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

[christinek]

Hi all..

I had a few people ask me how I did so well with my vandas indoors etc.. etc.. And for the most part.. This includes my vandas and my other orchids as well. I used the Miracle Grow orchid mix , but I mixed it with Schultz's orchid mix. Being that schultz will break up the soil and the plants love it. And it makes watering less frequent.. Once a week in the summer, and two weeks without watering in the winter.. Being that's what I do anyways.. LOL But so far so good with my orchid crack.. That's what I call it, because the miracle grow has food pods in their mix and the orchids love it and seem to respond to it well..

[patticake]

I use Schultz. I squeezed a bag of Miracle Gro- orchid mix once, (Please, don't squeeze the Charmin!) and didn't like what I was feeling! Not ALL potting mix is created equal!

[christinek]

LMAO!! The CHARMIN!! My god! Mr.WHIPPLE!!!!! AHAHHAAHA

But yes.. I was a bit skeptical too patti.. And then I saw how the orchids reacted to the food pods in the mix and it was positive note. I've tried with and without mixing of schultz orchid mix and one plants roots got a bit soggy and died.. where as when I mixed it with schultz.. It was good to go..

[katrina]

Patti -- I have to ask...do you do anything special w/your Schultz mix?

I had some horrible results when I used it. I'm talking compaction and root rot..even a white fungus yuk in the bottoms of the pots! I lost several plants...it was a complete nightmare. Whereas, my other plants that were potted in Better Gro's mix have done fabulously...they're happy and healthy.

I've read other posts where people are using that Schultz mix w/good results so I'm wondering what the heck I did wrong.

[christinek]

Really Katrina? I sure hope i don't run into that problem with that schultz mix.. so far so good.. And all is well.. (fingers crossed again) lol

[katrina]

I've only run into one other person (locally) who had a similar problem. Which is why I'm thinking perhaps others are doing something different than what I did. I don't know. I should add...I used that mix early on in my orchid life and it was before I knew you should soak the mix prior to potting up. I'm wondering if that has something to do w/my results. ??

I lost several Oncid alliance before I knew what was happening and my catts that were in it...they didn't succumb to the situation but...well...they're in recovery now. Most look to be bouncing back quite nicely. The Oncids that didn't die completely...they are taking longer to bounce back. Still not sure if they'll make it.

Like I said though...I know others have had success w/the mix so I'm wondering what they did that was different. Maybe it's the soaking aspect. ??

[christinek]

Not sure hon.. I can't say for certain. All I know is I mix the two together and begin planting or replanting the orchid in it with the orchid pot. Then when all is established and firmly packed.. I water with my kitchen shower sprayer and give it a good soaking.. Then I keep an eye on plants to be sure they're ok.. 9 times out of 10.. They're great! (knock on wood)

Hey Kat.. I left you a lengthy message in your page.. LOL I got carried away.. lmao Enjoy!

[katrina]

I would say...by the looks of your pics...that you don't have anything to worry about in regards to your mix. If you could've seen my poor babies...they were hurting and I didn't put two and two together until faaaaaaaar too much damage had been done. Newbie mistake.

As for any lenghty messages...not to worry...if you look at most of my posts I tend to be a "wordy" person so I'm not bothered by wordiness in others. I haven't read it yet but I will shortly.

[christinek]

Hi Katrina..

Well good thing you figured it out when you did.. Cause now you know and you can add it to your knowledge base in the event something similar happens again.. (hopefully not) I know I will keep it in mind and keep an extra close eye on things..

[fallingstar435]

I used the miracle grow mix on my my cimbs. (I cant spell) and I currently have a serious problem with yellow mushrooms and some other fungus growing in the mix. My orchid was HUGE and 2 of the 3 new growths have died and I lost a few of the leaves. It was fine until this fungus began and I am fighting to get rid of it. So I would say use at your own risk. I only water once a week or less, so its not from overwatering. I live in southern Louisiana and we are overly humid all the time. My vandas and other orchids love it but the one cimb. in the miracle grow does not approve of the change. Its been in that mix for over 2 months now.

