Miracle Gro Brand?

[iwannie24]

I have recently acquired three new orchids (see pics):

Neostylis Lou sneary 'bluebird'
Bifranaria Tyranthina
Pot. haw yuan gold

What would you recommend for their potting media, lighting, and watering routines? I got them as a Christmas gift from my wonderful boyfriend and I don't want them to die!

I currently have them in the Miracle Gro Orchid mix for orchids (see pic) but this seems relatively water-retentive for orchids, so I would like some advice/opinions on that type in particular. I have some Phalaes recovering from root rot, so I would like to avoid that heartache again.

Thanks!

[iwannie24]

Clarification: I repotted the Neostylis in the Miracle Gro, but left the other two in a very barky, fibrous mix they were living in before I got them.

[Brooke]

The Miracle Grow is fine as long as you adjust your watering because it does hold water for quite a while.

The second picture is that the Bif? It looks like that mix has coco chunks in it so will hold water longer than straight bark the Pot is in.

For the Bifranaria tyranthina winter is the dry-er time for this species. I let mine dry out before watering again. During the growing season I grow it very moist and in catt light.

Brooke

[hera]

I use Miricle Grow for my phrags. Its water retentive and not suitible for plants that like to have their roots dry out between watering.

[Leafmite]

For the Pot. and the neostylis, I would use large chunks of something. I have my neostylis, neofinetia, and cattleyas in lava rock and plastic net baskets and the roots are really nice and healthy. Large CHC (coconut Husk chips) is another really great option (from my reading, probably the best), if you can find it. If you really want to use the miracle grow stuff, you definitely should use vanda baskets and use as little of the mix as possible. What a thoughtful boyfriend to get you such special orchids!
Leafmite

[JudyC]

I personally had no luck with it. I'm too inexperienced with orchids, didn't use the skewer method then and almost drowned them 1x per week.

Mind you I've kept my bag tightly closed & will use it down the road for when I get "moisture loving" chids like phrags

Good luck tho - best change your water habits with the 1 in that mix - it retains water for a long time - this was just my personal experience with it. Others may love it, but they probably have more experience than I

[iwannie24]

I will probably end up repotting the Neostylis into something else. From the collective advice in all the replies (thanks!) and what I've been reading, it sounds like it would prefer something with very good drainage and more frequent waterings (like 2x/week). As for the Bifranaria and the Yuan, I'll probably keep them in their original medium. It's got very good drainage (although I'm not even sure what it has in it). It seems to have some big fibrous chunks and bark, as well as some white little breakable stones that I think may be Perlite?

Brooke,
The second picture is the Bif. Sorry for the confusion. You mentioned catt light... is that similar to an eastern window? Or do you keep yours in a grow rack?

[Brooke]

I would suggest you check the roots on the Bif and repot it higher in the pot. The pbulbs need to skim across the media and your rhizome appears buried and could possibly rot any new growth.

The Bif and Potinara need the same light and sitting close to an east window is probably sufficient. I grow in a g/h.

Brooke