Miracle-Gro Orchid Potting Mix

[wickidgrrl]

Hey Everybody. So i am about to repot my phals and cattleya, and i had picked up this new mix by Miracle-Gro. I cleaned up my 'chids, and opened the Miracle-Gro bag literally like ten minutes ago, and lo and behold, the mix is almost like soil. The bag said it was a course mix, and i guess i was expecting more of a consistency to the usual bark/charcoal mix i use. I guess if i mix it with the phal mix i have, it will balance it out. And i will also have to be careful not to overwater. Anyone out there have any experience using this or similiar(orchid dirt)? Would like a response asap, thanks. I know i should've opened the bag before i started the repotting process. Well, just another newbie mistake i will learn from,lol!
By the way, i live in Florida, so maybe this stuff will help out with giving my orchids a little bit of moisture retention, in the florida climate? i will be hanging them on my patio.

[janet_a]

i usually use about 3 parts coarse bark to one part bagged mix like that, just to get the charcoal and perlite and stuff.

you're not the first to have bought a bag of that and opened it and found it already decomposed to crumbs, if that makes you feel any better.

[palito]

I have used that mixture with phals and oncidium hybrids. It does work well even if it looks like soil. It's very light and airy. You just be careful watering since it retains lot of moisture