Hello this is my first post so please be gentle with me. I have never grown any type of orchids but I was recently given two phrags and one paph. They are all potted in bark mix medium except for one that looks like regular gardening potting soil. Will that plant be ok in potting soil or should I pot it in orchid bark mix medium that I can get from a nursery. Thanks for any advice.

I would repot it in bark mix as soon as possible. Potting soil will slowly suffocate the roots and kill the plant.

:hi::welcomesof:

I would repot it in bark mix as soon as possible. Potting soil will slowly suffocate the roots and kill the plant.

:iagree::iagree: Welcome to the slipper orchid forum! Glad you could join us!

Welcome to the forum. You will get all the advise you need from here and don't be afraid to ask---- you are amongst friends!!

Ed

I would also pot the plant in bark medium right away. Don't be afraid to ask. This is what the forum is all about sharing ideas and learning from others who are more experienced. And welcome to the forum!

I have a question and I don't mean to hijack this thread. If all slipper orchids are terrestrials then why can't we grow them in gardening potting soil? I'm really curious about this.

I knew someone who grew all his Phrags in Pro-mix.They grew and bloom great without any issues.

I knew someone who grew all his Phrags in Pro-mix.They grew and bloom great without any issues.

Sorry for my ignorance but what is Pro mix?

Oh and welcome to the OP!

Sorry for my ignorance but what is Pro mix?

fairly common peat based potting mix
http://www.premierhort.com/eProMix/index.htm

they say you can grow anything in any media if you water it correctly
the watering it correctly part may be the hard part to figure out

someone beat me to it

I knew someone who grew all his Phrags in Pro-mix.They grew and bloom great without any issues.

I haven't seen any Paphs or Phrags grown in pro mix but I have seen people growing Phals and Dendrobiums in pro mix with success. I think it works because there is a lot of aeration and less compactness in that medium than pure potting soil.

fairly common peat based potting mix
http://www.premierhort.com/eProMix/index.htm

they say you can grow anything in any media if you water it correctly
the watering it correctly part may be the hard part to figure out

Thanks for the link! But no where on their website it says that is meant for growing orchids, so I wouldnt use this product for my slippers or any orchids.

people may be more likely to use the hp (high porosity) formulation rather than the more common pro-mix bx
i'm fairly sure one of the plants listed on the bales/bags is indeed orchids
i tried once or twice and failed

I still think it is not suitable for orchids because over time the mix will settle in and become compact like soil does.

Bark mix is best for slipper orchids except for Cypridpediums.

Never heard of pro mix before...go with bark mix.

Bark mix is best for slipper orchids except for Cypridpediums.

i have significant success with coconut husk/coir/chc mix

I still think it is not suitable for orchids because over time the mix will settle in and become compact like soil does.

i don't disagree. some people grow great stuff in it. i've heard it called a 'mud mix'. i was not successful with it {i.e. the plants died}

turns out i was wrong, though
pro-mix comes with a proprietary mycorrhizal fungus
the bag states that orchids are one of the plant families whose roots will not be colonized by the fungus

Welcome to the site! I was always told to grow orchids in bark mix so I m sticking to it! LOL

A friend of mine tried pro mix and he liked it at first but went back to bark medium when he started losing his plants.

Thanks for all the replies! I will definitely repot it and grow it in bark orchid mix. I still have more questions in regards to growing my slipper orchids.

Good idea! Feel free to ask more questions.

I have a question and I don't mean to hijack this thread. If all slipper orchids are terrestrials then why can't we grow them in gardening potting soil? I'm really curious about this.

terrestrial paphs actually grow in leaf litter with roots on top of the ground, like an epiphyte. Their roots don't grow down into soil--they need oxygen at the roots and soil will suffocate them. There are also many paphs that are epiphytes growing in trees, or lithophytes growing in the crags of limestone rock cliffs.

You can grow paphs in pro-mix which is peat amended with perlite as some have mentioned here, but you have to use a smaller pot (underpot) and let the mix dry out some between waterings so that air can get to the roots.

I just keep my plants in a bark mix because I know that is what will work 99% of the time. Welcome to the site!