Potting media and maddness-Helpful observation

[iandaniel]

I have been doing to some observation/research on my potting and medium.

I hear so much bad information on using sphagnum moss, so as an newbie I immediately transfered my plants from Sphagnum to bark.
Well I had many problems with Wilting and dehydration, much to my inexperiance this was the result. I now learned to water more frequently and using a blend which retains more water.
but the purpose of this post is i wanted to tell my experiance with Spagnum moss and my success. I live in Minnesota and a reputable orchid grower, Orhids Limited told me they plant all their Phals in sphag. and I was suprised after I heard all the bad press sphag as gotten.
The key i was told was most plants like the ones at Home Depot, Lowes and any of these cheap secondary nursuries where monted by a machine and packed so tight the roots have no way to breath, and end up rotting because they stay drench with out airation.

I tried the moss again but just layed the moss around the roots didn't pack the moss and made sure it was able to breath. I have had some great results.
Now if i get a gift orchid from friends even if its blooming (they got it from Home depot) I still repot it imediately because the potting is much too tight.

Any one concur my findings or care to debate this? I am eager to learn more.

[brookn]

I use sphag, mostly on species Phals, my one Masde. and Neos. I loosely weave it around the roots until it forms a ball, and then pack some into the pot, put the plant in it's sphag ball into the pot and loosely pack some more around it until it is stable (I like it stable enough to be able to pick the plant up pot and all). I then water using a skewer, and when it is cool and dry I water I water again.

I think sphag has merit for faltering Phals to establish roots, but as I am an under waterer, everybody has to adjust somewhat even in sphag. A couple of my Phals seriously have been hating me for it, so I have upped their water, but they are in bark. I am thinking for those 2 attitudinal ones I may go back to sphag. I don't know what the fuss with sphag is about, it just requires a more regimented watering schedule, or in my case lax watering schedule.

[articuno75]

I use spagh too. It just depends on what orchid I use it on. Same with me. Some of my Phals are in total spagh while others are in a coir blend.

I also have some of my Oncidiums in a spagh, bark, coco husk blend. These are my really thirsty drinking ones. I had my Mtdm. Bartley Schwarz in total spagh with just enough charcoal to sweeten the deal.

You're right. The key is how to wrap and pack the moss. Once you've got it mastered, it's a really good medium to use.

[sandra]

Most nurseries here in Fla. pot their Phals in sphag. I agree with you, that if the plant isn't too tightly packed and knowing when to water with it, it's a great medium. I find though that even when it's not too tightly packed and nice and loose, it eventually get's weighed down and needs constant refluffing. I'll usually repot in new sphag. when this starts happening.

I have recently started growing Bulbophyllums and all but one are in sphag, as well as my Toulimnias and everyone seems very happy.

My Phals. go into their bark and coir. They're happiest in this.

[Brooke]

Sphag will eventually compact even when the original potting is very loose. I have found that adding tree fern "sticks" to the mix keeps this from happening. Other people use the large perlite or diatomite to their sphag and report good results.

I use sphag/tree fern for all phals before they reach a 4" pot size, all lycaste, all masd, my lone Bollea, all species I am trying to propagate from backbulbs. I know when sphag is dry and it just takes the guess work out of when to water.

Brooke

[jerrymeola]

I agree with all the comments except one thing is missing.

Sphag packs down from watering over time. You should loosen the sphag periodically to avoid this. Whenever you do your annual cleanup - after flowering or winter - check the sphag and remove it and re-pot. Usually you can use the same moss over again or fresh as you chose.

This is the problem with Home Depot and Lowe's etc. I do not know of any packing machine in existence and have a hard time imagining one that would not break the roots. Hourly workers do pack the moss tightly so the plant will stay in the pot. If it comes loose in transport the buyer will reject it.

Phals are moved from growers trays (similar to the ones in our hybrid project) to 4 inch pots to flower the next winter. The ones not sold go back on the shelf and are usually not re-potted. When they flower the next year they have about 18 months in the pot and really need a change.

With the economy as bad as it is, you are going to see more plants overgrown. Attempts to keep cost down with mean less maintenance like re-potting.

[PhalPal]

The key to finding a good media for you is to try them and see what works in your conditions. About a year ago on this forum everyone hated coir. It has worked beautifully for me and a few other growers on the forum and we have since convinced others to try it. If you learn how to water it in your climate it is a great medium. I use spraghum only on my Phal species because they are happiest in it; I add tree fern to it to keep it from packing down. (Brookes tip - Thanks!!) I was once one of those who HATED spraghum but my only experience with it was what I picked out of rotten Phal roots. I try not to listen to growers who are adamantly against a certain growing component or those who say 'this is the ONLY way to grow an orchid.'

I can only attest to what works for me in my house with my habits and my lighting conditions. If spraghum works for you, use it and don't feel bad about it!!!

[Brooke]

I was reading this thread and about fainted when I saw I had already posted on it :>)

PhalPal IMHO, the tree fern sticks are magic. I always add them to anything planted in sphag. I have been very happy with the results and the way the mix holds up even after a year in the pot.

Someplace I read why the tree fern is so nutritious - as the tree fern grows it takes up some nutrient that is then released into the media. I love my tree fern!

Brooke

[kid a]

My first couple of phals I quickly killed. They were packed extremely tight and they were in pots that were too big. I didn't realize I was over watering until it was too late. I have learned alot from all the geeks I have four plants in sphag now and haven't had any rot. I learned from you guys that the looser spahg is better and easier for me to control moisture in. I hated it for a while until I found orchid geeks and learned not to pack it so tightly! I love it now, well except for the occasional fungus gnats.

[solay]

Good to know since when I first started buying orchids, I ordered three large bales of moss and then I was disappointed after reading how bad it was. I was thinking now what the heck will I use all moss for.
Now at least I can use them with care and adding some fern fibers as Brooke suggests.

[kid a]

It's really good for them just for me had to realize I need to be more careful until could recognize when they were due for a watering. The best thing that helped me out with that was the skewer method!

[NicC]

anyone care to share a mix ratio for Sphagnum and tree fern. Also, do you use the AAA New Zealand moss or chopped.
Nick

[PhalPal]

I use AAA New Zealand moss, not chopped, and just throw in a handful of tree fern. I don't use exact ratios when I make my mixes, but the amount of tree fern to moss is about 1:4.