I need help making a supplies order - Orchid Board

Tikva · #1 (**permalink**) 07-06-2006, 09:00 AM

I am plotting an order for things I need for caring for my orchids (not quite as much fun as plotting an orchid order!)
I am thinking of getting clear plastic containers all matching so things are neater.
I am having such trouble finding potting medium I like locally. Everything is too big or too gritty small - toward the end it's all muddy and I hate wasting.
I've gotten a few plants (Paphs) with coconut husks and what looks like sponge pieces....
I would like a medium that works sort of universally for any orchids I own and I'm enjoying trying ANY different orchids I come across.... maybe a mix that works for most if not all orchids - and whatever else is needed to add to the mix for certain orchids. Like sponge, charcoal......
Could anyone tell me what basic things might work for me?
I also really want to go S/H but it scares me!!!! I know Ray is the S/H expert and I've been reading his message board. LOVE seeing the pictures! We travel a lot and I think S/H would work great for me IF I get the money and the guts to try...
Thanks all!

littlefrog · #2 (**permalink**) 07-06-2006, 10:05 AM

I think if you are looking for one medium to work on all orchids, you can join me at the back of the line... It just isn't going to happen, as much as I'd like it to. But, you can probably get one basic type of medium to work for _most_ orchids...

Everybody comes to a different conclusion there. If you want to do the semi-hydro thing, then I'd try it on a few plants first, and work your way up. I think even Ray would say that it doesn't work for everything (but it seems to work for a lot of things). I grow almost all my phrags in an adaptation of Ray's method (using as many local materials as possible), and I'm trying to expand that technology to many of my other plants. Rock is nice, since I don't have time to repot.

But, if I'm not experimenting, here is what I do. Gold standard mix : 2:1:1 (medium coconut husk: P3 grade charcoal: medium diatomite). I previously used sponge rock, but I'm getting away from it. This mix I use for pretty much everything, and when I'm not sure what to use, I reach for this one. Seedlings might get a very similar mix made with small coconut husk chips.

I also use a peat based mix for some plants (reed stem epis, and some others). Moving my phals out of peat mix, not because I don't like it (I love it, phals grow huge and lightning fast), but because it is hard to sell them that way...

And, you need to keep a bit of nice sphagnum moss around. For rescuing plants, or for pleurothallids and the like. But a lot of people grow almost all their plants in sphag.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tikva

I am plotting an order for things I need for caring for my orchids (not quite as much fun as plotting an orchid order!)
I am thinking of getting clear plastic containers all matching so things are neater.
I am having such trouble finding potting medium I like locally. Everything is too big or too gritty small - toward the end it's all muddy and I hate wasting.
I've gotten a few plants (Paphs) with coconut husks and what looks like sponge pieces....
I would like a medium that works sort of universally for any orchids I own and I'm enjoying trying ANY different orchids I come across.... maybe a mix that works for most if not all orchids - and whatever else is needed to add to the mix for certain orchids. Like sponge, charcoal......
Could anyone tell me what basic things might work for me?
I also really want to go S/H but it scares me!!!! I know Ray is the S/H expert and I've been reading his message board. LOVE seeing the pictures! We travel a lot and I think S/H would work great for me IF I get the money and the guts to try...
Thanks all!

JimR · #3 (**permalink**) 07-06-2006, 11:32 AM

I have 400 plants in S/H with wonderful results. There are a few of my plants on Ray's picture page for S/H. I've been using this method almost exclusively for about 5 years and rarely repot. I water weekly in the summer, but can go two weeks when I need to. Winter I can go a month without adding water since my intermediate and cool growers are not really growing at that time. I did not realize just how wet it stays in the pot until I went to do a talk at an orchid society 3 hours away from my house. I had not watered in a month (Feb) and my vehicle was full of plants to display as part of my talk. I got within 30 minutes of my destination when a young gal doing more talking on her cell phone than driving, hit me and spun me around at about 70mph. I went up on two wheels and back down again, sending all of my plants into my lap. The media was still quite wet as my pants attested to.
I'll echo Rob. Try it on a couple of plants first to see how it performs in your environment. Also, follow proper repotting techniques. Move them when there are signs of new root growth.

littlefrog · #4 (**permalink**) 07-06-2006, 11:35 AM

You sure the wet was from the pots? *grin*

I usually water about once a week in the winter, even in the S/H pots. But, the phrags are probably growing their best in the winter, or at least for most of the winter.

Rob

JimR · #5 (**permalink**) 07-06-2006, 11:45 AM

It was cold, so it must have been from the pots. I was, however sitting a few inches higher after the Jeep came to rest :-)

Tikva · #6 (**permalink**) 07-06-2006, 12:08 PM

Thank God for Jeeps :c)
Were your orchids OK? I hope the horrid driver on the phone fared slightly worse than the orchids... Grrr
I have found every single time I am annoyed with a driver driving they are on the phone. I wish my horn were as loud as the one my father added to his car. He bought a truck air horn LOL

cb977 · #7 (**permalink**) 07-06-2006, 01:06 PM

I love the bumper sticker that says
You Are In A Car,
Not A Phonebooth!

Anyway, glad you weren't hurt Jim.

Tik, I'm going to be changing all of my babies over to clear pots and using Prime Agra for just some of them, to start. I will then decide on whether or not to do the rest. Not actually s/h, but a change of medium.

JimR · #8 (**permalink**) 07-06-2006, 03:58 PM

She was as shaken up as the orchids, but was eventually repotted, as were the orchids. I was cursing as I spun, but went into father mode when I got out of the car to a terrified young girl.