Actually, you can have sphagnum in self watering with a top layer of something which does not attract algae. Bark, pebbles, whatever doesn't pull salts and attracts algae. Uuuu I got experiment ideas! :D who's interested?
I am a fairly new orchid owner. I received a Phal 7 years ago and almost killed her. As she recovered and got stronger, I bought more "no ID" Phals from the grocery store. I could keep them alive, but they would not rebloom. A friend advised me to increase the light, and when one of the plants rebloomed, I was hooked. I started searching the Internet for more information, and found both you and rePotme at about the same time. I am learning so much, and am branching out to other genera. I currently have 12 plants - 6 Phals, 2 Oncidum, 2 Paphs, and 2 Brasavolas. When I moved this year, one requirement for the new house was lots of natural light, and now I have a plant room for my orchids and African violets. I am watching as many of your videos as I can. Thank you, thank you so much for all your terrific information!
I remember your balcony days, you’ve come a long way. I received a email message from RepotMe advising their sales and new lower shipping prices and was so delighted to see they are promoting MissOrchidGirl’s UA-cam videos. I see a bright future for you Danny.
I so remember your balcony days. I found your channel during a rough patch in life and I so appreciate it. I came to watching yourchannel about 3 years ago so I had a lot of catching up to do. It was a lot of fun to see. You have grown and evolved so much. Some times I find myself going back to those early days and it just brings a smile to my face. Keep on keeping on!
I use Repot Me orchid barks now, and it has been life changing. My Oncidiums were not doing well until I started using the Oncidium mix, and now they are getting lots of roots and new growths.
I was super excited to see your howlea since mine has been dying slowly in leca for a few months - today she's in bark and i'm ordering the New Zealand spagnum to put her in because I love that orchid and it's so very close to being totally gone I must save it - she's adorable in flower! Thank you for this video Danni - wish me luck on my baby How - I'm hoping for the best!
I've been with you and your orchid adventure since the very beginning. I received a Phalenopsis years ago and stumbled onto you channel and you inspired me to branch out and get other genre. Thank your for all your advice and even the mistakes and the oops you made. You've helped me so much! I switched to leca and self-watering pots yesterday and continued into the night to transplant ALL my orchids except for a very few (the neofinitia falcatas, tolumnias, paphiopedilums and my sick catleya which all are in spaghnum moss). You've done and awsome job! Much love Nina aka Rowan
Yeeees, I do remember balcony tours and your beautiful view of the orchids, azalea and African violets:-) I did love it:-) Unforgettable and still in my heart. Beginning of a wonderful story and great evolution:)
You’ll love the slotted pots, I use them with all my orchids and they work wonders. I can see the root development and the orchid seems to like to, since the tend to grow their roots out of the slots and then back in😂😂
Love watching the evolution of your orchid experience from the balcony days! I’ve been learning right along with you. I enjoy bark because I actually like watering my orchids but as my collection grows with the addition of oncidiums, masdevallia and Miltoniaopsis I’m transitioning to moss in self watering pots.
Oncidium & cymbidium media from rePotme.com was a game changer for me. I had the same issue with LECA and my intergenerics. They just didn’t do very well. The other orchids I keep in a rePotme media are my Cattleya’s seedlings and they’re thriving.
I remember the days before you had anything in semihydro, and almost all of your orchids were in clay pots, with either bark (that smelled bad and grew mushrooms after a year!) or sphagnum moss. Back in the day, you tried to figure out a way to pot your beloved Vandas in slotted pots in Synthic, then in microfiber, then the boxes that fell apart… I’m so happy (and I bet your orchids are too!) that you’ve started to work with rePotme.com! I am getting ready to pot up some NOID Cattleyas and Dendrobiums in a similar (homemade) mix this coming week. Thanks for the great videos as always!
Very good video! I always learn something from your videos. If that was my orchid I guess I would not repot it into any other medium. It looks like she absolutely loves sphagnum moss! And it doesn't look like the algae on top is having any effect on her. I'm hoping by you repotting it in this new media that she will do wonderful! Happy growing!
