Potting mix

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

I am certainly looking through past posts to get an idea about what others use, but in my small experience with plants a great deal of problems come through overwatering. My orchids are thriving in a mixture of leca and lava rock and it is almost impossible to overwater them.

I am considering a mixture of ProMix, perlite, and fine (1/4 to 1/2 inch) lava rock in equal proportions for the African Violets. Violet roots are not like orchid roots in appearance, but they share a need not to sit in wet substrate. I have seen others talk about lava rock and violets, so it is not a novel idea. I'm posting because if anyone knows of someone who has actually tried this, their results would be valued by me, as would be suggestions by anyone.

Featured Answer

irina_co

8 years ago

Lucille - if you have a big bag of lava rock you can as well use - probably makes sense to do the pH testing - I think Aquarium supplies department in Petsmart or Petco carries strips and additives to correct the Ph. You basically fill the glass with lava rock, add distilled water, let it sit - and check pH. If it is about 6.5-7.5- you can add it. Peat in Promix is acid, it will compensate for a little alkalinity

Otherwise - coarse or xcoarse perlite is good - something with the size of lava rocks. Small to dust perlite is not that useful and really bad if inhaled.

Regarding babies - when you start babies form a leaf- you can have a dozen of them of the same variety. Select the strongest for you to keep - and use the rest for tweaking your methods. You do not need to kill them off - just see which one grows faster, blooms first etc.

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Comments (6)

Jeff Zenner
8 years ago
I know nothing of growing orchids. They are beautiful and for the moment probably outside of my abilities and growing environment. Paul and a few others would likely be able to comment from experience.

AV's on the other hand have been a subject of interest of mine for a while now. I have just over 80 of them and their names and numbers change all the time.

If forced to voice an opinion, I would guess that lava rock crushed into small pea size granules like you mentioned would probably work ok in a potting mix. Not sure. Everything in my potting mix is soft. Even small sticks are removed.

In a perfect world, I would purchase a hydroponics kit and have a computer water my plants from the top once a week. Moist and dry is the cycle they seem to do well in. Moist sometimes, dry the rest.

I wick water so the contents of my potting mix is critical in the sense that it has to be of a consistency to support and encourage AV root structure but also must have just the right ingredients so as to absorb and retain some moisture but not too much. (Sounds complicated but its not.)

Lots of good information here within previous posts.
irina_co
8 years ago
I have some doubts about incorporating lava rock into the AV soil. Lava rock from different sources can have difference in pH - and skew the resulting mix towards alkaline - and we need the narrow range of pH - lets say 6.4-6.8. Provided the pH is under control - it will do no harm.

I remove bricks and logs from my soil mix - and add coarse perlite. I do not think any inclusions can hurt the roots - roots grow around. Coarse perlite serves the same purpose as lava rock - it aerates the soil - but it is neutral, light and cheap. Unless you are blessed to live in HI on a pile of lava rock

Lucille - you already have lava rock from your Orchid supplies - try to make a little amount of mix the way you like - and plant 2 similar starters - one in your mix - and one in a regular mix without lava. Since starters grow fast - you will see which one is ahead in a month.

My take - everybody's conditions and growing supplies are different - and what works for me - can be disastrous for somebody 1000 miles away.
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dbarron
8 years ago
Jeff, depending on the orchid, they're more tolerant of neglect than AVs. Just so you know ;) In fact, too much love and attention is the most likely killer of many orchids.
lucillle
Original Author
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Irina,

I am not going to do the experiment after advice from someone as experienced and knowledgeable as you. The last thing I want is for my babies to suffer pH swings and be harmed before they even get a chance to bloom.

I am going to order some coarse perlite.
lucillle
Original Author
8 years ago
Amazon says my coarse perlite and vermiculite will be delivered today. I plan to create some proper wicking soil and start repotting. Also plan on starting a leaf. One of the NOID plugs is a really beautiful variegated leaf, even thought the plant is relatively small I'm taking one leaf to start because it is so pretty.