Thank you for this video. I like the fact that you were honest about having some breakage of the roots and losing a back bulb. Love your videos and your channel.
+PhysicsRoxs Glad you liked it. If you are repotting when the plant is in active growth a few broken roots is not going to set the plant back at all. It can actually force the roots to branch and become more full!
***** I would put it in a 4" clay pot filled half way with styrofoam peanuts or some other drainage material. Pot fairly loosely with sphagnum and be sure to stake it so it doesn't wiggle.
My cattleya has similar problem, only a lot more roots stuck to the outside of pot. I was about to make a video to post a question as to how to handle it. Found your video. Thanks.
To avoid damaging the roots soak the entire pot inside a pail of water. The roots will get detached from the clay pot and with ease the entire plant can be removed from the pot.
And there is no reason to keep an old clay pot. As you said, soak the entire pot in water for a couple of hours. This will make the roots more pliable. Then pull it out of the water, and just break the bottom of the pot with a hammer, and the pot will shatter and one can then proceed. I used to sterilize the pot shards and using them as filler for the bottom of new pots.
@@TheDanEdwards You guys, I always read that in every single orchid book I have, and with plastic at least, it seems to make it harder to get the roots away from the sides. They seem to pop off much easier when dry. Yes it makes them more pliable when working with the plant afterwards. Dan, clay pots can be re-used with much scrubbing, leaching, and putting them in an oven at 450 for an hour. I always scrub them up and then leach and cook them in batches. If you're worried still, then you can always use them for annuals.
Not a direct descendant because none of his three children married but we are of the same family tree and the common ancestor is my Gt x 6 Grandfather who was Williams Gt Grandfather. Regards Tim
Thank you, Wade! I always enjoy watching how experienced growers repot their orchids, and hearing their advice and suggestions. I usually try to be very careful not to damage live roots, but I've come to the conclusion that cattleyas do best when repotted tightly on the pot, like you do. They are impressive and resilient plants, and when potted at the right time, they recover very fast. I haven't tried growing them on clay pots yet, because I worry that so many roots are damaged during repotting for being stuck to the pot, but it seems that cattleyas and encyclias grow so well in clay pots. Maybe someday when I divide a cattleya, I'll pot one half in a plastic pot, and the other division in a clay pot to see which does better. Of course they will have to be watered differently. Do you have to give less fertilizer to the ones in clay pots to avoid accumulation of salts?
Andrea Soilander I fertilize the same regardless of the pot. I also water well between fertilizing and about once a month I REALLY flush the pots on everything. Even if you keep your collection in the home I highly reccommend watering from the top of the plant. For clay pots I try to water a bit more and I don't use a lot of drainage material unless they really like to be well drained.
Thanks for a great tutorial! I have some Cattleyas that my neighbor gave me last year. They have lots of healthy bulbs with brown tips. Should I be cutting off the tips? I would appreciate your help. Thanks!
If the brown parts are offensive you can cut them off. I would be more concerned about the root system. If you are in doubt, spring should be a good time to check and repot.
Thank you for the updates. I couldn’t find the kiwi bark from Amazon. Where can I order it from? I like some greens on the orchid pot. Where can I buy the love moss?
Awesome video Wade! I've gotten orchids from Sunset Valley Orchids before and I really did like their potting medium. Really great quality. That's cute your wife bought you that shirt, she must be a really cool lady :)
Rosanna Rodarte I'm really considering in a year or so buying a pallet of bark from Fred and make hobby size amounts available. It isn't cheap but I like it even better than Orchiata. And yes, my wife is an incredible lady. Love her every minute of every day. :)
America Anuchiracheeva Hello America. Most orchids need to have their mix very tight. Also, it is very easy to use something for a stake to tie your orchid to so it does not move.
Thanks Wade. I pot mine in pure pinus bark from Australia. Some say Cattelyas are hard to grow. I find I have a knack for them. Twinkles?... NO! I've found that those orchids with small sized roots I kill. lol Do you you also have paphipedliums? Can you do a vid on them? I finally saved mine but not sure how to make them bloom. Thanks.
+nina dillard Hi Nina. Twinkles does well for me in fine grade Pinus with perlite a bit of chopped sphagnum and a bit of peat moss. Larger Oncidiums and intergenerics get half fine bark and half medium along with the additives. I have a few Paphs but they are seedlings. Truthfully, I struggle with them a bit myself. Part of the reason is that I get more light in the greenhouse than most like.
