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You are here: Experts > Style > Gardening > Orchids > Cymbidium_planting soil
Expert: Jim Kawasaki
Date: 9/12/2008
Subject: Cymbidium_planting soil
Question
hello again jim,
still having trouble with my Cym's.
lost my flower-stalks last year before they bloomed.
what i NEED to know is_should i take them out of thier Orchid DIRT and just grow them in_Perlite and,Bark?
OR_what should they be in. What is the proper mix?
thankyou again_tree
Answer
Hi again Tree,
Sorry to hear that you are still having problems with the cyms.
To begin, there is no such thing as a perfect mix. The best mix is the one that is best suited for your local climate and the way you like to water. In sunny, hot and dry areas you want a mix that will retain moisture while in a cool, shady and humid area you wnat a mix that dries out fairly quickly.
Yes, I would go with the bark and perlite mix for them, that's my usual cym mix.
Here is how I make my mix:
5 parts small bark
1 part large prelite (size 3)
I soak the bark for 24 hours in a large tub with water, enough water so the bark is floating. I scoop out the bark using a plastic colander, put the bark in a plastic garbage can with holes drilled in the bottom to allow excess water to drain out. Do not use any bark that sinks to the bottom as it is already well on its way to decaying and will cause root problems. Then the next day, week or month, I mix 5 parts small bark with 1 part large perlite. I put it all in a large tub and mix it all together. I am now ready to start repotting.
By the way, if you cannot find large perlite you can use the small horticultural grade perlite available at many garden centers. I've used it in an emergency (ran out of the large) and had fairly good results.
Hope this has helped.
Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.
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