Terrestrial potting mix

[Hornet]

I'm wondering what members here grow their terrestrial orchids in (Australian tuberous species in particular). I received my tuber order from the Victorian native orchid society yesterday and was thinking of trying a couple of different mixes if i have the ingredients on hand. My current mix is approx 40-50% sharp sand, approx 40% budget potting mix, 10-20% wood chips (mix of fresh and partially rotted) and a small handful of blood and bone but i havent grown a full season with it so yet to see the results (my previous mix hardened on drying so had to change) and would like to trial some different mixes/ratios with some of the easy species i have to pot up. Any suggestions?

[Andrew]

I use 40% coarse sand, 20% soil, 20% gum leaf mould and 20% eucamulch + 1 tblsp blood'n'bone/10L mix for most species, adding a bit more sand for Caladenia and a bit more leaf mould for Corybas. This mix works under Victorian conditions if the pots are protected from the rain but I have no idea how it would perform in Queensland.

[PhalPal]

I grow Sobralia in-ground and I use 1/2 cheap potting mix and half coco husks. So far, so good!!

[Hornet]

Originally Posted by Andrew

I use 40% coarse sand, 20% soil, 20% gum leaf mould and 20% eucamulch + 1 tblsp blood'n'bone/10L mix for most species, adding a bit more sand for Caladenia and a bit more leaf mould for Corybas. This mix works under Victorian conditions if the pots are protected from the rain but I have no idea how it would perform in Queensland.

quite similar to the mix i am using, i dont see why it wouldnt work well here as long as i keep them protected (as i do)

[Andrew]

Originally Posted by Hornet

quite similar to the mix i am using, i dont see why it wouldnt work well here as long as i keep them protected (as i do)

The part that I am not sure about is the effect of your summer humidity on the drying rate. This is something you'll have to experiment with.

[terra_australis]

I'm trying out a 90% perlite, 10% peat mix for a couple of Diuris this season. I was sent some potted this way and they seemed to have done well in it for the last season.

Other than that my general purpose mix is much the same as yours. I do however use a premium potting mix as a base as I find some of the cheap ones contain water crystals and slow release fertilisers that occasionally seem to damage the plants.