Rick
Well-Known Member
I was reading John Doherty's article on P. sanderianum (and hybrids) in Orchids.
A lot of his culture overlaps mine for multis, but I was intrigued about his use of sand as a biannual top dress (with oyster shell).
I have sand in some bark mixes with some of my barbata types (using Lance Birk's "pretty good" mix) and have had some individual plants do very nice in it.
I know a couple of growers in my local society will mill their bark with sand, which seems to make the bark last a lot longer and drains better.
Some of the "soils" that some of the barbata are found in often have sand listed in the description.
Normally I think of sand as something totally inert, and just a drainage aid, but do you think it could be a source of silicates?
I use Protect on a fairly regular basis, which is potash, but with a good source soluble silicates.
Any opinions?
A lot of his culture overlaps mine for multis, but I was intrigued about his use of sand as a biannual top dress (with oyster shell).
I have sand in some bark mixes with some of my barbata types (using Lance Birk's "pretty good" mix) and have had some individual plants do very nice in it.
I know a couple of growers in my local society will mill their bark with sand, which seems to make the bark last a lot longer and drains better.
Some of the "soils" that some of the barbata are found in often have sand listed in the description.
Normally I think of sand as something totally inert, and just a drainage aid, but do you think it could be a source of silicates?
I use Protect on a fairly regular basis, which is potash, but with a good source soluble silicates.
Any opinions?