Moss vs bark

13 years ago

In the last 6 month I have purchased Masdevallias from CalOrchids, Santa Barbara Orchid Estates and Hawk Hills. All came to me in bark. What ever happened to sphagnum moss for Masdies?

I have always grown Masdies in moss and am reasonable happy with the results. Some could have developed a better root system but basically are doing well. Some of the plants at the 3 vendors mentioned on the other hand, are doing better. John Leathers at Hawk Hills has switched most of his plants. I watched him do it as he divided some for me, split a large plant growing in moss, teased out the moss and potted both in bark handing me one and keeping the other one.

To him the key for the switch is the new bark, Orchidea, which is vastly superior to the conventional pine bark we have had to use for the last 10 years. It will retain it's shape for up to 5 years and fails to become a mushy mess in moist conditions. Masdies like it moist, hence the SM but they also like air around the roots like any orchids. In the new bark, you can water them as often as is necessary without creating the mush which is deadly.

At HH they add lava rock (1/4 to 1/3) for moisture retention, I used perlite, aprox 1/3, and switched my Masdies over the last couple of days. I will water the same, every 2 or 3 days, plants should be moist enough without getting soggy as some of them did in moss.

This represents a major move on my part, I'll keep a close eye on them and see how they do over the course of a year. Small seedlings remain in moss. The Orchidea is more than twice as expensive than conventional bark but SM isn't cheap either. When watered frequently, moss becomes evil after 1 to 1 1/2 years and needs to be replaced which can become a pain. This bark, if the plants like it , will last much longer.

Nick

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Comments (7)

highjack
13 years ago
The bark you are referring to is Orchiata and is available from CalWest for you west coast people. If an orchid club gets together you can get a pallet of it for slightly less than $18.00 per bag. You can get a mixed bark size pallet - it doesn't have to be one size only pallet.

I switched my Masdies to Orchiata seedling bark and clay pots last March and have seem tremendous improvement in the root systems. One of my Masdies I got awarded lost it's roots and it would start to grow new roots, they would rot off again, repeat and repeat and repeat. I put it in the bark/clay and the roots grew back and I've finally been able to divide it once and it is ready to be divided again.

For me I had many Masdies that loved sphag but some really had issues. I've not found any Masdies that doesn't like the Orchiata.

Brooke
orchidnick
Original Author
13 years ago
Off course you are right, Orchiata is what I was referring to. We have a garden supply shop in Gardena called Yamada who will sell the Orchiata to orchid society members at a discounted price of $18/bag.

I have not switched my small Masdies but will consider doing it after what you had to say. Do you use straight Orchiata or do you add anything?

Nick
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jane__ny
13 years ago
At our OS meeting this past week, a vendor was selling it for $35.00 a 2cu. bag. I bought a bag and will try it on the few plants I haven't potted yet. I'm always reluctant to switch over to the 'latest product' but have heard good things about Orchiata.

But then again, my masdies died 6 months after moving to Florida and I don't see myself going back. I had good results with tree fern and moss up north.

Jane
orchidnick
Original Author
13 years ago
Cal West Tropical Plant Supply sells it for $18 for 1.4 cuft but then there is transportation

Nick
highjack
13 years ago
Nick I use 50% Orchiata and 50% perlite/charcoal.

The transportation doubles the cost of the bag which is why I mentioned buying it by the pallet. Our orchid club has done a pallet order two diffferent times now because they really like the stuff. The first time people ordered one or two bags but the second time the stocked up :>)

Brooke
tominthai
13 years ago
I see a lot of orchids growing wild here in Thailand, often on the trunks of betel nut palms along the side of the track that leads to my wife's son's house in the mountains, all the orchids I see growing wild are growing on or in a bed of moss, they also have roots protruding from under the moss and growing along the trunk. I would guess that the moss is in symbiosis with the orchid, just as certain fungai are with lady slipper orchids, and the roots protruding along the trunk not only provide an increased area of grip but also possibly ensure the orchid is not overly damp, I also notice the moss only occurs immediately around the orchid in a small area, not over a large area.

Tom
Darlene (GreenCurls)
13 years ago
I may switch my Masdies over after this post. I have mine in moss right now. But they are not as happy as I wish they were. Of course some of that is my inexperience with Masdies is the first place. Still every little bit helps.

Do they seem to acclimate to the bark pretty quickly?