Which mix to pick (first time bark user)?

[Pumpkin92]

So I don't know how or why I caved, but I just came home with three new phals... The problem is two of them are in 4 inch pots and that's way bigger than anything I've had to deal with yet. They aren't in clear pots so I can't see how good or bad most of the roots are but I'm thinking its time for me to try a bark mix.

The only options I have in my area are:
Gubler Organic Orchid Mix FINE grade
Gubler Organic Orchid Mix COARSE grade
BETTER-GRO Organic Orchid Mix

(Btw, I'm still gonna mix sphagnum moss in there because my home is really dry and I don't think I could do straight up bark.)

So does anyone have experience with the above mixes? And any suggestions for a first time bark user?

[MrHungx]

I would go for the Gubler coarse bark mix with sphagnum moss. I would only use the fine grade bark with seedlings.

I know that some members on OB use the Better-Gro mix, but I don't like how this mix has the thin bark "flakes." The Gubler mix just seems chunkier and more airy, though it can be a bit more expensive. My biggest pet peeve though is that almost always 25% of the bag is a smaller grade bark. I always pick out and use them for my paphs.

[No-Pro-mwa]

I have never used any of the mixes you have posted, I just wanted to say that when you do re-pot remember you will probably have to water more often at first. I only say this as I have had problems with this and so has my sister when I re-potted her's. I can't seem to get it into her head how things work.

[bil]

If you can find one, I like a shallow - 6 inch deep maybe and a good width, 12 inches at least, and I use just large bark chunks. Trust me it is dead dry and hot here.

[Pumpkin92]

Cool, so I went out and bought the Gubler coarse grade! When I unpotted the two big ones though, I got a surprise I should've expected. Those two in 4 inch pots were beyond overpacked and should've been 3 inchers.

So I put them back in 3 inch pots and did a 50/50 bark/sphag mix cause I'm just too afraid of the bark. I really like the Gubler mix and want to change my other orchids to a 50/50, but I think I'm going to wait to see how well these do (or not)...

Can someone grade me on my first attempts?

[MrHungx]

Originally Posted by Pumpkin92

Cool, so I went out and bought the Gubler coarse grade! When I unpotted the two big ones though, I got a surprise I should've expected. Those two in 4 inch pots were beyond overpacked and should've been 3 inchers.

So I put them back in 3 inch pots and did a 50/50 bark/sphag mix cause I'm just too afraid of the bark. I really like the Gubler mix and want to change my other orchids to a 50/50, but I think I'm going to wait to see how well these do (or not)...

Can someone grade me on my first attempts?

That looks good for now. If you find that it dries out too quickly, you can always go back and add more sphagnum moss. Also, don't be worried if some roots start to shrivel up and die as this is normal for orchids transplanted from a moss mix to a bark one.

[bil]

Originally Posted by Pumpkin92

Cool, so I went out and bought the Gubler coarse grade! When I unpotted the two big ones though, I got a surprise I should've expected. Those two in 4 inch pots were beyond overpacked and should've been 3 inchers.

So I put them back in 3 inch pots and did a 50/50 bark/sphag mix cause I'm just too afraid of the bark. I really like the Gubler mix and want to change my other orchids to a 50/50, but I think I'm going to wait to see how well these do (or not)...

Can someone grade me on my first attempts?

Well, I am a Barkista, we believe that the one true medium for phals is coarse bark and coarse bark alone. My child, you are slipping into the heresy of the Mossites, and your soul is in grave danger!

[Pumpkin92]

Originally Posted by bil

Well, I am a Barkista, we believe that the one true medium for phals is coarse bark and coarse bark alone. My child, you are slipping into the heresy of the Mossites, and your soul is in grave danger!

But the moss calls to me, it tells me things, I tried to get away, but I just couldn't. I'm not strong like the rest of you...

Btw, I read that just before going to bed, and do you know how impossible it is to go to sleep after laughing so hard?

---------- Post added at 04:31 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:25 PM ----------

Originally Posted by No-Pro-mwa

I just wanted to say that when you do re-pot remember you will probably have to water more often at first.

Originally Posted by MrHungx

If you find that it dries out too quickly, you can always go back and add more sphagnum moss. Also, don't be worried if some roots start to shrivel up and die as this is normal for orchids transplanted from a moss mix to a bark one.

Can I add or wrap more moss around just the top roots? Cause some of the roots at the surface look really dry today and I'm worried that if the tops die they'll take the rest of the roots with them.

[WhiteRabbit]

I really like the Gubler's coarse mix for Phals, tho they do need watering more often (especially in the "fresh" bark; I do sometimes soak the pot for watering when the bark is fresh). In fact, I usually buy bags of just bark for use in some other orchids, but get the Gubler's coarse mix especially for Phals.

I like the Gubler's fine mix for Paphs.

[MrHungx]

Originally Posted by Pumpkin92

But the moss calls to me, it tells me things, I tried to get away, but I just couldn't. I'm not strong like the rest of you...

Btw, I read that just before going to bed, and do you know how impossible it is to go to sleep after laughing so hard?

---------- Post added at 04:31 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:25 PM ----------


Can I add or wrap more moss around just the top roots? Cause some of the roots at the surface look really dry today and I'm worried that if the tops die they'll take the rest of the roots with them.

You can add a layer of moss on the top, but I find that top roots almost always dies no matter what I do. If the orchid is healthy, it should put out new roots soon.