Potting Question

[jlew55]

I think I need to repot a couple of Phals..... They have grown very little for several months.

A commercial orchid mix has large chunks of bark and carbon with no dirt at all. Shouldn't I mix some potting soil and peat with this mix????

Jlew

[Marty]

No, I wouldn't put any soil. Orchids are epiphytic, they really don't need much soil at all. By potting them, their roots will constantly be wet and will rot - your plant will die. YOur orchid mix is good enough.

Originally Posted by jlew55

I think I need to repot a couple of Phals..... They have grown very little for several months.

A commercial orchid mix has large chunks of bark and carbon with no dirt at all. Shouldn't I mix some potting soil and peat with this mix????

Jlew

[Whimzikal]

I have to second on that opinion. Whatever substrates you can use that provide for excellent draingage are ideal (I.E. Cypress Mulch, Bark Chips)

I lost two Dendrobiums because the roots got too wet. In a vivarium I have set up, I have a phal growing into a log with just sphagnum moss covering the roots and refrain from watering it. Been three weeks thus far, I'll post some pics when finished.

[Tindomul]

How do you mount orchids on to say, logs? It must be hard to get them to stand up. Or is it easier than I think?

[waretrop]

It's not hard to get them growing on cork or bark. You just wire it onto the bark and it will root. I will usually take the wire away as it attaches to the wood. Barb Yahoo IM waretrop

[Tindomul]

I guess Ide just have to try doing it, and then learn through practice.

[orchidexpress]

Phals do not like to dry out as much as some of the others like Cat s& Dens. You should always repot phals in a plastic pot, along with paph and phrags. This is because they like to stay more wet than others. Then you can still water them all at the same time and do not have certain plants on different watering times.

I pot phals in a light and airy medium of pro mix, charcoal and perlite. Some growers plant in moss as it promotes to roots to grow fast and they do not have to use as much fertilizer as the moss holds the fertilizer. Yet... the moss breaks down about everyyear so you have to always repot. The mix I spoke of first does not break down. I have too many plants to always be repotting. Check out my website and you can get a clue.
Lee R.
orchidexpressandleasing.com

[Oscarman]

Originally Posted by Tindomul1of9

How do you mount orchids on to say, logs? It must be hard to get them to stand up. Or is it easier than I think?

You could try monofilament fishing line - almost invisible, does not corrode, easy to work with and inexpensive. All my mounted orchids are attached with it. 8 lb test does it for me, I don't expect to catch anything bigger than that!

[TeresaE]

I found that Phals & Paphs seem to do better in the bark mixture with a little bit of spagnum moss. Most of the ones I have planted in spagnum moss alone are not doing well at all. You just have to water them a little more when they are in bark.

With that said.....I transplanted a failing Paph into similar semi-hydro "balls" that Ray uses and it has perked up immensely!! Going to try more in these and see how they do. I am very excited!

[Ray]

I am a firm believer in S/H culture for paphs. Constant moisture and nutrition but still LOTS of air flow.