"The Method Behind the Madness"
Summer is finally here, and re-potting season is in full swing. There is a lot of information out there regarding the various potting media, all claiming to be the "wonder mix" guaranteed to make your orchids grow and bloom better.
A rule to live by: if it sounds too good to be true - it probably is!
Here at Oak Hill Gardens, we use a mix that we make here ourselves. We start with a good, clean, hard, "three-dimensional" bark (white fir), that we receive by the truckload (850 bags) from California. Large, chunky bark works well for us, as it allows plenty of air to penetrate the mix into the root system which is key for the plants to thrive. If the bark is soft, flat (two-dimensional), or too fine, it will become compacted around the roots and the air flow will be reduced to almost nil. This will eventually cause the roots to rot.
We add chunky perlite, chunky vermiculite, and a pit of peat or coconut husk to the mix to hold some moisture, in order to reduce the frequency necessary in watering the plants. Most orchids need to dry out between watering to allow the air to reach the root system. Our mix seems to work well here in the Midwest.
The composition of your mix should vary depending on your growing climate and conditions. If you are growing in Florida or a similarly humid area, a coarser and less-absorbent mix would be more appropriate. In a dry climate, more sphagnum moss, or a finer grade of bark or coco husk is usually better in order to facilitate moisture retention. A good goal is to modify your mix to suit your environment and your desired watering frequency, which is usually either once or twice a week. Orchids love fresh potting mix! We re-pot most of our orchids every year. Some of the larger plants only need it every two years. This spring was very wet and cold in Chicagoland. Plants in these conditions often stay wet, and the mix will mold or decay quickly. If this happens it is best to re-pot into new mix. Fungicides work well, but a re-pot is a fresh start. It is best to repot plants when they are in their active growth cycle. This is usually in the spring/summer, when most orchids put out their new root and leaf growth. Cool-growing varieties, like Miltonias and Masdevallias, should be re-potted in fall or winter when they are in their active growth cycle. After re-potting, keep the plant a bit on the dry side. It will then send out new root growth quickly. It is also good to skip a feeding after re-potting. When choosing what pot size to use, look at the root ball....not the leaves. The root system should fit comfortably into the pot with a bit of room for growth. If potted in too large a pot, the plant will stay wet too long - potentially causing rot.
Clay pots dry out faster than plastic. Conversely, plastic pots retain water longer than clay. Choose what is right for your conditions, watering frequency, and type of plant.
If you witness yellow, black or wilted leaves, it is usually a sign that something bad has happened to the plants root system - usually rot due to wet conditions. Repotting gives your plants clean, fresh and coarser media to sink theri roots into. This will lead to healthier plants and ultimately better flowering potential.
Get potting!
Good luck,
Liese
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