Orchid planting mix

[Seeker]

ok so no one was answering my questions in my other post, so here goes.

Ok, well I went ahead and transplanted into an Orchid planting mix and perlite. I had a question about the orchid planting mix, it just pretty much looks like mulch, there is not really any “dirt” in it, is this ok? Is there sufficient nutrients in this mix to sustain salvia? they seem to be doing ok they have been in that mix for allmost 24hrs now and there is no wilting and the leaves look pretty good. I am still keeping the tents on them excluding when i an misting and leting them breathe. Also I have a fair amount of perlite in it, any thoughts would be great….



L8ter….




Seeker…..

[JDogHerman]

the nutrients come from the material. As the ground is watered nutrients are slowly leached/carried with the water where they are sometimes deposited. If your girl is still doing well then there you go. It sound like it is ok just be careful, most of the orchid mixes Ive seen have peat moss. SeaMac will tell you about how in a couple of years it degrades to a bog.

[Seeker]

cool,

This Mix came with some perlite, and no peat moss, so i just added more perlite and that was pretty much it.

Thanks for the quick response.....


L8ter....


Seeker........

[Jupe]

Depends what kind of orchid mix though......there are  many numerous mixes, let alone brand names.

 Some are pure wood chips, others are denser with fillers, small chips, mosses etc etc.

I wouldn't count on many orchid mixes to provide ferts  though unless the label says it has ferts.

 Loose mixes like that are great  to use, just remember its almost a hydro setup, rather than a "soil"......at least at first..you can topdress and water in all sorts of goodies...make it denser if need be, or richen it with thick humus.....lots of options.


I would use1/2 strength N for all waterings, mistings too, until you see how mix performs

..plant can pull alot of ferts through leaves, I am learning, which is great if roots or soil is misbehaving!!!


 

[JDogHerman]

..plant can pull alot of ferts through leaves,
 

I didnt know that ^^ 

[JDogHerman]

I thought it was bad to put fet on the leaves

[Jupe]

google up foliar feeding....many tropical forest dwellers pull in nutrients this way, leaf residue, insect crap and body parts, bird crap, dust and airborne soil etc.

Just use 1/2 strength, (or weaker)avoid applications in full sun or fast drying conditions.

I use 3 gallon backpack sprayer on all orchids, cycads, bromeliads, ferns, large leaved tropicals etc etc and anything that looks like it needs a boost, cactii as well, salvias get some if I think they are anemic.

 
Siebert suggested(when he saw my patch) that growing them in the same area, year after year may lead to weakened vigour,  (I suspected this, and with a heavy nitrogen feeder, its too be expected)
and I may have run into that limit last year, with weak flowers and no seed set... so I'm throwing stuff at them this year....ferts,(chemical and organic) sifted composts, anything extra lying around The Patch has probably pumped out 15-20 lbs of stems and leaf, so soil is getting a bit tired,  despite me adding things over the years...but digging up patch and re-doing is not really an option....so I'm going for the super top dressing method....I had slcaked off for awhile, as you end up burying plants in order to work materials down into soil (wheelbarrows full) and I was afraid of losing the "next" haha Luna....but I'm over that, just need to get the whole thing strong again.