Light killed 2 and I've "saved" 2. But getting them to bloom is problematic at best. Inleave them in the kitchen now where they get light from the stove lamp. I do fertilize at half strength and a fish emultion once a week.
My catleya I have it for 2 years I repot the other day didn’t have any new root but bloom last December why what happened no roots do you have any fertilizer to enhance root growth
Your orchid is not lost. Do NOT use fertilizer. Get new zealand sphagnum moss (I recommend Besgrow). Pot it in the smallest clay pot that you can fit your Cattleya into using the sphagnum moss. Keep it barely moist. It lost the roots because it was getting too much water or the potting mix that it was in rotted. Good luck!
Hello Wade just a suggestion clay pots are not a good idea because the root attach themselves to the pot...I noticed you had to damage a lot of beautiful roots getting your plant out...this is absolutely avoidable...I would use a clear pot and add extra holes to the side for good ventilation this will prevent rotting...and the damage to your roots..just a suggestion.
+Carla Chambers If you repot when the plants are in active growth it's not a problem. Within a month those roots are replaced. It's actually good to trim roots on a healthy plant. Also, I prefer clay pots to plastic for orchids that dry between waterings. As far as clear plastic, I bought some clear pots and find they end up forming algae on the inside of the pots. Not really a problem but definitely not nice to look at. Believe me, after repotting a few thousand cattleyas losing a few roots in repotting is not a problem.
Thank you for your reply....I have most of my Orchids in plastic pots with holes around the sides that I provided and I have never seen algae in any of my plants...but what it does do is balance air and moisture in the pot for a healthy root system...if the roots are damaged extensively it is hard on the folage...then it's a matter of nursing your Orchids back to health..too much work for me..lol! Ok...well much luck with your Orchids and happy planting.
@@carlachambers3522 Carla, you also get roots growing out of the extra holes which makes extra work. I love clear plastic, but I am an indoor grower who doesn't have to worry about cold, cloudy days that raise the humidity that don't allow pots to dry out for weeks like greenhouse growers do. Conditions for greenhouse growers are very different. Plastic pots also can get very hot and with the excellent light that they have, but clay prevents this. I have also read that clear pots can heat up greenhouse effect-style. Clay has a lot of insulating benefits, helping to keep the root zone both cooler in summer and warmer in winter and they dry pretty evenly due to the enture surface of the pot being breathable. As an indoor grower, I never have to worry about a cloudy day or days that get to 100 degrees, and while the conditions do vary slightly due to the heat and air conditioning, my grow area doesn't experience the sometimes rapid and wide temperature swings that can occur in greenhouses.
***** I'll be happy to do that, dear. The reason there is a conflict with potting Oncidiums and Oncidium alliance hybrids is that they don't all grow the same. There are about 8 different genera that are used to make intergeneric Oncidium hybrids and hundreds of different species are involved. What is the name of the one you are interested in repotting? I can at least point you in the right direction for your particular plant until I do a video.
***** I am having excellant luck reviving an Onc. Twinkle. I fill a 4" clay pot half full with styrofoam peanuts and then pot Twinkle with sphagnum moss. Don't pack it real tight - just use enough to keep it from wiggling. I actually show it in Caring For Rescue Orchids . I find it needs watered 2-3 times a week. Water it just before the moss would feel dry. Good luck with it.
OMG I hate doing this to a plant. Im not fond it's true of potted Cattleyas. I prefer them growing in slatted baskets no potting media at all. As they grow I attach another basket to the growing end then snip it off once its grown three bulbs in the new pot. But best of all growing on a live tree or up a slab of tree fern........ Unfortunately when you buy them they are often stuffed into pots or grown on chunks of coconut husk and getting them out or off is trying to say the least. So what I do is tie the whole thing, pot or husk and all to the tree and wait for it to grow out onto the tree or slab even basket. Once it has taken off up the tree at least three bulbs/leaves I snip the "back bulbs" end off pot and all and remove it quite safely, minimal disturbance to the roots, leaving a brand new plant which has grown onto the tree or new basket. Its the slow kind way but it works. The basket/pot/husk with back bulbs can be tied to another part of the tree and you get a second or third plant depending on the number of shoots you can activate. I just hate setting anything back preferring a smooth continuation. Only time it gets to the point where Im molesting and cutting off roots is when there is evidence of rot, and it must smell and feel pretty bad too. Then Im removing entirely as above and I will always use a fungicide drench. Other wise remember that potting media that breaks down will fall out the bottom so removing the bottom of the pot is all it takes to help the plant along. Thanks for the vid.
