potting medium question

[gabi_borza]

Hi everyone. I have a question for you. I want to repot one of my phals, but here in Romania I'm having trouble finding a right medium for orchids. The mediums I've seen so far have few bark pieces, a lot of peat and sphag, so it looks like dirt. I have a lot of pines at my work place, and I could get some bark from there, but I don't know if it's good and how to prepare it. Also could I use bark alone or should I mix it with something else? I haven't seen sphag in stores, to mix it with bark , but I could get moss from the forrest, it looks like sphag. Any ideeas? Is this ok?

[Cjcorner]

If you use your own bark, that should be fine as long as you soak it in a bucket with something to kill bugs and to disinfect, for about 24 hours. To me, using what is at hand is a good idea. And in addition to some of the moss, i'd add some little rocks as well. Not many...maybe a couple medium sized rocks at the bottom of the pot for an airwell. Again, however, your ingrediants will still need to be cleaned up.

[Brutal_Dreamer]

If you use your own bark, that should be fine as long as you soak it in a bucket with something to kill bugs and to disinfect, for about 24 hours. To me, using what is at hand is a good idea. And in addition to some of the moss, i'd add some little rocks as well. Not many...maybe a couple medium sized rocks at the bottom of the pot for an airwell. Again, however, your ingrediants will still need to be cleaned up.

I agree. Keep it clean and it should be fine. Adjust your watering schedule to match the new medium.

Cheers,
BD

[gabi_borza]

I read in an article that it's ok to boil it and let it dry. That will kill all the bugs, including bacteria and viruses. What do you think about that? I am a vet and I know that's one Way to sterilise something, by boiling it and it sounds like a good ideea fot me.