mix as well

I get the bark from my orchid society and make the rest up myself

[Joan]

I haven't experienced any problem with Better Gro potting mix.

[WoWElf]

i've used Better Grow mixes and so has my parents. I have only seen that brand at Lowes. I've also used Gubbers from other big box stores (when I'm lazy to mail order). The big box store bark mixes all seem the same to me. Maybe you just received a really bad/old batch at the store. So far I like buying from repotme's pre-mixes for different types of orchids. I have bought the paph, cymbidium and oncidium classic mixes so far. Repotme is fast at shipping the order too. Well, I hope you will find a better suited mix one day. Bye, bye

[sunshine]

I use the Better Gro Special orchid mix from Lowes and haven't had any problems and my chids seem really happy in it. I did get a bag of the phal mix and wasn't all that impressed so I mix it with something else.

As for the bad bag of mix. It could have been sitting on the shelf for quite a while. I inspect the bags and squeeze what I can squeeze to see what is good. Did you take the bag back to Lowes and exchange or get your money back

I have just recently started experimenting with making my own mixes. One of my favorites is coco chop bark and perlite (sponge rock).

I see a lot of you order from repotme. I am very tempted as I can never find the right size clear plastic pots and am limited to where I can get pots.

[Brooke]

The bag was stored improperly at the store obviously for a long time in very moist conditions. Return it to the store for a refund.

Brooke

[FLBob]

Usually the better grow product line is good quality. Sun Bulb is the parent company and Robert Palmer is the head orchid grower.

I use their Sphagnum moss, and have used their fertilizers, and potting mixes. I have stopped using their potting mix, choosing instead to formulate my own.

Many growers I know have switched to rexius bark. The heat treating seems to keep it from breaking down quickly.

[Ray]

Phalcycle - you stated you were a newbie, take this as a learning experience.

There are so many potential differences in the individuals' growing conditions and their watering habits, that what's "perfect" for one could be "poison" for another, and that is especially true of potting media.

[maiseymoo]

Originally Posted by sunshine

I have just recently started experimenting with making my own mixes. One of my favorites is coco chop bark and perlite (sponge rock).

I have just started making my own mixes and have used coco bark and perlite on my paph and it seems to love it!!
I once bought a premixed bag (before orchidgeeks!) and it was just like compost, so I stay away now.

[janet_a]

i'm always concerned about any mix that's stored in an airtight bag. if it's stored in one with some holes, then i'll buy it, but otherwise i tend to think the condensation on the inside of the bag can't be good....

[Bolero]

Yeah use what works for you, a standard mix like that cannot be suitable in all circumstances (and I don't like the sound of it anyway). It's always better to mix your own so you know what is going into it and how it's been prepared.

Thanks for the heads up!