Do you have any Psychopsis Wade? I recently purchased one, and well it had an accident where it fell out of the pot and on to the floor with a young spike! *sigh* drunken bro-in-law:( it didn't break but I had to do an emergency repot. I would love to learn more about them if you could post a video about them. I will post a video on this new purchase soon :)
Arlene Ontiveros I have one Psychopsis, Arlene. It is Mendenhall 'Hildos' FCC/AOS. It seems to grow like a weed and bloom almost all the time. I will hold off on a specific video about it untill I need to repot it but I will definitely give a bit of time to its culture for you on the next greenhouse update.
Wade do you not wet or soak the medium prior to potting up plants.? Also I noticed when this was published, but anytime you have something left over, and are willing to give it away for the shipping costs, please consider me. I live near the ocean in So. Calif. so grow most of my orchids outside under a grape arbor. Really enjoy the easy way you do things. Have just got back into orchids so I am a real novice. Thanks for taking the time to answer.
I don't wet any of my medium with the exception of sphagnum moss. I do water the plants every day for about 3 days after repotting. If I could make a suggestion, since you are in So. California contact Fred Clarke at Sunset Valley Orchids about buying his Kiwi Bark. It is VERY important to use good quality components in potting material. Also, make sure you use good quality New Zealand sphagnum moss. Many people dislike sphagnum moss. That is because they use poor quality moss. Please feel free to contact me anytime with any questions and good luck!
thats for the reply. I just gt a huge bale of spaghum moss from Canada. I hope I can use it. Also bought some hydration serums pellets. My phalionopsis seem to like it HVE You worked with it? thanks for your advise and video. Glenda
Thx Wade, My poor Den. Nopporn 'startbright' - new cane got broken during shipping so there are no new leaves, last years cane's leaves are yellowing and getting spots and falling off. I'm not sure what to do now so I just watch it fall apart and hope for something good to happen...
Hi Wade, How can I get the list of your orchids. I saw couple of unboxing by other you-tubers and really want the Den. Amytheistglosum or something like that.
Sunah Yun Hi Sunah. If you send me an email to wadeh1954@gmail.com I can send you a list. I also have a web site, www.wadesorchids.com that you can check out although there have been a few who can't read the listing (it's a work in progress and very new). Thank you for your interest!
Richard Lewis Hi Richard. Sunset Valley Orchids is the Importer. The bark is fairly expensive but I feel that it's worth it. I have considered purchasing a pallet from him for resale but that's more of an investment than I can make.
I use 3 parts medium Kiwi bark (similar to Orchiata) and 1 part #3 (large) perlite for Cattleyas, Dendrobiums, and other mature epiphytic orchids. I also routinely use styrofoam peanuts or other drainage material in the bottom.
Wade's Orchids thank you. My,orchidata didn't smell good. I had opened it months ago. Think its molded. Should I try to make the orchidata okay? Somehow?
janefromtennessee if it smells moldy I would get rid of it. I’m afraid that you will be asking for trouble if you use it. I’m sorry because I know how expensive it is. I don’t use charcoal. It’s very hard to get in the right size and especially the quantity that I would need. Save yours for when you get some seedling mix.
Thank you for this video. I like the fact that you were honest about having some breakage of the roots and losing a back bulb. Love your videos and your channel.
+PhysicsRoxs Glad you liked it. If you are repotting when the plant is in active growth a few broken roots is not going to set the plant back at all. It can actually force the roots to branch and become more full!
I compared the times for the requests for the back bulb and Isis won! Congratulations to her!
***** I would put it in a 4" clay pot filled half way with styrofoam peanuts or some other drainage material. Pot fairly loosely with sphagnum and be sure to stake it so it doesn't wiggle.
Wade's Orchids b
My cattleya has similar problem, only a lot more roots stuck to the outside of pot. I was about to make a video to post a question as to how to handle it. Found your video. Thanks.
I would love the back bulb division! Thank you for your videos. I have a cattleya that needs repotting so i am glad you did this video.
I have seen pictures of this flower and it's beautiful! Great video Wade :) I've got cattleya fever now!
To avoid damaging the roots soak the entire pot inside a pail of water. The roots will get detached from the clay pot and with ease the entire plant can be removed from the pot.
And there is no reason to keep an old clay pot.
As you said, soak the entire pot in water for a couple of hours. This will make the roots more pliable.
Then pull it out of the water, and just break the bottom of the pot with a hammer, and the pot will shatter and one can then proceed. I used to sterilize the pot shards and using them as filler for the bottom of new pots.
