How do you water Orchids in bark mix

[cabbo]

I had the same problem, no stupid questions here on the OB

[playtime8978]

thank you thats what I love about this place no one seems to think I am stupid because I am new to this and ask basic questions I love the fact you have a beginers forum. I am learning every post i read.

[Hedge]

Originally Posted by playtime8978

how do you get bark to stay in the pot I tried it with mine and the bark floated and the orchid started rising I ended up flushing it.

I suppose, although I said I'm a soaker, I flush and soak in that I place plant in a bucket or potholder bigger than it, then pour in from a jug fertilized or plain water as required so that it accumulates in the potholder up to the top of the compost and then I leave it. This way the bark is wetted at the top first and doesn't rise. especially in pots where there are plenty of roots holding the lower parts down. It is still a slow process though, as nhman says

Good luck I'm still a beginner and learning lots even though I've been reading this site for over a year now.

Heather aka

[nhman]

Just a point of care for those of you that are using bark - please remember to soak the bark for about 24 hours in room temperature water (RO or other good quality water, please just say "no" to water from a water softener) (and OK 12 hours is probably OK....) before potting or repotting. I know how that feeling of "I have to repot" can catch one......but if the bark isn't pre-soaked, it may harm the roots by drawing water FROM the roots, leading to dehydration and damage. Just a thought!

[playtime8978]

thank you for that nhman I think I will need to do as you say and soak some bark and repot my sickly phal again as the roots at the surface are shriveling in less than a day even though the roots in the pot look healthy and green and this may just be the problem as I didnt know to soak the bark first, ( seems obvious thing to do now) i just hope the stress of being repotted again doesnt finally finish him off, I am not losing anything though as he has no leaves now just a stub in a pot! I am glad i read this before my new ones arrived, Oh well I learn by mistakes

[nhman]

As "they" say, orchids will tell you what they need, altho it's usually only obvious to us just before they die! Good luck! We have all had our share of "oops's".