Hey all,

I was wondering if anyone had much to say about the european clay pellets used for Cyps (Seramis?). The only CypI've ever grown with any regularity was C. acaule and I used sphagnum, sand, quartz, and white pine needles (this was more than a decade ago in Eastern Kansas). I'm looking at C. debile now since I'm out near the 100th Meridian in Central Kansas, due to ease of moving the pots around. I could bring C. debile inside around mid June and then put it back out around mid September until popping it in the crisper in the fridge around Thanksgiving til March/April.

Sorry, that I rambled here. I guess the main question is: 1. What's the story on Seramis?

Phil

Thanks in advance for information.

I think it is only available in the UK and supposedly good for growing bonsai, cactus and orchids. Looks very much like dry clay or cat litter.

Thanks!

Guess I'll stick with coarse sand and chert. I can always adjust Ph with limestone.

That would be a better choice.

The same material is available in the US. Look for "turface"
there are a couple of types available - used as a soil admendment for baseball fields, you may find it available at a professional lanscape supplier.

Yes Turface is what you are looking for and recommended by Cyp growers but I think it comes in large quantities.

Hi

I came across this site just browsing for user groups that had an interest in SERAMIS.

First I should declare that I am a consultant working for Seramis on some of the technical aspects and product uses (some product uses going beyond growing plants). I have no detailed techical experience on orchids in general (or slipper orchids in particular) but I do know a reasonable amount about gardening in general and specifically Seramis as a product. I don't really want to become the "font of all knowledge Seramis" but as the thread is here, I thought some info might be helpful for you Slipper Orchid experts.

Seramis is sold in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, UK, Belgium,Netherlands, Japan, Australia, Korea, Canada. Although Germany is by far our biggest market. The Seramis "system" is in fact the growing medium, plus a water indicator stick plus a variety of fertilisers designed for use with Seramis and targetted to different plant types. Seramis is a very well known brand in Germany (96.6% unaided awareness in some recent consumer testing tha we did).

"Standard" Seramis has been used successfully to grow orchids for many years - in fact Seramis works remarkably well as a growing medium with the vast majority of plants of all types.

Last year we launched a specialist "SERAMIS Orchid Mix" in Germany (only) - it uses a special type of larger Seramis blended with hard bark and other ingredients. It was developed after testing with a commercial orchid grower and breeder in Begium (Cymbiflor). Sales are very strong and we have some very positive feedback. We also have an orchid fertiliser developed from a formulation of Cymbiflor.

The Seramis website ( mainly in German but some English) is http://www.seramis.de/. Under products there is a pdf that shows the orchid product with some details (in German but google will find you a simple translator to get the flavour).

Hope you like it too

Cheers from the UK
Pearsdav

Thank you David! That was quite helpful and welcome to the slipper orchid forum! We are glad that you joined us!

Hi David welcome! very good info!

http://www.srgc.org.uk/wisley/2008/100908/log.html

regards

Hello,

a lot of peopel in europe grow the seedlings, the first 2 years only in Seramis.
and it worked very well, you can control the water and the air very easy. I tryed it with different materials, but for me till now seramis is the best for my plants.
It cost in germany about 12€ / 16l at the moment. so it is expensive, but to lose seedlings when you paid 2-5€/seedlings is even more worse.
In my garden i use only a littel amount, here I buy natural vulvanic material and perlite.