Re: "Orchid" Mix

John Taylor [The Banshee] (rphjt@minyos.xx.rmit.OZ.AU)
Wed, 27 Oct 93 09:44:58 +0000

>Sounds like your peat moss, fir bark and lava rock mix isn't too evil and
>may be just fine....probably.
>
>You can get tricked by little things with soil media. For example, consider
>sand. If it comes from the ocean it will have too much salt in it. If it
>comes from the desert it will probably be alkaline. I do things on a large
>enough scale that I buy the ingredients and mix them as I desire. This
>weekend I just bought a 100 pound bag of silica sand---one of the work-
>horses in my collection.
>

Azalea Mix *may* be OK as these plants like acid soils - just as long as it
hasn't got too much fertilizer (doesn't sound like it). Orchid mixes are a
variable lot - the new commercial (Cymbidium) ones are just chunks of bark
possibly treated with nutrients. I can remember when all sorts of things were
included - rice hulls, peanut shells, osmunda fibre, etc. etc.

If you have a big enough collection (now or eventually) buying bulk ingredients
for your plant mixes is worthwhile. Not only do you save money, but you've
always got some on hand for your new plants - especially if you buy plants
through mail order.

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| John Taylor [The Banshee] | Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology |
| rphjt@minyos.xx.rmit.oz.au | Department of Applied Physics |
| MOKING IS A HEALTH HAZARD. | Melbourne, Victoria, AUSTRALIA |
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