Fred Clarke spoke to our society last month. I haven't written up my notes yet, and he agreed to review them before I publish them here. He addressed the issue of inorganic medium. He said orchids do better if there's some organic medium mixed in the inorganic, the better to support the beneficial microorganisms. He said it doesn't take much to have the effect. That made me think.
When I put newly-arrived plants into S/H I don't remove all the old medium. I shake off only what is loose, so as not to damage all the roots and leave the plant unable to take up water before forming new roots. Small plants in sphagnum, like those Ellen at Olympic Orchids ships, I put into S/H without disturbing the root ball at all. Ray points out old roots will die because they aren't adapted to the new environment. I have noticed most of my plants keep most of their old roots.
Leafmite, do you have bits of leaves, sticks and seeds of trees like maple and elm getting into your lava? I could imagine it would be hard to remove without damaging roots.
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Hybrid Mode
