Commercial Orchid Mixes?

[Mothman]

Are these commercial made mixes any better than just using spag or bark?

My local Loews carries several kinds made by Better Orchid which claim to be "premium" and to promote ideal growing conditions, etc.

One kind by Better Orchid was made specifically for Phals..

I'm curious if I should buy this kind when I repot or just use some regular spag moss for my Phals.

[LPurpur]

I have used the Wal-Mart brand and the Lowe's (I work there!) and have found no differences. I have used the mix with a little spag for my phal's and dendrobiums for several months now and everyone is growing well. I soak the mixture in water with fertilizer for about an hour and then rinse the mixture before using it, to remove any charcoal dust.

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

For Phals that can be repotted most any time, it is not so critical how good the bark is. For sympodials, a really good quality mix will last longer, 3 years instead of 2, and will mean disturbing the roots less often and setting back the plants less. Gubler makes a good bark mix and I have seen it at home depot here in Arizona. When you buy bark for sympodials, those that produce a new growth every year or more from the base of the plant, feel the bark thru the bag. Squeeze it real hard. Good bark will feel like trying to squeeze a rock. Poor bark will be spongy. Now, I am so much of an expert on bark, I don't use it any more. But that could be a whole new thread, there are so many reasons I don't use it. None earth shatterinig, just my way is a tiny bit better. Bark has been used for a long time and it does the job. Cynthia, Prescott, AZ

[captripppp]

The bark put out by Better Grow is what the parent company Sunbulb uses on their orchids. Sunbulb is one of the largest commercial orchid growers in the US. They really only sell what they use in their greenhouses. I am friends with the head grower for Sunbulb, and I asked him pretty much the same question you had. The answer that I got was to use premixed bark if you only have few orchids, but I have many so I buy everything seperate, and mix it myself. Also, at least for where I live in SW FL I can't use sphag because the high humidty, therefore possibly causing root rot. Sphag may work for you where you live. Just make sure the plants aren't too wet for too long of a time. Aaron

[Ellen]

In my experience, most orchids will grow fine in just plain bark. Having said that, mixes can be optimized for different types of orchids and different growing conditions, so may work a little better. I buy bulk amounts of different potting substances and use them straight or mix them in different ratios for different types of orchids. I would think that for anyone who has more than a few dozen plants, this would be the way to go because it's cheaper, and you get exactly the mix you want.

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

The best bark for orchids is fir bark. It last longer. Commercial mixes, I've been told, are steamed to kill unwanted guests and fugi. It may serve some other purpose as well, don't remember the details. Maybe someone else with time could do a bit of googleing for us.

[Sharyn]

I have a bag of Better-Grow orchid mix. I've used it for the Catts. but I think the fir bark is too large for my Phals. I'm awaiting an order from Repotme. I've ordered separate bags of medium and fine fir bark. Additionally, I've ordered some other additives. What size fir bark & additiional additives (if necessary) should I use on the Phals.? The Phals. are still in bloom and I won't be doing anything until they're done. Suggestions?

Oh, is there a big difference between coarse perlite and the stuff like Miracle-Grow Perlite that I use in my regular gardening mixtures?

[mayres]

Sharyn - I have grown phals for several years in medium bark successfully, but have come to the conclusion that there is a better media available if you are willing to experiment a little and see what works for you. The trick is finding a media that retains more moisture but that you can learn to control to the extent that you do not rot the roots. Have you read results of the university studies in this link? Grow Phals like the Pros! mike

I use about 80% fine bark and 20% sphagnum moss to retain more moisture. This works for the way I water. I also throw in a touch of large perlite and charcoal, but the plants will grow well in just the bark and moss. I use packing peanuts in the bottom of the pot for drainage.

[kmarch]

I grow mostly Paphs and find commercial mixes unsuitable. I have to doctor them up. I have successfully used commercial mixes straight out of the bag for Cymbidiums and Cattleyas though. I think the thing I dislike most about commercial mixes is that the bags are usually opaque and you can never be 100% certain what you're getting. I once bought a commercial mix, took it home and opened it only to discover lumps of clay in it. Not the expanded clay pellets, but lumps of clay out of the ground.

[Sharyn]

Mike: Thanks for the link. I'm glad I went back a second time since I missed parts, 2,3,& 4 the first time around. Good information here.