@@TheDanEdwards You guys, I always read that in every single orchid book I have, and with plastic at least, it seems to make it harder to get the roots away from the sides. They seem to pop off much easier when dry. Yes it makes them more pliable when working with the plant afterwards. Dan, clay pots can be re-used with much scrubbing, leaching, and putting them in an oven at 450 for an hour. I always scrub them up and then leach and cook them in batches. If you're worried still, then you can always use them for annuals.
Thank you for pronouncing Cattleya correctly, i.e. Kat-ley-uh. William Cattley after who this Genus is named would be happy I am sure.
I try to pronounce things correctly and I learned the history of Cattleya early on. Are you a descendant?
Not a direct descendant because none of his three children married but we are of the same family tree and the common ancestor is my Gt x 6 Grandfather who was Williams Gt Grandfather. Regards Tim
Thank you, Wade! I always enjoy watching how experienced growers repot their orchids, and hearing their advice and suggestions. I usually try to be very careful not to damage live roots, but I've come to the conclusion that cattleyas do best when repotted tightly on the pot, like you do. They are impressive and resilient plants, and when potted at the right time, they recover very fast. I haven't tried growing them on clay pots yet, because I worry that so many roots are damaged during repotting for being stuck to the pot, but it seems that cattleyas and encyclias grow so well in clay pots. Maybe someday when I divide a cattleya, I'll pot one half in a plastic pot, and the other division in a clay pot to see which does better. Of course they will have to be watered differently. Do you have to give less fertilizer to the ones in clay pots to avoid accumulation of salts?
Andrea Soilander I fertilize the same regardless of the pot. I also water well between fertilizing and about once a month I REALLY flush the pots on everything. Even if you keep your collection in the home I highly reccommend watering from the top of the plant. For clay pots I try to water a bit more and I don't use a lot of drainage material unless they really like to be well drained.
Wade's Orchids Thanks, Wade!
old guys do rule im right there with you lol all 36 yrs of me Aweome video Wade
Thanks for a great tutorial! I have some Cattleyas that my neighbor gave me last year. They have lots of healthy bulbs with brown tips. Should I be cutting off the tips? I would appreciate your help. Thanks!
If the brown parts are offensive you can cut them off. I would be more concerned about the root system. If you are in doubt, spring should be a good time to check and repot.
Thank you for the updates. I couldn’t find the kiwi bark from Amazon. Where can I order it from? I like some greens on the orchid pot. Where can I buy the love moss?
Very nice and interesting video Wade. I would love to have the backbulb but I'm from Canada, so I don't think I qualify. Too bad! Thanks for sharing:)
Another great video.
You rule Wade!
After repotting, should you place the plant in lower light for a while as I heard that might reduce stress?
Awesome video Wade! I've gotten orchids from Sunset Valley Orchids before and I really did like their potting medium. Really great quality.
That's cute your wife bought you that shirt, she must be a really cool lady :)
Rosanna Rodarte I'm really considering in a year or so buying a pallet of bark from Fred and make hobby size amounts available. It isn't cheap but I like it even better than Orchiata. And yes, my wife is an incredible lady. Love her every minute of every day. :)
Thanyou learn something new !I been reporting my Catt super looose and keep leaning over
America Anuchiracheeva Hello America. Most orchids need to have their mix very tight. Also, it is very easy to use something for a stake to tie your orchid to so it does not move.
Hi Wade's Orchid thanks! going to redo it and add the stake too
After repotting, do you give them any special treatment like not watering for a week to let the wounds in the roots heal up?
great video!
Wade I like the back bulb if it still available.
Thanks Wade. I pot mine in pure pinus bark from Australia. Some say Cattelyas are hard to grow. I find I have a knack for them. Twinkles?... NO! I've found that those orchids with small sized roots I kill. lol Do you you also have paphipedliums? Can you do a vid on them? I finally saved mine but not sure how to make them bloom. Thanks.
+nina dillard Hi Nina. Twinkles does well for me in fine grade Pinus with perlite a bit of chopped sphagnum and a bit of peat moss. Larger Oncidiums and intergenerics get half fine bark and half medium along with the additives. I have a few Paphs but they are seedlings. Truthfully, I struggle with them a bit myself. Part of the reason is that I get more light in the greenhouse than most like.
Light killed 2 and I've "saved" 2. But getting them to bloom is problematic at best. Inleave them in the kitchen now where they get light from the stove lamp. I do fertilize at half strength and a fish emultion once a week.