I was dissatisfied with my sorjourns into the orchid world time and again. Finally I took a look at these plants in the world whence them came. I made an effort to reproduce This environment. Exotic, but I was thinking of the plant. Very unlike the typical house plant to be sure. But it suited us both very well. closely at these plants
Thanks I really appreciate this video been wanting to buy this exact medium for my oncidium orchids vs the regular brand and this seems easier and slides in very well. Just bought it thanks for the info.
Hey Danni :) I started watching your channel when you were in the balcony! hehe I admit I get nostalgic for those days ;D I remember all your bark repottings and clear plastic pots! I learned so much from you about it. FYI, my first oncidium (which has odontoglossum parentage) was planted in a repot me mix, and it was really happy in it, I still have it and was thinking of going back to orchiata next time it needs repotting. Xo
For your self-watering pot you said it was not possible to squeeze it to get the orchid out with ease. Have you thought about laying down a ribbon or some strip of material that wont degrade with water? When you want to repot the orchid you can pull up on the two ends of the strip and it'll help you get the orchid and medium out from the pot. A piece of flexible some sort of plastic or wire might work as you won't have to worry about it degrading.. thoughts?
I have actually used orchiata and it is pretty good compared to other kinds. And the smell , yes it is good , i wish to grow a pine smelling orchid in it 😉😂And yes kiwi bark is just New Zealand bark. XoXo Oishanu
O yes I have used Orchiata bark now for about three years I love it. I grow my Cattleyas in S H just like the way u do but most of the rest of my 160 Orchids are growing in a mix of Orchiata.
Recently I repoted one of my tolumnia in self watering pot with sphagnum as medium,and my tolumnia is growing like crazy,tons of root,flower spike,I highly recommend u to try tolumnia in self watering with sphagnum as media..
Am I the only one who felt like it was such a pity to completely change the mix? The sphagnum moss seemed to be working so damn well for that orchid... :) If it was me, I'd just change the top layer of moss.
I use the same medium for my oncidiums. I replanting mine with completely dead roots, I was worried it wouldn’t make it. 4 months later and a pot full of roots it spiked and bloomed. I water mine about every 2-3 days to keep it wet.
Hey Danny! In your old decorative pot video, you mention making sure there's a gap so allow for airflow. However, now that you're using self-watering pots, there is no longer a space for air which I believe you also address in one of your self-watering videos. What are your thoughts now on leaving some space for air? I have some smaller orchids in baskets that dry up a little bit too fast for my liking and fit/seal perfectly in mugs which I've been using, but I don't think it's been quite long enough to see any sort of effect.
I've been using their media for more than a year now, love it. I'd like to know what you make of their oxygen core dual pots. I'm happy with them when I'm growing, but I have to cut them to dozens of pieces to extricate the roots when repotting and that's a bit of a drag.
I have those too, will test soon :) net pots are more suited for orchids that put out blooms downwards, like Draculas. They say the pot is mainly to help orchids recover, but I would use them with draculas while they are not spiking ;)
I'll look forward to it--the impression I got was that they were for general use, but maybe I'm wrong on that. My favorites from them are the crystal clear pots. The plastic is very, very thin, but it holds up and has nice big holes, very easy to repot from.
HI Dani, Can you please give me ANY advise possible about Caterpillars and how they can damage orchids. I found 5 caterpillars inside my Phalaenopsis Cornu Cervi Red Orchid that I just purchased yesterday from an orchid show in my city. I need to change her media and pot however, she is in bloom right now but I really need to change the media immediately. You can imagine how surprised I was when I came home to look at my new orchids I just purchased from the orchid show and then I see this odd thing and I grabbed it with my fingers not even knowing what it was and until I seen it start to move and wiggle I got so scared and jumped and I threw it in the sink. I stopped and took a video and pictures and for sure these are 9 Caterpillars inside the orchid I just bought. I appreciate you and thank you.
Hi I just repotted my Oncidium Sweet Sugar in sphagnum moss. She has been in bloom for the last month but I noticed the the PB’s were shriveling. When I unpotted it,very few roots. My question is, should I cut the flower spike to help her regain root growth? I think I should but would love verification from someone with a lot more experience.
Would you speak more about "Oncidiums and their hybrids are very prone to do horrible in LECA?" I would think that they can be kept moist that way. But I'm noticing the top 1" dries out; is that your problem with oncidiums & leca? Are they too moist; too dry? Thank you for all you do, Danny! Also, might you point to any recent videos you have made where you talk more about Oncidiums and their hybrids not loving self watering, leca, semi-hydro? Thanks!