Orchid126: Since your NJ climate is similar to mine, looks like 80-20 mix would be a good start. I'm not a moss fan, but I may try this mix on at least one phal.

Personally, I like using fir bark, just felt that the stuff I have on hand is too large and just found fine & medium bark online. I'll add some charcoal, perlite or moss. I'm starting to experiment with mixes.

Most of my Phals. are still budding & blooming and have never been repotted. One is in moss, several in a bark mixture. These posts have given me a good starting point. Thanks for your input.

[pikevi]

Hi,

Pardon my ignorance. Is COIR the strands of fibre found in the husk of a coconut? Is there difference between 'husk' and 'COIR'?

I use chunks of coconut husk, including the skin which now I find to be leathery less and permeable to water. Last summer I found whole coconuts in a super market and bought 5 large ones. With the help of a colleague of mine I got those peeled and chopped into individual chunks of varying sizes. The hard shell was discarded. Since summer can be very hot here I dried them outside for about 4 weeks and put them in storage. Only 'leaching' that may have occured is by the rain we had. I have no idea what the salt content of the media is.

I started using it for every orchid I have bought ever since since.

Are there any species or group of orchids where I should not use the husk?

While searching for info on coir I also found they they use a method called retting which introduces bacteria into the husk. Are the commercially available coir obtained by another method?

Thank you

[mayres]

I have not done much research myself, but to the best of my knowledge you are correct - coir is the husk part of the coconut. I can purchase it locally in a brick form. It is amazing how much media a small brick fluffs up to - it comes compressed in brick from from other areas of the world. My thought process at this point is that it should last a lot longer than sphag and have similar moisture retentive properties. Only have been using it since July - so far excellent results. The product I purchased is not leathery at all to start and extremely porous.
After a short research period on the internet - coir is ground waste from coconut husks with most of the fiber removed (which is used for making ropes, pads, mattresses and a host of other items). Quality of media can vary significantly depending upon source - Sri Lanka appears to generally have the best material (which is what I found at a hydroponics store in town). Poor quality material can have excess salt which will need to be well rinsed. mike

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

I don't think it is a matter of quality, and any supply that says it has already been washed should be treated as having just as much salt as the rest. Wash, wash, wash, and wash again. I used a TDS meter to judge doneness, and it took a lot of soaking and washing to get the salt all out.

[pikevi]

Hi,

I have not seen coconut medium( COIR) or anything in that line here. But I have not been looking hard for it. I will do some searching locally here in Toronto, coming weekend.

I am wonder if I should start removing the coconut chunks I used and wash them well and re-use them, pot by pot. Or just leave the plants as they are and wait for any signs of distress. I'd appreciate any suggestions.

( I have 55 pots to be subject to this procedure, if I had to do it)

mayres: it will be easier to get them in the stores than going through the process I went through last summer,starting from whole coconuts!

[mayres]

pikevi - LOL - that is actually hilarious! I never heard of anyone doing what you did. I shall keep your story in mind as a good one to share in the future. You might try flushing a lot of water through them all when the weather warms up that you can take them outside and just sprinkle them all like crazy with a hose for awhile (an idea). Another idea would be to put them all in the bathtub and turn the shower on them for awhile! My wife actually gave me the idea for watering mine. I jam pack the bathtub several times and use this method to flush occasionally. In the warmer months I use the outdoor method. I only have about 80 (mostly young) plants at home so this is manageable. If you are interested in finding coir locally you might check and see if you have a hydroponic supplier locally. That is where I found mine. Good luck! mike

[pikevi]

Hello Mike,

Thanks for the suggestions. The bathtub method seems very practical and less time-consuming. But that is out of the question unless I draw up my divorce papers prior to doing that . My wife is already complaining about my hobbies and my encroachment into 'her' areas as well!!!

I have not found any negative symptoms yet but it is perhaps too soon to tell. I will have to wait until the temperature outside rises up to at least to 20C before taking the plants outside for extended baths. That is at least 8 weeks away. I will try 'flushing' the pots individually over the next few weeks.

I would not recommend trying to handle a whole coconut. Chain saw or circular saw does not work. Anchoring it in any form is a Herculean task.
Luckily for me one of my friend's father-in-law, who is from the east, helped me with husking ,using a huge 'scary looking' cleaver/scythe. He was very adept in using it. I failed miserably

I will begin flushing the pots tonight.

Thank a lot!