:scratchhead: :scratchhead:



hi. forgive my ignorance, but is lava rock the same thing as volcanic rock? thanks. :scratchhead:

Yes, I believe volcanic rock and lava rock are the same medium.

I think Ray has summed it up SO well with his statement that just because something works well for him does not mean it will for everyone. My own personal favorite is 4 parts medium bark, 1 part coarse perllite, 1/2 part medium charcoal, 1/2 part medium tree fern. If I am potting anything larger than a 6" pot, I place an inverted net pot in the center of the pot to keep the center from staying too wet. I have found over the years that it is much easier to modify your growing mix than to change your watering habits.

I have found that seedling pots inverted in the center of the larger pots work really well also. You can stack them up to just the right height for the rhizomes on a cattleya and create great small air pockets throughout the larger pots.