Hi Dani, I use Orchiata and have read that it should NOT be soaked. Here is an explanation from Kelley’s Korner, the supplier I use in the USA: Orchiata does not need to be washed or soaked before use; it should be used straight from the bag. Dolomite (calcium magnesium) is applied to Orchiata in the final stages of production. Dolomite is a natural mineral that contains calcium and magnesium. Research shows dolomite addition to substrates is very beneficial, increasing the pH to within a range of 5.5 to 6.5 and providing the minerals calcium and magnesium, essential for plant growth. The dolomite in Orchiata provides the plant with an initial start up supply of these two minerals. This is beneficial for your plant and should not be washed out.
Hi, if you simply flush the pot by running water rather than soaking, you get the same result. If this article would be correct, we would never have to flush or run water through the pot, which is not reasonable, nor safe. I personally believe that deduction is wrong and we shall observe the orchid and the medium properties in the years to come with this treatment together :)
I just started watching your videos a month ago. I am what you call new beginner but love orchids. I do not know where to purchase the clear containers to keep orchids in and as well would like to purchase the self watering pots.Any suggestions ?
The clear container can be deli container that you punch holes in. Or I buy clear Orchid containers at my Orchid supply store (or online), and use plastic glasses from the Dollar Store that fit. Self watering pots are also on eBay and Amazon.
Hi! I bought a Phal recently which is beautiful but it looks as though the nursery has damaged or taken out the crown (I have a pic, if you want to see) - is it game over for any new leaves/growth for this plant? Why would the nursery have done this before selling?
I have a BLC that is putting out new growth in semi-hydro but it is a very small growth and I have had him for some time. would you recommend an organic media?
Hi Danny! I tried ordering some bark mixes from Repotme but the shipping cost more than my orders! Do they give discounts or promo in shipping? I’m from Canada by the way. Just curious please let me know. One more question, can I use fine bark with dendrobium orchids too? Oncidiums and dendrobiums are both fine rooted orchids noh? Please help! Thanks a lot!
am si eu o howeara din asta cu flori galbene cu picatele rosii. si un an am tinut-o in seramis si aproape a murit. si am schimbat-o in scoarta si o ud des, cand vad ca nu mai is verzi radacinile, si vara asta o facut un pseudobulb imens (pentru cat de mini e orhideea). poate reinfloreste.
Danny try one of these - ak1.ostkcdn.com/images/products/is/images/direct/667d5854c4f1b9e112eb49728253d55cce606b27/Kitchen-Baking-Wooden-Handle-Stainless-Steel-Scraper-Curved-Cake-Cream-Spatula.jpg - they are used in baking but it should go around the edge of the pot fairly gently and lift the moss and plant out from underneath.
If your plant likes the NZ sphagnum moss and has that healthy root system to prove it, let it be. Lift off the algae moss on top and put fresh on. If it's happy, leave it alone
Actually, you can have sphagnum in self watering with a top layer of something which does not attract algae. Bark, pebbles, whatever doesn't pull salts and attracts algae. Uuuu I got experiment ideas! :D who's interested?
Hehe,I thought this before...
Me !
Just an idea, would they maybe thrive better in the smaller size, 3-8 mm Leca?
Hi, no I tried a top layer of small leca, new roots didn't like it at all.
MissOrchidGirl &f
I am a fairly new orchid owner. I received a Phal 7 years ago and almost killed her. As she recovered and got stronger, I bought more "no ID" Phals from the grocery store. I could keep them alive, but they would not rebloom. A friend advised me to increase the light, and when one of the plants rebloomed, I was hooked. I started searching the Internet for more information, and found both you and rePotme at about the same time. I am learning so much, and am branching out to other genera. I currently have 12 plants - 6 Phals, 2 Oncidum, 2 Paphs, and 2 Brasavolas. When I moved this year, one requirement for the new house was lots of natural light, and now I have a plant room for my orchids and African violets. I am watching as many of your videos as I can. Thank you, thank you so much for all your terrific information!