[wickidgrrl]

Since my first post about this mix, i just wanted to update my experience with it. I took the advice of several on here to go ahead and mix the miracle-gro with other mediums. So what i did was mix it with Shultz orchid mix as well as spagh. My orchids did well with this.

I just feel the Miracle-Gro mix was just to fine, fine like soil. I will not be buying this stuff again. I love the Shultz mix, but i cannot find it anywhere recently. Lowes and Home Depot used to sell it, but i have not seen it around, and i don't want to pay twice the price online. I tried contacting the company, but got nowhere with that so, i will probably start making my own mix, as well as go S/H.

[Fishmom]

I had to nod knowingly when I read your last post. It appears that Schultz mix has disappeared from the marketplace, although it is still listed on the company website. I thought it was a good product, but apparently it cannot compete with Miracle-Gro, which does not seem to be the same thing at all. I bought a few different mixes from "repotme" and they are great, but as you say, the shipping cost is a problem. Unless you have a local source it leaves making your own the only real choice.

[Peanut]

I re-potted my Cyms about 3 1/2 weeks after I got her. And saw that she was in a soil like mixture. I only removed the crumbling part of the soil but did add more bark mixture from Shultz to fill the gaps on a bigger size pot. Then I tried the skewer method for watering. I waited and waited for the skewer to be dry but it always pulled out as damped. But my Cym's leaves were turning yellow and the tips are browning. I decided not to wait any longer (after 3 weeks) and watered her. So making this long description even longer, I think the soil like mixture collects too much moisture. I couldn't determine when I can water my Cym using the skewer method with this type of soil.

[solay]

I have never used it myself since it felt too fine and didn't seem right for orchids. Cymbidiums especially will have root rot from this mix due to lack of air and too much moisture. Maybe mixed with bark may work but why do it at all?

[mgilbuena]

Yeah, I tried the stuff when I first started growing my Phals. I killed four of them.

Like others have noted, this mix, if used by itself, appears identical to soil. It will retain water for weeks and in my case led to mold and root rot. It was such a horrible and disheartening experience I switched all my orchids to hydroton.

I recently checked my cymbidiums growing in hydroton and they are VERY happy in the pellets. So are the phals and other species. In short: if you live in a humid area where a bark/soil mixture will not dry quickly, try LECA =] I love it.

[orchidlover55]

I got the Miracle Gro Orchid Mix and when I got home and opened it I was too worried to use it. It was just like dirt! I talk to a couple of people I knew and they told me that some companies let there mixture sit on the shelves or in the stock room and it gets throwed around so much that it breaks down from being there so long. I just used it as soil for my Bromelaids, I can say that worked ...
I may have been wrong but I didn't want to take a chance.
This is an interesting thread I would like to know different opinions.
I just started making my own in large quantities.

[janet_a]

i just wish i could find straight bark.

[wickidgrrl]

hi, janet! Well i have seen just plain orchid bark sold at Home Depot. Or you could go to
repotme.com. They have different kinds of bark, as well as mixes to choose from. Happy Hunting!
-joan

[orchidlover55]

I go to the local nursery, and they don't always keep it but if I ask them to order it they will get me a 20 lb bag of fir bark. I take the fir bark and mix it in a large container with charcoal, spag moss, and perlite, it works fine for me.

[janet_a]

i guess what i meant was--straight bark that wasn't outrageously expensive.

[wickidgrrl]

hi janet. i saw the plain bark at lowes yesterday too. Maybe you can pick some up at the next orchid show in your area. You kno, i have always wondered if you can use the pine bark that comes in those huge bags for landscaping?? That would cut the cost of potting orchids. Anyone ever use that stuff? Maybe it's not sterile enough for orchids?

