Paph mix

I've been using s/h for years now strictly because of convenience (to me). However, I still grow brachys and parvis in a terrestrial mix because they seem to hate sitting in water during the cooler season, at least on my windowsill. that mix is roughly 1/3 med CHC, 1/3 small CHC, and 1/3 chopped sphag + charcoal. as mentioned earlier the CHC gets rinsed multiple times, and the nonfloating stuff is thrown out (these chunks get waterlogged and don't seem to hold much air).

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Jason

Hi folks!
This topic has been very helpful and very timely! My paph (a sukhakuli hybrid) looks like it's coming down with root rot. It's in 100% coconut shell mix, but seems to hold water too long (I water about every 10 days), especially in my house where the temp range is 50º-60º. I'm guessing a mixture that dries out quicker will help the situation. Then again, maybe it's just too cold and dampness of the coconut bark just makes it worse.

Can anyone suggest which of the mixes already mentioned would work best to prevent the rot? Or recommend a recipe that might help?

Thanks for any advice. (And my paph thanks you too!)

It does seem really cool if that is the constant temperature. If you have not done so, try putting some packing peanuts (styro) in the bottom of the pot. Let the roots sit on top of them and then put in some medium size bark mix. You can buy it at a box store. It will have all the 'right' stuff. The packing peanuts will help your orchid's roots get air and help keep them from rotting from being wet.

Cheers,
BD

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We could learn a lot from crayons: some are sharp, some are pretty, some are dull, some have weird names, and all are different colors....but they all exist very nicely in the same box. ...Hmmm? .

Thanks so much!
I'll pick up the bark and peanuts tomorrow. I really want make this one thrive here. It was a gift from a friend who didn't know orchids at all but unknowingly he picked a spectacular red flowered paph, which is my favorite of all the favorites.

By the way, this site RAWKS !

Just a follow up... I repotted the paph but all the roots were dead so I removed them. With ALOT of hope, the plant might sprout a new ones!

I am sorry you did not have any roots. lets hope they will recover.

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Laura

Cheers,
BD

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RVO's OrchidTalk Forums - "Bringing People Together" Help support our Community: Donate or Become an OrchidTalk Subscriber today!
We could learn a lot from crayons: some are sharp, some are pretty, some are dull, some have weird names, and all are different colors....but they all exist very nicely in the same box. ...Hmmm? .

Sorry about the roots if you can keep the humidity up around it to keep it from dehydrating it might grow an off set with roots, also out of sun .
Don't stone me but I grow most of mine in Spag. with pieces of styrofoam added ,the Paphs. and some of the mini Catts . Gin

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