Terrasorb?

[wilbeck]

Has anybody been using terrasorb in their potting mix and, If so, do you have any recommendations, caveats, etc.? Thanks for any information.

Wilson

 

[goldenrose]

Is this the terra cotta particles used in bonsai & soiless water gardening pots? I'm familar with Terragrin(sp?). Didn't think about using it in a mix with orchids, but I don't see why not . Good post

 

[gonewild]

Terrasorb is a water absorbing material designed to hold water in a mix. I think it would be counter productive for use in an orchid media. It would likely reduce the aeration around the roots.

 

[wilbeck]

This stuff is a "hydrogel" that takes up large quantities of water, then releases it slowly. It comes as small dry granules. I had purchased some orchids from Windy Hill and noticed several small rubbery clear bits in the potting mix when I repotted them. I asked Marilyn LeDoux about it and she told me she was trying the stuff in an attempt to prolong the interval between waterings. I got the impression that she thought it might be useful, so I bought some from Gardener's Supply. Here's a link for the stuff: http://www.gardeners.com/Terra-Sorb...ghtProofing,14091,default,cp.html?SC=XNET8019

 

[wilbeck]

The directions call for one teaspoon of the stuff in a gallon of potting mix, not much. Marilyn's orchids were doing very nicely with it in there.

 

[Renegayde]

when I visited her greenhouse last year and bought some seedling she told me that she used it in her mix

 

[MoreWater]

Interesting. I use it in my mud mixes for hoyas - lots of perlite, peat, and some terrasorb or equivalent. That means it's also in my phrag mud mix. I've also been eyeing it as an ingredient for seedling mixes.

 

[rdlsreno]

Nice to Know that. Thanks!

Ramon