What makes my orchids get root rot almost everytimes when I use pure spaghum?

[Louis_C]

When I were living in Hong Kong everyone use pure sphagnum include myself but never have any bad effect. Now living in South Cal. It seems like to rot every time I use pure sphagnum. I personally have good experience with bark but It just annoying me to water frequently since I'm a student (leave at 7am back home at 6~7pm). Barks also fall over the place. I found moss hard to mix with perlite or pumice evenly.

Did I do anything wrong? Should I pack it tight or loose? Should I wait until it crispy to water it?

Thank you!

[lambelkip]

usually, I pack it loosely, and wait until it's crispy to water it. it really depends on the type of orchid. what kind are you growing? and were you using fresh sphagnum in Hong Kong? live sphagnum will help prevent root rot, but the older dried sphagnum will not.

[Becky15349]

Pure Sphagnum moss holds usually too much water for most orchids to be planted in without very vigilant care. I never, ever recommend people to plant in pure moss because it just doesn't dry out well, even with fans blowing and wind, whatever. Another way to think of it: Do orchids have anything even remotely resembling moss hanging on their roots in nature? You bet not!! I would steer clear of all moss in your mix until you master watering - it'll mean the difference between life and death for your orchids PM me if you want more help! ~Becky

[trdyl]

If you are using larger plastic pots, 5 inches and over, you might want to use something inert in the bottom such as course lava rocks or styrofoam peanuts with 1.5 inches of loose sphagnum on top. When I was in San Antonio this is what I used and my plants did really well.

[greenbean]

ALWAYS pack sphagnum loosely. Even orchids like Masdies that like constantly moist conditions still need ample air circulation. Tightly packed sphagnum restricts air flow and holds water too long, suffocating the roots.

As Kip said, when to water with sphag depends on the type of orchid. With Phals and other orchids with relatively thick roots, I let it get pretty crispy, about an inch below the surface for large plants (though my main indicator now is green vs. silver roots, since I have mostly clear pots). For my new Masdie, I let the sphag get close to crispy, still flexible but just barely moist, before watering. It seems to be enjoying that.

And I think Kip brought up the most important point here, too. You may simply have had better quality sphagnum in Hong Kong than you have found in California. Dried sphagnum retains some anti-fungal properties, but only for a few months. I hear live sphagnum is the best, but also the most expensive and hardest to find.

Another thing to consider is the climate difference. Differences in humidity, temperature, etc. can really affect how your plants react to watering habits. The habits you developed in Hong Kong may not be well-adjusted to southern California conditions. Even if you think the climate is pretty similar, they likely have major differences.

[greenbean]

Originally Posted by Becky15349

Pure Sphagnum moss holds usually too much water for most orchids to be planted in without very vigilant care. I never, ever recommend people to plant in pure moss because it just doesn't dry out well, even with fans blowing and wind, whatever. Another way to think of it: Do orchids have anything even remotely resembling moss hanging on their roots in nature? You bet not!! I would steer clear of all moss in your mix until you master watering - it'll mean the difference between life and death for your orchids PM me if you want more help! ~Becky

I apologize in advance if I appear overly critical. It's not my intention, but I know I have a habit of coming across that way.

No offense, but I have to balance this rather biased opinion. True, many people do not like pure sphagnum, and those who do are almost certainly in the minority. However, if you know how to handle it, which is not necessarily a reflection of your skill level, then sphagnum is an excellent medium. I started out growing in pure sphagnum and it is still my favorite medium. I must point out, though, that I grow primarily moisture-loving plants like Phalaenopsis and am now moving into Masdevallias.

You have to go with what your experience has told you, and it's best to allow others to discover for themselves what works best for them, too. NOT setting them against something before they even try it just because it didn't work for you.

BTW, have you taken a look at orchids in nature? They grow in all kinds of conditions. Sure, epiphytes don't have sphagnum moss growing on their roots, as sphagnum is a terrestrial or sub-aquatic moss, but they often have moss and other debri tangled among their roots. The nutrients from the decomposing debris is part of their food.

Case and point: (note moss-covered trunks and roots growing through the moss!)

Orchids in the trees pictures from central america photos on webshots

http://swampythings.files.wordpress....up-orchid1.jpg

In this last one, pay particularly close attention to the second picture down after the map. That material is not all live roots! There's moss, dead roots, and other debri trapped in those roots! Yes, many of the pictures on this site show exposed roots. However, that's no different from the wayward roots escaping the pots that we get in cultivation.
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Oh, and Ted mentioned a really important tip too!!

[Louis_C]

I believe one of the reason maybe Hong Kong we live in buildings. I lived in 24th floor, so I believe at that time I have much more air movement for my orchids. I believe one of the issue I have right now is packing too tight and no insert object under the pot so it choke the root. Yes Hong Kong most moss on markets are better than US. Coconut husk and moss is pretty much what we use exclusively.Also tree fern and wood slabs also very common but mostly we use moss. I have never seen orchids bark before until i move to US. But this is not the case since the moss I'm using now are brought to here from Hong Kong

Some people tell me pack it tight will help it dry, on the other hand some people tell me to pack it loose will help it dry...

Is there any rule of thumb that the medium should not remain moist for several days?

My Miltonia flavens seedlings are going pretty well with pure moss. I water it when it near completely dry.

[Donald]

All my phals have been growing in moss for 3 years now, no kidding. It's loosely packed in around the roots and they are in slotted clay pots. They get watered every 10 to 12 days. Never a problem with the roots.
I do have a Phalaenopsis schilleriana that is in lava rock that I planted as an experiment and it thrives as well as the others although I find myself watering it every 5 days.

[boytjie]

Also one of the pro-moss gang here, with a caveat. I've been growing four species Phals, five Masdevallias, three Dendrochilums, and a Miltonia Morelliana in pure moss with great success for a few years. I also grow all my Bulbophyllum species and hybrids (10 plants) in sphag mixed with shredded tree fern. But -- as greenbean pointed out -- these are all moisture-loving plants. (The Dendrochilums in particular drink more than any other orchid I've seen.) I follow the others' strategy, letting the moss get almost crispy before re-watering, and keep an eye on the color of the roots with clear pots.