After. Reports Catleya and how long we can give Catleya food ? May I ask
I fertilize newly repotted plants along with all my others so there really is no delay in fertilizing.
My catleya I have it for 2 years I repot the other day didn’t have any new root but bloom last December why what happened no roots do you have any fertilizer to enhance root growth
Your orchid is not lost. Do NOT use fertilizer. Get new zealand sphagnum moss (I recommend Besgrow). Pot it in the smallest clay pot that you can fit your Cattleya into using the sphagnum moss. Keep it barely moist. It lost the roots because it was getting too much water or the potting mix that it was in rotted. Good luck!
Hello Wade just a suggestion clay pots are not a good idea because the root attach themselves to the pot...I noticed you had to damage a lot of beautiful roots getting your plant out...this is absolutely avoidable...I would use a clear pot and add extra holes to the side for good ventilation this will prevent rotting...and the damage to your roots..just a suggestion.
+Carla Chambers If you repot when the plants are in active growth it's not a problem. Within a month those roots are replaced. It's actually good to trim roots on a healthy plant. Also, I prefer clay pots to plastic for orchids that dry between waterings. As far as clear plastic, I bought some clear pots and find they end up forming algae on the inside of the pots. Not really a problem but definitely not nice to look at. Believe me, after repotting a few thousand cattleyas losing a few roots in repotting is not a problem.
Thank you for your reply....I have most of my Orchids in plastic pots with holes around the sides that I provided and I have never seen algae in any of my plants...but what it does do is balance air and moisture in the pot for a healthy root system...if the roots are damaged extensively it is hard on the folage...then it's a matter of nursing your Orchids back to health..too much work for me..lol!
Ok...well much luck with your Orchids and happy planting.
@@carlachambers3522 Carla, you also get roots growing out of the extra holes which makes extra work. I love clear plastic, but I am an indoor grower who doesn't have to worry about cold, cloudy days that raise the humidity that don't allow pots to dry out for weeks like greenhouse growers do. Conditions for greenhouse growers are very different. Plastic pots also can get very hot and with the excellent light that they have, but clay prevents this. I have also read that clear pots can heat up greenhouse effect-style. Clay has a lot of insulating benefits, helping to keep the root zone both cooler in summer and warmer in winter and they dry pretty evenly due to the enture surface of the pot being breathable. As an indoor grower, I never have to worry about a cloudy day or days that get to 100 degrees, and while the conditions do vary slightly due to the heat and air conditioning, my grow area doesn't experience the sometimes rapid and wide temperature swings that can occur in greenhouses.
Wade how do you pot oncidium? Maybe you can make a video of it. There is a conflicting version what media mix.
***** I'll be happy to do that, dear. The reason there is a conflict with potting Oncidiums and Oncidium alliance hybrids is that they don't all grow the same. There are about 8 different genera that are used to make intergeneric Oncidium hybrids and hundreds of different species are involved. What is the name of the one you are interested in repotting? I can at least point you in the right direction for your particular plant until I do a video.
Oncidium twinkle. It's giving out new growth. But pseudobulb is so thin and wrinkly. Appreciate your help Wade.
***** I am having excellant luck reviving an Onc. Twinkle. I fill a 4" clay pot half full with styrofoam peanuts and then pot Twinkle with sphagnum moss. Don't pack it real tight - just use enough to keep it from wiggling. I actually show it in Caring For Rescue Orchids . I find it needs watered 2-3 times a week. Water it just before the moss would feel dry. Good luck with it.
Thanks Wade I shall do that. That is real good idea. I did not thought of that.
OMG I hate doing this to a plant. Im not fond it's true of potted Cattleyas. I prefer them growing in slatted baskets no potting media at all. As they grow I attach another basket to the growing end then snip it off once its grown three bulbs in the new pot. But best of all growing on a live tree or up a slab of tree fern........
Unfortunately when you buy them they are often stuffed into pots or grown on chunks of coconut husk and getting them out or off is trying to say the least. So what I do is tie the whole thing, pot or husk and all to the tree and wait for it to grow out onto the tree or slab even basket. Once it has taken off up the tree at least three bulbs/leaves I snip the "back bulbs" end off pot and all and remove it quite safely, minimal disturbance to the roots, leaving a brand new plant which has grown onto the tree or new basket. Its the slow kind way but it works. The basket/pot/husk with back bulbs can be tied to another part of the tree and you get a second or third plant depending on the number of shoots you can activate.
