Perlite and Peat Moss

[Bolero]

Hi,

I have done a search in this forum and couldn't find this specific topic.

I bought some cattleya hybrids from a nursery on the east coast of Australia mid last year and the year before. He used to use Sphagnum for his catt's and they grew well but sphagnum became to expensive to continue using. The nursery is now using a mix of perlite with a small amount of peat moss.

I have to say that my cattleya's in the perlite are far exceeding the health and growth rates of the ones i grow in a mix of bark and perlite. In fact I am surprised that the plants in the perlite and peat have continued to grow strongly over a cold winter outside with the roots growing through the bottom of the pots and through the benches they sit on (I had to tear some roots to lift a pot off the bench).

Does anyone here use this combination for their cattleya hybrids? I plan to convert all my cattleyas in bark over to the perlite mix in the coming spring. I water less but get better growth with nicer green leaves and flowering on smaller plants. What do you think? The plants seem to have more even moisture in the mix and require watering less often as well. The plants in bark have lighter coloured leaves and slower, weaker growth rates. I am hoping this isn't just my imagination.

If anyone can recommend a recipe for this as well, I would appreciate it......like 4 parts of perlite to 1 part of peat? What would work without making them to wet? Sorry to have rambled on.

Thanks

Darren

[tansyflower]

Are you talking about sphagnum or that brown peat moss you buy in bricks?

I have quite a few different genera potted in nearly straight perlite that all seem to be doing well. Most I have bought from orchid shows, so there would be a variety of different (home) sellers. Sphag and I don't get on.

[jerrymeola]

just think about what the medium is doing.

Perlite is inorganic and does not decompose like bark. It will give you results like semi-hydroponic stones without the hydroponic effect. It is similar to growing bare root.

Peat moss is very rich organic and while it can cause problems for orchids when used too heavy, when used in small quantities I can understand its benefits. It will help balance the lack of nutrients in perlite.

While I do not use this combination I can understand why it works.

[syndywindy]

Is the perlite real chunky or is it in small bits and pieces? Very curious about growing in perlite and sphag.

[Bolero]

They are potted in the brown peat moss that comes in bricks. It's like a powder I think when used. It's not sphagnum moss but I believe it's what happens when sphagnum moss breaks down and dies.

It is working really well, I am using the coarse stuff. When it stops raining here I will take a photo for you guys. I am really impressed so far.

[Ron]

Hi Daren.
I hope all goes well with your mix of perlite and peat.
It was the rage here a few years back, fine for a while until the peat moss start to grow and its roots bind the mix together rather tightly.
Many members lost orchids through this idea.
I use to grow many years ago hundreds of Venus Fly traps in mix of peat & course sand of 1-2mm mixed 50/50
Plants grew very well for a year or so until the moss roots grew thickly and binding the mix rather tightly.
Requiring me to repot every one to 2 years or so.
Keep an eye on it.
Cheerio
Ron

[Bolero]

Thanks Ron, that is useful information. I thought Peat Moss was actually dead moss that is decaying. But it's still alive????

I haven't noticed any moss yet but there is a green algae appearance at the top so I will keep an eye on it. I guess if the peat does that I can go with just perlite and fertilise more often.

Thanks again.

[berniep]

G'Day Bolero

An interesting thread, and Ron I find your comments of great interest also. Firstly I must point out the real hazard of using perlite, the dust is the same as powered glass, so be careful. Having said this the following link may be of interest Perlite Gradation and Peat/Perlite Mixtures

Cheers
Bernie

[Bolero]

I use a mask and always moisten the perlite even if I am mixing with bark as I usually do. I do have a bad experience once where I was leaning over a bag of perlite which I somehow knocked at the base and managed to get a mouthful of perlite dust. I am happy to still be breathing.......lol. That was one day I thought I would cough up a lung and I learnt from that experience.

[orchids4me]

Hi Bolero,
I've been experimenting with my Catts for 2 months now. I have 3 groups of Catts some in fine and med bark with charcoal and perlite, next group in med bark with coco chip pearlite and charcoal and last group in Mayres (Mikes) coir perlite and charcoal mix but with a tad bit more pearlite in it. So far I'd have to say Mikes coir mix is winning in the plants health and resilience over the other 2 mixes and am seriously considering switching them all over to Mikes mix.
Hope this helps
Emmaye

[Bolero]

It does help a lot. I guess they can take more moisture than I thought as long as they have access to the moisture and aren't sitting there wet.

Thanks heaps!!!

[zaeem]

Bolero,
USEFUL ? my catts are in coco chips and crocks mostly ,holds roots well and moist.I t holds fert.aswell on weekly basis.i Am of the view roots need to be moist and needs to hold moist ground i.e bark,coco,crocks,styrafoam or te mix of sphagnum and peralite---Should it matter?

zaeem

[11Orchid126]

There seems to be some confusion about the moss. This is a pretty pathetic explanaintion. For the sake of clarity, we'll call one "sphagnum" moss, and the other "peat" moss. The sphagnum moss is the living moss that has been cut, dried, and then can be reconstituted, and often starts growing again. It is leafy and bouyant. The peat moss is this same moss only composted down to pretty much the lowest common denominator. It is dark brown, very compact, and never grows again.

[Bolero]

Originally Posted by 11Orchid126

There seems to be some confusion about the moss. This is a pretty pathetic explanaintion. For the sake of clarity, we'll call one "sphagnum" moss, and the other "peat" moss. The sphagnum moss is the living moss that has been cut, dried, and then can be reconstituted, and often starts growing again. It is leafy and bouyant. The peat moss is this same moss only composted down to pretty much the lowest common denominator. It is dark brown, very compact, and never grows again.

Yes that's what I thought, peat moss can't grow as it's actually dead.

I went to a major orchid show today and spoke to 3 vendors who use perlite for their orchids. One uses perlite exclusively with no additives and it works for him, another uses peat moss with the perlite and it works for him and the 3rd uses coco peat (powdered CHC) and that works for him. So the common denominator is the perlite and 2 of the 3 add fine organic material. It's used as a ration of 6 parts perlite to 1 part coconut peat or peat moss. I will go for the peat moss as other nurseries use it as well with the perlite and will let you know how it goes. I will take a few photos of the plants I have so you can see how they grow.

I used to be impressed with coconut for the first 12 months until I realised its short comings but this one - perlite and peat seems to solve all my issues (orchid related issues that is).