Tip of the Week: Repotting Orchids—Making a Mix
Posted in Gardening Tips on March 8th, 2010 by Sonia Uyterhoeven – 1 Comment |
Sonia Uyterhoeven is Gardener for Public Education. For hands-on demonstrations and orchid tips, join her in the Conservatory’s GreenSchool every Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. throughout The Orchid Show. |
Part 1 of 3-part series
A few weeks ago, I spent a quiet afternoon at the Nolen Greenhouses with my colleague Fintan O’Sullivan repotting orchids. We started by preparing a free-draining mix for Cattleyas.
A large bag of coarse Douglas fir bark (white fir bark is also used) was spread out on the potting bench. Fintan then filled an empty crate first with horticultural charcoal and then with coarse perlite. The crate served two purposes: measurement (the contents amounted to about one-third to half the quantity of the bark chips) and as a temporary free-draining container. read more »