Aliflor?

[psyc1210]

I have been reading info regarding s/h....and I've been trying to find something else to help my dendrobium that I received this past summer, and I recently repotted it into a bark mix, because I discovered that it was in 100% sphag, and the roots were TERRIBLY rotten. I am actually worried that it won't make it. Even though the foliage looks lovely, and there are two new canes starting...still, the roots were so bad. So I wanted to repot into something that will not break down at all. And I thought about doing 100% aliflor, but not using a semi-hydro pot....just a regular bottom draining pot. Is this a good idea, and will I be needing to water it much more often than it needed to be when in bark mix...also, if this medium is appropriate, would it be good for my phals, cattleya, paphs, and my new miltonia?

[exasperatus2002]

Phals Paphs & Cattleya's can do very well in s/h. Just make sure that when you make the switch the roots are actively growing so they can adapt to the new root enviroment better. I have no experience with Milt's so I cant say anything about them.

[Tobi]

Just from my neck of the woods, a couple of growers in the orchid society that I
belong to and grow in s/h have not had good luck growing Mitonias/Miltoniopsis.
Phals, Paphs and Catts, like Exasperatus stated, no problem.

[sandra]

No wonder your Dend. had rotted roots psyc., sphag. stays much too wet for Dends. I have quite a few Catts. in aliflor and all my Dends in bark which, they seem to be happiest in. I would imagine that your Dend. will be ok in the aliflor. One thing I've noticed is when repotting Dends., they acclimate quicker when withholding watering for a few weeks afterwards and even then, I water every other week...in winter. Don't despair. Dends. are very hard to kill and even though yours has lost a lot of roots, once they're put into a more optimum medium, they'll begin growing more canes then roots.

[E-Jag]

Sandra, do you have phal type dens? How often do you water in summer?

________________
E-Jag

[arleneg]

psyc1210,

Since you'll be using a standard pot (i.e. drainage holes at the bottom), you will need to water it more often, as if it's mounted. The alifor dries out rather quickly (like any clay pot). If watering more often is something you won't mind doing, go for it. If it is, I suggest using a potting medium that will hold a little more moisture, like medium coconut husk chips combined with perlite -- provides good drainage, yet holds more moisture than bark, but less than sphag. Using the coconut chips will lessen your waterings.

[sandra]

Originally Posted by E-Jag

Sandra, do you have phal type dens? How often do you water in summer?

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E-Jag

Hi E-Jag. Yes, I have a few phal type Dends. My 2 smaller potted ones get watered about every 4-5 days in summer and my huge one, about once a week.