ThanksOriginally Posted by Ania
I grow them in a sphag mix usually, but they aren't so fussy about growing medium. My city tap water has a high pH so I thought that the acidity of moss might balance it out (I don't know if this is true). Another Phrag grower in Quebec has also been using moss, but many different mediums are possible. Most importantly is that they stay wet. These are always sitting in a tray of water since I cannot water all the time. They cannot be overwatered in my experience, and some people water everyday. I fertilize rather loosely, since they don't seem to be too particular about how often I fertilize. Many of them have live moss growing on the medium because of the moisture. I think the growing area cooled down at night as winter progressed triggering my plants to bloom.
I have been keeping them under a metal halide lamp recently too and having a light mover helped a lot. I didn't have a light mover when I first installed the lamp so the light would always shine at the same spot, therefore there was either too many shady dark or hot spots. I bought my light mover used so it wasn't too expensive (more than half price of a new one). It allowed light to shine in all areas as the lamp moved, eliminating hot spots or dark areas. Hot spots may burn leaves. I also noticed increased growth rate especially for those plants that were in shadier areas before. I definitely recommend a light mover for those who want a halide lamp, the benefits exceed the cost of the equiptment (plus I can fit more plants since the area which light shines increases). I also have a small fan to keep the air moving and fresh.
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