I just hate setting anything back preferring a smooth continuation. Only time it gets to the point where Im molesting and cutting off roots is when there is evidence of rot, and it must smell and feel pretty bad too. Then Im removing entirely as above and I will always use a fungicide drench. Other wise remember that potting media that breaks down will fall out the bottom so removing the bottom of the pot is all it takes to help the plant along.
Thanks for the vid.
Do you have any Psychopsis Wade? I recently purchased one, and well it had an accident where it fell out of the pot and on to the floor with a young spike! *sigh* drunken bro-in-law:( it didn't break but I had to do an emergency repot. I would love to learn more about them if you could post a video about them. I will post a video on this new purchase soon :)
Arlene Ontiveros I have one Psychopsis, Arlene. It is Mendenhall 'Hildos' FCC/AOS. It seems to grow like a weed and bloom almost all the time. I will hold off on a specific video about it untill I need to repot it but I will definitely give a bit of time to its culture for you on the next greenhouse update.
That's the one I got :) yay! A day after its fall, it seems that there wasn't any damage. Oh what a relief!
Wade do you not wet or soak the medium prior to potting up plants.?
Also I noticed when this was published, but anytime you have something left over, and are willing
to give it away for the shipping costs, please consider me.
I live near the ocean in So. Calif. so grow most of my orchids outside
under a grape arbor.
Really enjoy the easy way you do things.
Have just got back into orchids so I am a real novice.
Thanks for taking the time to answer.
I don't wet any of my medium with the exception of sphagnum moss. I do water the plants every day for about 3 days after repotting. If I could make a suggestion, since you are in So. California contact Fred Clarke at Sunset Valley Orchids about buying his Kiwi Bark. It is VERY important to use good quality components in potting material. Also, make sure you use good quality New Zealand sphagnum moss. Many people dislike sphagnum moss. That is because they use poor quality moss. Please feel free to contact me anytime with any questions and good luck!
thats for the reply.
I just gt a huge bale of spaghum moss from Canada.
I hope I can use it.
Also bought some hydration serums pellets.
My phalionopsis seem to like it
HVE You worked with it?
thanks for your advise and video.
Glenda
No, I haven't. I'm always up for something that might help but I haven't come across that.
What are the black spots on the leaves? I have some of those. Should I be worried? Thanks
The spots are from a fungus that rarely spreads and doesn't harm the plants.
Thx Wade, My poor Den. Nopporn 'startbright' - new cane got broken during shipping so there are no new leaves, last years cane's leaves are yellowing and getting spots and falling off. I'm not sure what to do now so I just watch it fall apart and hope for something good to happen...
What wrong with discolored leaves?
Yes I will pay shipping Thank you
hello i like your cattleya
+Aero Jumaoas Thanks! Ports of Paradise has incredible flowers that are hard to miss!
Hi Wade,
How can I get the list of your orchids. I saw couple of unboxing by other you-tubers and really want the Den. Amytheistglosum or something like that.
Sunah Yun Hi Sunah. If you send me an email to wadeh1954@gmail.com I can send you a list. I also have a web site, www.wadesorchids.com that you can check out although there have been a few who can't read the listing (it's a work in progress and very new). Thank you for your interest!
I would love to have that division! Is it still available?
Sherry Walker Sorry. That video was over a year ago. You can check www.wadesorchids.com to see what's available.
Where can we buy the bark from?
Richard Lewis Hi Richard. Sunset Valley Orchids is the Importer. The bark is fairly expensive but I feel that it's worth it. I have considered purchasing a pallet from him for resale but that's more of an investment than I can make.
I wanted to k,ow the mix you use mostly
I use 3 parts medium Kiwi bark (similar to Orchiata) and 1 part #3 (large) perlite for Cattleyas, Dendrobiums, and other mature epiphytic orchids. I also routinely use styrofoam peanuts or other drainage material in the bottom.
Wade's Orchids thank you. My,orchidata didn't smell good. I had opened it months ago. Think its molded. Should I try to make the orchidata okay? Somehow?
Thank you very much. Do I add charcoal?. I only have small charcoal
janefromtennessee if it smells moldy I would get rid of it. I’m afraid that you will be asking for trouble if you use it. I’m sorry because I know how expensive it is. I don’t use charcoal. It’s very hard to get in the right size and especially the quantity that I would need. Save yours for when you get some seedling mix.
Wade's Orchids.. thanks, I will throw it out for sure. You're a help. Thx
You said you wer concerned with washing the dirt away so u don't damage the roots then I man handle them and cut them up.makes no sense