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What is everyone’s favorite soil mixture for an orchid? I have an… | The Orchid Oasis | Planta community

Kirsten

What is everyone’s favorite soil mixture for an orchid? I have an orchid that’s not doing well, looks like it was only in moss, but roots were turning yellow and flowers were dying, despite a new leaf growing. I’m going to repot it. I have moss and leca. This is my first time repotting an orchid to try to save it, and I’ll wondering if this will be a good mixture for an orchid? Google says orchid bark is best. I’m wondering if I should go to the store to buy better soil options? Or can I work with what I have?

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8 likes 19 comments

19 comments

  1. Billie

    I’m trying something new!

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    • Paige Marie

      I would love to know how this works out!

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    • Michelle’s Hobby

      Please post in orchid oasis how you do this and future pics of updates. I’d like to see how it goes.

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  2. Billie

    Just did it this morning this is my oldest moth orchid repotted once it outgrew the second pot and then I saw a video on this technique. May do it with my other two as well, just want to wait and see how this one does.

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  3. Billie

    I heard moss is not good for orchids it may contribute to root rot as it holds too much moisture and doesn’t allow for air flow?

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    • Kirsten

      That’s what I was thinking.. I took the moss out and squeezed it like a sponge a lot of water came out

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  4. Billie
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    • Kirsten

      If the roots are good the plant should come back! I did that once to a plant I overwatered and it came back!

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  5. Kirsten

    You have a beautiful plant collection! So you’re trying to grow the orchid in just a small amount of water?

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    • Billie

      Yup I did add a bit of liquid fertilizer but if you use a bowl or vase with a narrower opening it keeps the area just humid enough

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    • Billie

      Thanks the one on the brown pit lost its leaves last year but the stump seems in good shape so fingers crossed they grow back

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  6. Kirsten

    I’ve repotted in a leca/spaghnum moss mixture. I was doing the one ice cube a week watering, but due to my previous pics the roots were mushy and dying. The moss seemed to be crammed around the roots, causing lack of aeration. The plastic pot only has one hole at the bottom. I feel this mixture allows for more air flow around the roots. I’m hoping this will do well. I’m going to give it a try. And I’ll make sure to feel and look at the mixture every week before watering to identify if it truly needs to be watered

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    • Aria

      I don’t recommend watering with ice cubes. It’s better to run water over the roots (avoiding the crown) then let them sit in water for 15-30 minutes until they turn back green from silver. Concerning the mix, I use orchid bark only and orchid mix (bark, chunky perlite, charcoal) for my orchids. I can’t speak for/against the moss and leca mix.

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    • Billie

      This is how I repotted the one above the last time and it did really well

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    • Amy

      A pot with more holes would help with air flow and keeping the roots from being too wet

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  7. Plants are so 😎

    Mulch is probably the best option for your orchid

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  8. Lilla

    Don’t repot while the plant is flowering cuz the flowers might stop blooming prematurely

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  9. Brian

    My wife has success with putting them in a vase filled with rocks and water

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  10. Jen

    Moss is only bad when misused. If you keep it light and fluffy, not packed in tightly, the roots get plenty of air. The key is to let your orchid lead you with frequency of watering. If the roots are still green, and the media is wet- don’t water. You can get root rot with any media that keeps the roots constantly wet. I use a moss and bark mix for most of my orchids- but the ones that tend to be super thirsty get repotted into just moss- it keeps me from having to water them too often.

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