Sphagnumaphobia

[K-Sci]

Sphagnum seems to prevent root rot and could reduce my watering frequency. Nonetheless, I'm afraid to use it for orchid potting in general.

- The capture basin above the sphagnum and below the rim of the pot fills when watering. The water is retained and typically 100% soaks into the media. The size of this basin has to be managed or watering will result in very different media wetness for different plants.

- For some plants, the root tips die the moment the tip touches the sphagnum, presumably due to fertilizer salt buildup on the evaporation surface (I use RO so it isn't my water). I had one particularly sensitive phalaenopisis go for years with all the new roots stopping at the media suface.

- Sphagnum absorbs many times the amount of solution versus bark when fertilizing. Yet I've never seen fertilizing instructions advise to use less fertilizer with sphagnum.

- Large plants require watering very infrequently versus small and those in bark. Tightly packed sphagnum requires a different schedule than loose sphagnum. With sphagnum I have to inspect every plant individually before watering.

- Spagnum requires repotting every 1-2 years vs. 4 years for the Orchiata/LECA mix I use for most orchids.

So what do all y'all do to get around some of these problems.

-Keith