Orchids can be grown in almost anything but its the grower that adapts. Pearlite or sponge rock grows thing fairly will but gives me astma so I adapted. I am using a combination of Stalite Gravel (heat expanded shale) and CHC now and am delighted. CHC
increases or decreases according to type of plant but alway the mix is 50% Stalite or more. One friend of mine waters daily - an artist - it gives her a break from her painting. Her media of choice is Aliflor. It suits her needs but not mine. Stalite holds 30% of its weight in water and is not as heavy as just Gravel - a lot like the aliflor. I gave up on bark years ago. Some years when you can get good fresh bark its ok but some years the stuff is just plain poor. I personally think moss is the pits. It does well for a while then suddenly goes bad and if you do let it dry out completely its the pits to get wet again. Good luck with whatever you use. There is no real right or wrong potting material - just a right and wrong way to use it.
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