[PhalNewbie89]

I bought the miracle grow orchid mix for my orchid as well and I was abit worried when I potted my orchid in it but everything seems to be okay. I have had to cut a couple roots off but last time I checked it was doing fine, I even have a new leaf coming in. It seems to do okay but it is a lot like a dirt mixture. Hope mine does okay. It has been in that for about a month now, although I have had to repot once in there because of bugs.

[JJOhio]

When I first started repotting my orchids I too picked up the Miracle grow Mix. I have a Phal and A Paph in just the straight Miracle Grow mix and they have done very well, both were repotted over 6 months ago. The Phal has had one spike and has a new leaf, while the paph has new growth, two new leaves, and a spike that should be blooming in the next few weeks. Since repotting these two I've started mixing the Miracle Grow with charcoal and bark and have had no problem with most of them. I do have a couple oncidiums that are not doing as well and I am looking for a new medium they will like...

[Olive Cook]

Originally Posted by janet_a

i just wish i could find straight bark.

the Better-Gro orchid bark at Lowes is awesome... and under $10

[Schlyne]

The thing I don't like about the lowe's bark is that it's in tiny little bags..and it's basically one size. I ended up putting in a BIG order from repotme in order to get everything i needed to do the repotting for my chids. I'm lucky though, I've found out that I can get larger quantities of different size orchid bark for cheaper from The Plant House locally. The only reason I didn't go there in the first place is that I didn't think they had enough on hand for what I needed. Plus I needed a bunch of pots. I still think I should have picked up more S/H pots...I may have to buy more shortly.

[Olive Cook]

our Lowes here has 2 sizes of bags of the Better-Gro, and even the large are under $10. We have 3 different mixes of it too... maybe different stores carry different stock depending on where you live?

[PhalNewbie89]

Might be, I think I only saw oe size of bark here an I wasn't too impressed. I was having a lot of issues with molding with it. Not sure what the problem is. So I mostly just use it at bottoms of pots for drainage and i have some in my wandering jews :P

[Olive Cook]

The plain bark I once had a mould problem with, but it was before I really had any idea what I was doing with it, haha. We have two Lowes here, and their stock varies just from one end of town to the other. It's unfortunate that the one on my end of town is the one that DOESN'T carry what I need...

[mytwogirls]

I saw a bag of Miracle Gro mix the other day and I was kinda leery of it myself. I use Hoffman mix. Anyone heard of that? I have had in my one phal for several months and it is doing great in it. I am glad I read about Miracle Gro, I might not be as leery of it next time.

[Hummer344]

Out here, in frosty CA, I get Wonderbark orchid bark from the local hardware store. It comes in fine and medium. It from the same Co. that makes Supersoil. I make my own bark mix with what ever I have on hand. Usually charcole, perlite, Cocanut chips and a little spag, for those plants with finer roots or require a little extra moisture. My biggest problem is that I have a tendency to over pot my plants then get root rot. I have to get use to the fact that those roots like to be crowded.

[PhalNewbie89]

I was pretty leery of the miracle gro myself but My phal loved it while she was in it. It is light and airy. Very nice mix.....unfortunately I am running out and couldnt find it at walmart last time I was there.

[wickidgrrl]

Hi Nancy. Not sure if you have an Ace Hardware up in Kentucky, but try there if you do. Maybe another Wal-mart has it in your area. Best of Luck

[PhalNewbie89]

I'm not sure if we have any Ace Hardware stores or not, I think there is one in my parents town so maybe I will try there some time. Walmart had a bunch but with winter hitting they care more about christmas stuff then flowers Thanks for the advice.

[Olive Cook]

our stores here still have some, but not a lot of people buy it OR the orchids they sell

[wickidgrrl]

I know what you mean. It seems like the Walmarts, at least down here in Florida, have pretty much stopped selling orchid supplies. I did find the Miracle-Gro potting mix selling at Home Depot, and Lowes.

[cerastes]

I potted 4 of my phals using the Miracle Gro mix about a year ago and they seem to be doing fine. The mix dries out much more slowly than my normal bark sponge rock mix. The plants are in clear plastic pots so I can see the roots. They appear to be healthy.