I remember your balcony days, you’ve come a long way. I received a email message from RepotMe advising their sales and new lower shipping prices and was so delighted to see they are promoting MissOrchidGirl’s UA-cam videos. I see a bright future for you Danny.
I'm so excited! My two favorite sources for orchid knowledge - rePotme and Miss Orchid Girl together. Yay!
I so remember your balcony days. I found your channel during a rough patch in life and I so appreciate it. I came to watching yourchannel about 3 years ago so I had a lot of catching up to do. It was a lot of fun to see. You have grown and evolved so much.
Some times I find myself going back to those early days and it just brings a smile to my face. Keep on keeping on!
I use Repot Me orchid barks now, and it has been life changing. My Oncidiums were not doing well until I started using the Oncidium mix, and now they are getting lots of roots and new growths.
I was super excited to see your howlea since mine has been dying slowly in leca for a few months - today she's in bark and i'm ordering the New Zealand spagnum to put her in because I love that orchid and it's so very close to being totally gone I must save it - she's adorable in flower! Thank you for this video Danni - wish me luck on my baby How - I'm hoping for the best!
I've been with you and your orchid adventure since the very beginning. I received a Phalenopsis years ago and stumbled onto you channel and you inspired me to branch out and get other genre. Thank your for all your advice and even the mistakes and the oops you made. You've helped me so much! I switched to leca and self-watering pots yesterday and continued into the night to transplant ALL my orchids except for a very few (the neofinitia falcatas, tolumnias, paphiopedilums and my sick catleya which all are in spaghnum moss). You've done and awsome job!
Much love
Nina aka Rowan
Yeeees, I do remember balcony tours and your beautiful view of the orchids, azalea and African violets:-)
I did love it:-)
Unforgettable and still in my heart. Beginning of a wonderful story and great evolution:)
You’ll love the slotted pots, I use them with all my orchids and they work wonders. I can see the root development and the orchid seems to like to, since the tend to grow their roots out of the slots and then back in😂😂
Its already 1am but no one can stop me if there is a new video.
Love watching the evolution of your orchid experience from the balcony days! I’ve been learning right along with you. I enjoy bark because I actually like watering my orchids but as my collection grows with the addition of oncidiums, masdevallia and Miltoniaopsis I’m transitioning to moss in self watering pots.
Hi Dani. I've been watching you for several years and yes back in you balcony days!
Can not forgot balcony days. Those videos were one of the happy things in my days.
That pot and the orchid looks so much better than the self watering pot or lecca. Hope she’s happy in her new home😊
Oncidium & cymbidium media from rePotme.com was a game changer for me. I had the same issue with LECA and my intergenerics. They just didn’t do very well. The other orchids I keep in a rePotme media are my Cattleya’s seedlings and they’re thriving.
I remember the days before you had anything in semihydro, and almost all of your orchids were in clay pots, with either bark (that smelled bad and grew mushrooms after a year!) or sphagnum moss. Back in the day, you tried to figure out a way to pot your beloved Vandas in slotted pots in Synthic, then in microfiber, then the boxes that fell apart… I’m so happy (and I bet your orchids are too!) that you’ve started to work with rePotme.com! I am getting ready to pot up some NOID Cattleyas and Dendrobiums in a similar (homemade) mix this coming week. Thanks for the great videos as always!
Very good video! I always learn something from your videos. If that was my orchid I guess I would not repot it into any other medium. It looks like she absolutely loves sphagnum moss! And it doesn't look like the algae on top is having any effect on her. I'm hoping by you repotting it in this new media that she will do wonderful! Happy growing!
I am from Australia and I have been watching your videos since you started
I was dissatisfied with my sorjourns into the orchid world
time and again. Finally I took a
look at these plants in the
world whence them came.
I made an effort to reproduce
This environment. Exotic, but
I was thinking of the plant.
Very unlike the typical house
plant to be sure. But it suited
us both very well.
closely at these plants
Haha, I know that smell is just ridiculously wonderful. I love watering my orchids potted in the orchiata just to sniff the bark!
Thanks I really appreciate this video been wanting to buy this exact medium for my oncidium orchids vs the regular brand and this seems easier and slides in very well. Just bought it thanks for the info.
