Complex as always.
1. It depends on how often you water. Soil is only for terrestrials. Bark holds moisture so usually once a week waterers use it and you need to repot every year or two. Sphagnum is really only good for babies because it can rot roots so easily.

2. Depends on the orchid. Some orchids want to have constantly damp roots and some want to dry out. Ones that want to dry out either need to be watered less or live in a fast draining media or even be mounted.

3. Then there are your conditions. In a greenhouse in a sunny world, the medium dries fast. In my wet and relatively dark conditions, nothing dries out. So I mount and use fast draining and hard to break down media.

This is why we can only advise from our own experience. No one has a definitive answer, only suggested basic guidelines.

So what kind of orchids are you potting?

yes susan it does depend on which type of orchid and your temp./rain conditions.

Big surprise, I'll show some photos when they arrive in the mail. I'm so excited!

Susan,
when I ordered plants from Marble Branch , I thought their plants looked especially happy..I wrote them
and asked what their secret formula was, they were pleased to share with me. I buy a mix of those
components now from repotme.com....I'm sure that there are many other places as well.

What's the secret Lindsey? Repotme? They are a bit pricey, but their mixes are very good. The customer service is second to none.

Bill

1/4 med bark,1/4 med perlite,1/4 aliflor, 1/4 med charcoal

Wow, I just found this forum...it was great to see that they questions of other beginners are not so different from mine. I love all the resources you have for us, Kathy!

Before Cubits, I spent many hours researching the info that Kathy, so thoughtfully placed right here for us!

I just killed the plants, one right after another

Still do! Although it's slowing down a bit.
Glad you like my set up. I use it just as much as everyone else!

You have provided lots of great information.
Great resources too..

Thanks Cinda! 'We aim to please!"

I picked up my first second-try phal. (someone had gifted me one once and I very quickly killed it in my irresponsible youth).

I'll have to get a picture of it in the daylight but It caught my eye. The lady at the nursery surprised me - she was very conscientious of a first timer's attempt and talked me out of a few gorgeous but evidently temperamental plants.

I plan to do some exploring and getting a better feel for future acquisitions.

Thanks for a great collection of information!!!

Welcome, Carey! And congrats on your new orchid! Sounds like you should always buy from this seller. She is helping people be successful! That is so good to hear. Also you have made my day by noticing the info I have gathered here!

You did a great job with all the info. I look at it all the time!

Kathy, I keep coming back here as well. I cannot even imagine the amount of time that you put into keeping this organized and up to date. It has clearly saved the lives of many orchids.

All of the information is great, and the abbreviations are especially helpful. I will have to find the videos that people referenced in earlier posts, but for the moment my brain is full and I am off to bed with visions of orchids in my head.

Those are the best ones. http://cubits.org/orchids/thre...

Now after falling for store scams, our plants dying and you've been bitten. Fret no more.. The solution to easy orchid satisfaction is know your natural weather conditions, indoors and out. Peak and low Temp.'s. Average humidity plays a big role. How often will you be attending to your new loves????. For best hands off results, go after the ones that do best naturally in your environment.
Orchids can be found world wide in all temps.'s even below freezing. So go for it, just find the common denominators and watch the magic happen.

OOooff, so now you have a store bought orchid in your possesion. Here's a technique that you may want to try and save it with.

Inspect the roots as soon as possible. Sometimes, to save the plant, the bloom must go. Often times the orchid in a last ditch effort will bloom to try and save it self.
Get some root hormone, liquid or powder and some anti-fungal. Ironically you can find these at the same store where you got the plant..ok get a pair of sharp sciccors and a stream of water going. Get the plant wet, all of it see what roots turn green. Wash all the of medium off do not use again.... The obviouse black, rotten roots have to go. Trim back all the way to the base all the time rinsing the plants. Now inspect the base of it or where the roots enter especially where black roots have. Is the base black ?? the base of the plant is like the heart. clean this area well. After all is trimmed and cleansed, lay the patient down on a water obsorbant item, let it dry a bit. Mix the anti-fungal in a container large enough to cover the plant from the base to the first set of leaves, roots and all. Let the patient soak in it.
*I've soaked Phal.'s for 24 Hrs. at a time.*
Now choose and prep. your medium properly for your growing environment and pot/mount/etc.. Preparing your medium, means washing and soaking it, removing all dusty particles and small bits.
*Here's a head's up, if you soak your medium, first add some root hormone to the water.*
If this plant is strong and not far gone, the roots will attached to the medium like an octopus.
Make ready a spray bottle for a proper mix root hormone solution. Carefully repot/mount your useing stakes, pot pin's, etc. Secure the plant..Orchids like to feel safe. Choose a location with plenty of air flow and slightly lower light exposure. Let it dry until the roots have turned light green or white. Use and continue to alternate between anti-fungal, root hormone and water.
Once roots have begun to re-grow, return to normal feeding cycle and full light exposure.



Aerides Quinquevulnerum *Var. Catayana*