Orchid Potting Media, What size chunks for what orchid?

[emmajs243]

Ok ok, I know, another post by this Emma girl but I started trying to place an orchid order and found myself filled with never ending questions of what size bark for Phalaenopsis, medium, ok well what size is that? Some orchid bark isn't sold by grades but actual inch sizes. Then I followed with well what would I get for my Cattleya? The same? Smaller? What about my Cymbidium?

What I hope this thread turns into is a concise list of types of orchids and their usual media sizes at an adult age! What would be even better is if we get some preferences on any specific things you find to be best to include in Potting mixes for certain orchids and even what you would use for different seedlings!

I know there are a ton of Potting guides and information but it would be nice to be able to search one thread and get some different ideas of what medias work or don't work and what size ranges you should look for! Needless to say everyone will have their own opinions but as a beginner, I feel like when we don't have much personal experience we do base our decisions off of others preferences so what do you guys use?! Share the knowledge!

[TamiP]

Check out the semi hydro thread, that's what I'm doing.

[fishmom]

There is a rule of thumb that says the size of the medium parallels the size of the roots, so a fine bark for fine roots, chunkier bark for thicker roots. However, an orchid will grow on most anything if you adjust your watering practices to provide what the orchid needs.



Big chunks are a poor choice for an orchid that wants to stay moist all the time, fine bark is not so good for a plant that needs to dry out between waterings. Good culture information will be your guide, along with your own experience.

[emmajs243]

I am all set for s/h too! I am planning to start working on swapping over to it I just have been waiting for somebody in my house to start producing some good root growth before swapping over to it! So far I only have one orchid really growing well and she is just finishing her blooms but it looks like now she has a side spike off the original spike growing (which I have heard it is a good idea to cut? Idk I am looking into this because I definitely will if it is best) And she looks like she has a brand new spike starting to grow too. She is just going crazy on growing right now so I hate to swap her when she is so happy and healthy! The rest of my clan just haven't been growing new roots yet or they rescues!

My thought process is every orchid is different and it would be nice to have some back up media on hand for those that maybe aren't ready to be swapped to s/h or wouldn't do too well in s/h. Then again, I am a little over the top with the entire "Be Prepared" stance so this very well may be unnecessary past some sphagnum moss!

[TamiP]

Being prepared is never a bad thing.

[Ray]

Originally Posted by fishmom

There is a rule of thumb that says the size of the medium parallels the size of the roots, so a fine bark for fine roots, chunkier bark for thicker roots. However, an orchid will grow on most anything if you adjust your watering practices to provide what the orchid needs.

One of the important factors is the size of the spaces between the particles, again, paralleling fishmom's recommendation.

Big chunks are a poor choice for an orchid that wants to stay moist all the time...unless you're going to water frequently.

Frequent watering is actually better for the plants, but we have to be practical. Summers in my greenhouse in PA, I watered daily and saw spectacular growth. Now that I'm sans-greenhouse again and growing on windowsills, that simply isn't happening.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

For Phals, I like to use medium to large grade bark depending on the needs of the plant.

More importantly, watch out for spots inside the pot that stay wet for extended periods of time. This is where root rot usually occurs.

Some species Phals may need slightly more frequent watering schedules than most hybrid Phals. Although they may require more water, the roots should still be allowed to dry between waterings.

I will warn you ahead of time that if you choose to grow the species Phal appendiculata in the future, that this particular species is really picky about its humidity requirements. They thrive not only in conditions where they stay fairly consistently moist, (keeping in mind that their roots like a fair amount of air circulation), but also in high humidity. So yeah, the take away from this paragraph is that some species of Phals will require you to understand their humidity needs as well. The majority of Phals are not as picky about humidity however.

[emmajs243]

Thank you Phillip! Great information!! You know, every blue moon you get a Phal that just...really stands out in how they want to be cared for. I currently have a NOID Phal that is kinda putting me through my hoops trying to find the right balance for her!

The nursurery I bought her at planted her in straight bark it looks like, which can be totally fine. Lots of air flow, good dry period. But in comparison to my other Phals she seems to want SO much more water. I am pretty concerned about over watering but she just seems to dry out so fast. I don't know if it just that she is in straight bark or if it is just her? I know she wasn't the happiest when coming to me but now is doing great with lots of new root growth and spikes growing even though she is just finishing being in bloom.

But every time I think well I am not sure about watering you this soon. (After only 3 days) and I choose to wait, then when I do water her she gets a split down the center of her leaf. And although her humidity probably use to be too low, it is definitely kept in the 70% range or more for where she is now! Granted, I have also never had a Phal with as stiff of leaves as her.

Like I said, putting me through my hoops trying to figure her out! Aren't Orchids funny the way they can have such specific care instructions for themselves?

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Orchids definitely never cease to amaze me. Even when I think I have certain groups figured out, they will manage to show me something I've never seen before.

Having had grown multiple individuals of one particular species, I can say that I can see the individual variation in behaviors. It is far more apparent with multiple individuals of the same hybrid or species.

Of course, different species or hybrids will behave differently from one another as well.

With Phals, if you have a plant with strong roots, you will be ok.

[emmajs243]

Thanks Phillip! It is so true though! But I guess that just makes them like any other living creature! Dogs of the exact same litter can be polar opposites....well and on that note, human kids from the exact same litter can be polar opposites too!