Hey Danni :) I started watching your channel when you were in the balcony! hehe I admit I get nostalgic for those days ;D I remember all your bark repottings and clear plastic pots! I learned so much from you about it. FYI, my first oncidium (which has odontoglossum parentage) was planted in a repot me mix, and it was really happy in it, I still have it and was thinking of going back to orchiata next time it needs repotting. Xo
For your self-watering pot you said it was not possible to squeeze it to get the orchid out with ease. Have you thought about laying down a ribbon or some strip of material that wont degrade with water? When you want to repot the orchid you can pull up on the two ends of the strip and it'll help you get the orchid and medium out from the pot. A piece of flexible some sort of plastic or wire might work as you won't have to worry about it degrading.. thoughts?
I have actually used orchiata and it is pretty good compared to other kinds. And the smell , yes it is good , i wish to grow a pine smelling orchid in it 😉😂And yes kiwi bark is just New Zealand bark.
XoXo Oishanu
O yes I have used Orchiata bark now for about three years I love it. I grow my Cattleyas in S H just like the way u do but most of the rest of my 160 Orchids are growing in a mix of Orchiata.
I love the look of algae on top. So natural and pretty.
I hope you'll have the same luck I've had with rePotme's wonderful mixes! I was just about to give up on orchids when I tried them. They saved me.
Recently I repoted one of my tolumnia in self watering pot with sphagnum as medium,and my tolumnia is growing like crazy,tons of root,flower spike,I highly recommend u to try tolumnia in self watering with sphagnum as media..
Quite interesting & informative video. .☺😊👌👌👍👍thanks for sharing. .
Am I the only one who felt like it was such a pity to completely change the mix? The sphagnum moss seemed to be working so damn well for that orchid... :) If it was me, I'd just change the top layer of moss.
I love orchiata and I hope you will love it too. I did not know Repotme handles it now.
I remember your balcony days. It’s been an orchid journey with you.
I use the same medium for my oncidiums. I replanting mine with completely dead roots, I was worried it wouldn’t make it. 4 months later and a pot full of roots it spiked and bloomed. I water mine about every 2-3 days to keep it wet.
Hey Danny! In your old decorative pot video, you mention making sure there's a gap so allow for airflow. However, now that you're using self-watering pots, there is no longer a space for air which I believe you also address in one of your self-watering videos. What are your thoughts now on leaving some space for air? I have some smaller orchids in baskets that dry up a little bit too fast for my liking and fit/seal perfectly in mugs which I've been using, but I don't think it's been quite long enough to see any sort of effect.
Turface is our version of the small clay medium that you used.
I've been using their media for more than a year now, love it. I'd like to know what you make of their oxygen core dual pots. I'm happy with them when I'm growing, but I have to cut them to dozens of pieces to extricate the roots when repotting and that's a bit of a drag.
I have those too, will test soon :) net pots are more suited for orchids that put out blooms downwards, like Draculas. They say the pot is mainly to help orchids recover, but I would use them with draculas while they are not spiking ;)
I'll look forward to it--the impression I got was that they were for general use, but maybe I'm wrong on that. My favorites from them are the crystal clear pots. The plastic is very, very thin, but it holds up and has nice big holes, very easy to repot from.
I remember your balcony days!!!
Oh, the balcony days.... I remember them. :D
HI Dani, Can you please give me ANY advise possible about Caterpillars and how they can damage orchids. I found 5 caterpillars inside my Phalaenopsis Cornu Cervi Red Orchid that I just purchased yesterday from an orchid show in my city. I need to change her media and pot however,
she is in bloom right now but I really need to change the media immediately.
You can imagine how surprised I was when I came home to look at my new orchids I just purchased from the orchid show and
then I see this odd thing and I grabbed it with my fingers not even knowing what it was and until I seen it start to move and
wiggle I got so scared and jumped and I threw it in the sink. I stopped and took a video and pictures and for sure these are 9
Caterpillars inside the orchid I just bought. I appreciate you and thank you.
Hi Dani, I Love repotme.com I Love their orchid mixes, pots and fertilizers
The paph mix has been my favorite thus far.
This is good to know. I have been using their Phal and Onc. media, and just bought 2 Paphs, so I wondered if they had a mix for them.
