OMG, you two match!

I know mounting orchids seems to be all the rage, but I have seen my plants "take off" when I get them off the mounts and into pots with bark medium. I think the bark absorbs fertilizer which the roots can munch on. The wood or other surface absorbs also, but the roots are not ''surrounded". That (being in bark medium ) may create a humidity that they like also. What do you experts think?

I think it really depends on your conditions. It is quite humid here, because I have so many orchids, so they don't dry out in bark. If bark works for you that's your medium. Mounting is not a "rage" here, it's a necessity.

I bought a lot of "Orchids on a stick" from Andy's Orchids and I have a bunch of Vandas and similar which are very happy bare root, so I got used to growing them that way without pots. My Cattleyas also always spill their roots over the pots/bakets, winding up essentially bare root too.
It works for me, not necessarily for others.

Thanks, Kathy and Ursula.

I just want to thank Ursula for telling me about Epiweb for mounting. My orchids adore pushing their new root tips into it. http://www.epiweb.se/material.... And it's so much lighter than tree fern! Great stuff!

Did you order from Europe? I always use First Ray's
http://www.firstrays.com/

I just ordered some today, thinking ahead of splitting the C. skinneri alba. Got some of the Epiweb chunks too, they work well with Cattleyas.

Got sheets from First Rays. I saw the baskets in your pics.

I'd like to resurrect this thread in hopes of finding some guidance.... I'm lost!

So, I went a little crazy on e-bay today and ordered two Beallara Marfitch 'Howard's Dream' and Wilsonara Golden Afternoon. Had I looked at planting mediums before buying, I never would have bought!

Does anyone have any suggestions as to what these two might like? I went to repotme.com and looked at their table for mixes for particular orchids, but of course neither of these are listed there, grrrr....

I will definitely go and look at those suggested videos tomorrow (past my bed time, lol) but if anyone has any experience growing either of these, or at least an educated guess, I would be so appreciative of any info you could give me.

Hey, no problem. They are both in the Oncidium alliance. So this would would probably work for you. http://www.repotme.com/orchid-...
(I have also used aliflor which is clay pellets and sponge rock but that's because they are sprayed daily here. So I wouldn't recommended it for most growers.)

It's true, I would probably kill something that needed daily care (unless it had 4 feet - I seem to do okay with them!).

I fail to understand why Oncidium didn't show up in their names at all, or the description on e-bay. Hopefully my confusion will lessen as I get further into this... or decide to stick with two!

Thanks so much, I've enjoyed browsing through the wonderful pictures on this site - you all have definitely put in a labor of love.

Sheryl, part of this knowledge is 6 years of staring at orchids non-stop and part is good resource use (RHS and OrchidWiz software). There is a link to the RHS' The International Orchid Register in the right side box. But this will only show parents. I use OrchidWiz for the entire genealogy.

There's also a "Page" for Alliances but it doesn't have everything!

Shew. Well, I'm glad I asked you!!!

Well thanks for actually asking. I'm sure lots of folks have questions but are not as brave as you!

Hey, I know the smart ones when I sees them, lol....

Has anyone ordered from Arcadia Glasshouse? I went ahead and got my pots from them as they were a bit less expensive than the others I was seeing around, and took a chance and got my growing medium from them as well. ("...special blend of Rexius fine orchid bark, coconut husks, and hydrocks for fine root orchids that need good aeration. Perfect for all Oncidium and Odontoglossum orchids." 8 qts for $10.95)

Sheryl,
I've ordered a greenhouse from them...not sure I would go down that road again.
I hope they do a better job for you, they do have a nice selection of supplies, reasonably priced.

Uh oh, doesn't sound like it was a good experience - ? Probably should have looked at the Garden Watchdog, first.

I seem to be doing a lot of impulse buying here lately.... yikes!

I think I did check the watchdog site but did not see any info...
I'm sure they are a wonderful family owned outfit that's probably got
more work than they have staffing for, and then you add in the holiday
factor...