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Originally Posted by buffalo
I also found that getting some moss out of the store bought really help. Its usually pretty compact , my guess is its for shipping.
After having many failure and some successes you would think i can come up with a winning formula but i have not yet. I grew some in moss n some in bark no real difference. some roots rot some don't. The cold wet feet seem to make alot of sense as i look back at some failures. Too wet for too long. Then with bark more issue with wrinkling leaves not enough water i read. So i would say what ever medium you use know your plant and how fast it dries out and how long the medium tend to stay wet as oppose to just damp. wet too long and the roots rot, too dry; wrinkle leaves and dried up roots.
One of my successes for roots and foliage with a phal is one grown in an acrylic container with lots of holes. (used to hold your spoons n forks after you wash them for them to dry). Im using a little bit of moss and mostly clay beads does very well . The little bit of clay let me know when getting too dry. But not necessarily cause with so many holes i could likely water daily with no issue.
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My advice unless you like rotting plants is get the moss out!! My old stand by for growing most orchids is 3/4 fir bark and 1/4 sponge rock. I vary the grades, fine, medium and large according to the type and size of the plant. I know everyone has their favorite mix but over 50 years of growing orchids you try many things. Some work some don't. In 1975 I was growing thousands of orchids, every type, semi-hydroponicly. Never thought anything about it, has purchased a 100' x 300' greenhouse which had been a hydroponic tomato grower's facility. We just used the beds with potted orchids in them and watered and fed them by flooding the beds from the storage tanks used for the tomatoes. Worked beautifully. The one thing I would recommend is, getvthe best quality orchid bark you can. On the west coast I get Kiwi orchid bark, from down under, it is a little more expensive. But what is more costly the bark or the plant that rots? Sunset Valley Orchids in Vista, CA stocks it, so other suppliers may have it in your area. It is clean, hard bark, no wood parts. Using it you will not have to repot for 3 -4 years and the root systems are fantastic. The stronger the roots, the better the plant and the bigger the flowers. I also get the #3 grade sponge rock, 1/4 - 1/2 ", and screen out the "dust" off the material. You can use the screenings for your terrestrial orchids
or other potted plants. I have found that some of the phrags & paphs do like to sit in a small amount of water. Just be sure and weekly change that water. Also many of these same plants are very sensitive to the quality of the water, rain water is good for them, also reverse osmosis filtration is too. Distilled is not so good, because of its purity it takes away the nutrients the plants need. Just remember, this is how I DO IT, no one can tell you exactly how any growing technique will work for you because every growing area is different and requires adjustments to make it work FOR YOU and your plants. These are some general guide lines. So have fun and learn how to grow these precious gifts of nature. Regards, K.J.
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