Quote:
Originally Posted by Jmoney
I find that high quality sphagnum packed tight tends to last a number of years. Frequently when repotting I end up keeping the rootball intact and "refreshing" the top couple inches that have accumulated algae and salts. I have been told that overwatering and overfertilizing will counteract the longevity of sphagnum. (many years ago when I packed loosely I found it turned into a soggy root-rotted mess after 4 months).
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Yeah, despite being OP and curious about Sphagnum I still find bark, lava rock, perlite, etc. much more suitable to my needs. Loose sphagnum becomes a soggy mess for me tight sphagnum dries out too quickly even in plastic pots. For plants that like to stay constantly moist using a plastic pot with bark and lots of perlite works really well for me and ironically stays moist longer than tight sphagnum, who would've thought?
The catts in baskets dry a bit too quickly for my liking but the growth is impressive and potting Cattleyas seems like a lost cause for me anyway, they are determined to grow out of the pots at all costs, and eventually it becomes like growing a mounted plant anyway. When in baskets they at least have a portion of the roots inside the medium which keeps them hydrated for a little longer. The roots also tend to weave back into the medium and at least the patterns are an entertaining sight.
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