Hi I just repotted my Oncidium Sweet Sugar in sphagnum moss. She has been in bloom for the last month but I noticed the the PB’s were shriveling. When I unpotted it,very few roots. My question is, should I cut the flower spike to help her regain root growth? I think I should but would love verification from someone with a lot more experience.
Would you speak more about "Oncidiums and their hybrids are very prone to do horrible in LECA?" I would think that they can be kept moist that way. But I'm noticing the top 1" dries out; is that your problem with oncidiums & leca? Are they too moist; too dry? Thank you for all you do, Danny! Also, might you point to any recent videos you have made where you talk more about Oncidiums and their hybrids not loving self watering, leca, semi-hydro? Thanks!
Interesting 👍👍👍
Hi Dani, I use Orchiata and have read that it should NOT be soaked. Here is an explanation from Kelley’s Korner, the supplier I use in the USA:
Orchiata does not need to be washed or soaked before use; it should be used straight from the bag. Dolomite (calcium magnesium) is applied to Orchiata in the final stages of production. Dolomite is a natural mineral that contains calcium and magnesium. Research shows dolomite addition to substrates is very beneficial, increasing the pH to within a range of 5.5 to 6.5 and providing the minerals calcium and magnesium, essential for plant growth. The dolomite in Orchiata provides the plant with an initial start up supply of these two minerals. This is beneficial for your plant and should not be washed out.
Hi, if you simply flush the pot by running water rather than soaking, you get the same result. If this article would be correct, we would never have to flush or run water through the pot, which is not reasonable, nor safe. I personally believe that deduction is wrong and we shall observe the orchid and the medium properties in the years to come with this treatment together :)
I don't think she's soaking the mix to wash it; I believe she's soaking it so the bark absorbs moisture for the first time.
Love the video.👍🌺 George in uk
I just started watching your videos a month ago. I am what you call new beginner but love orchids. I do not know where to purchase the clear containers to keep orchids in and as well would like to purchase the self watering pots.Any suggestions ?
The clear container can be deli container that you punch holes in. Or I buy clear Orchid containers at my Orchid supply store (or online), and use plastic glasses from the Dollar Store that fit. Self watering pots are also on eBay and Amazon.
Hi! I bought a Phal recently which is beautiful but it looks as though the nursery has damaged or taken out the crown (I have a pic, if you want to see) - is it game over for any new leaves/growth for this plant? Why would the nursery have done this before selling?
ah, the balcony days... :)
I ordered an oncidium that I'm expecting to be in a three inch pot, when I repot should I only go up one inch or maybe try a six inch pot?
I have a BLC that is putting out new growth in semi-hydro but it is a very small growth and I have had him for some time. would you recommend an organic media?
Hi Danny! I tried ordering some bark mixes from Repotme but the shipping cost more than my orders! Do they give discounts or promo in shipping? I’m from Canada by the way. Just curious please let me know.
One more question, can I use fine bark with dendrobium orchids too? Oncidiums and dendrobiums are both fine rooted orchids noh?
Please help! Thanks a lot!
am si eu o howeara din asta cu flori galbene cu picatele rosii. si un an am tinut-o in seramis si aproape a murit. si am schimbat-o in scoarta si o ud des, cand vad ca nu mai is verzi radacinile, si vara asta o facut un pseudobulb imens (pentru cat de mini e orhideea). poate reinfloreste.
danny "i have a video for every problem you might have with your orchid" orchidgirl :)) you are so cute sometimes :))
Danny, which media do you use for brassavola cucullata?
Hi, it's in LECA, all my Cattleya types are growing good in LECA for me :)
Danny try one of these - ak1.ostkcdn.com/images/products/is/images/direct/667d5854c4f1b9e112eb49728253d55cce606b27/Kitchen-Baking-Wooden-Handle-Stainless-Steel-Scraper-Curved-Cake-Cream-Spatula.jpg - they are used in baking but it should go around the edge of the pot fairly gently and lift the moss and plant out from underneath.
If your plant likes the NZ sphagnum moss and has that healthy root system to prove it, let it be. Lift off the algae moss on top and put fresh on. If it's happy, leave it alone
I don't like bark at all, when you will next repot this orchid,you are going to damage all the roots,roots stuck to bark so badly...