All about Orchid media - Bark, moss, LECA & more! | Simple guide for beginners

[@BarsisGK]

The best orchid tutorials on KZbin! I have been ur follower for years & I enjoy watching all ur videos always! Ur explanations are phenomenal!!! I have learnt how to take care of my orchids from you! Thx a lot.. orchid queen 😉

[@TheTephikat]

I feel I’m in orchid university 🤓 love this classes

[@wavesandleaves7588]

Hi, love your vid. I'm from the philippines and we use coconut husk, either chopped, shredded or whole for almost any orchids. 😊😊😊

[@markslupe7197]

I'm in Thailand and use it too.

[@renaba6959]

I think that I am in Orchid University since i study your videos so much. Great Job. I learn quite a lot from you.

[@vondahe]

My local botanical garden use a mix or perlite and crushed lava rock for most of their potted orchids.

[@lindawientjes7015]

Merry Christmas dear teacher! (a little early) Dani, your voice and excellent photography are great qualities. What a gift you are to all of us "enthusiasts". Thank you for your dedication. God bless you in this holy season. ♥🌟

[@Bexsar92]

Really good and informative video for an orchid newbie like me. Thank you!

[@MrT-hk9wn]

Who gives a thumbs down to a helpful and informative video? Trolls under the bridge....

[@meditationempire3068]

Tell me about it

[@MFT-yz1pv]

Great video! It´s very useful information, and the way you explain the matter is really incredible.

[@allyyyyyyp]

Charcoal has become readily available in the US (at least in the Northeast where I live). It is often even cheaper than bark chips which is very interesting. I use it in amended mixes with sphagnum to help with drainage and my orchids seem to really enjoy it!

[@saltlifegull4091]

wow, excellent video! Thanks so much. Subscriber from Florida.

[@tammyjohnson7401]

Thank you for all your Orchid information. Have a great New Year.

[@TY-ob7fz]

Hi Danny. Thank you. Love your pieces on medium. Though I started with Leca have moved slowly to spagnum moss and mixture of both though I prefer to use in layers and as of lately topping off with Leca to ward off algea. I also use a bottom layer with Leca with microfiber so the moss won't sit in a pool of water. Think in my situation works, so far 😬. I still have most of my oncidiums and cattleyas in leca only. It seems to be the medium of their preference, and soon I'll add my wick of microfiber also. Thanks again and hope your little ( hmmm) bendy is continuing in his recovery.

[@artiebonillas]

Very helpful & informative tutorials! You can find charcoal at the local fish store, you can use the used charcoal from fish tank. (Mix in with media) Also, I wonder if just a little coconut husk mixed in at the base will help eliminate slugs due to the salt content? Thank you for your excellent videos. Location - San Diego, Ca.

[@seeltham]

Hi Orchidgirl thank you for this video I use coconut husk and did not know about salt that may be in it , my mix is 3/4 in stones coconut and charcoal.. (im in Jamaica)

[@AwoooOga3503]

Haha this is a plus bc I got reptiles and I used bark and for my spring tails I use 100% Charcole without any added things.

[@ianflem6489]

Finally...the videos I need. Thanks...

[@orchidgarden3124]

I have had excellent results with lava rock with a small top layer of sphagnum moss for catts and epicatts. They love it. I have 2 phals that have been in lava rock for 2 years with very good results. I have mixed success with semi-hydro. Some of mine love it and others do not. Same with bark mix.

[@tanyastelly6243]

Actually Orchiata bark is a VERY specific bark-- New Zealand Pinus radiata.. Tends to be longer lasting than your "standard" bark. Have you experimented with live sphagnum yet? As for Charcoal--it acts as a "purifier" and helps to absorb impurities. I use it as an additive in my mixes and I have horticultural grade.

[@Reefspidey]

You should try using coarse vermiculite as a sphagnum replacement

[@elbeem20001]

I am from the Caribbean - and a beginner in growing orchids. My two mango trees shed their bark every so often. Since we do not have fir trees in my neck of the woods, could I use the mango tree bark as a potting medium? I also attached some vanda orchids to the mango tree trunks already, and they seem to be doing fine. We also have sphagnum moss and coconut husk potting mediums to use. Your comments on this please?

[@abiraminandagopal5666]

@missorchidgirl Thank you for a very detailed video on orchid media. I have a couple of questions regarding spagnum moss. First one if I over watered my orchid potted in spagnum moss how to fix it. I have done that a couple of times and didn't know how to fix it. Second question is, if the orchid I potted in spagnum moss grew a lot of roots, when is the optimum time to repot it again without damaging lot of roots and the pot becomes like a spagnum plug like when we buy it from nurseries some times. I always become nervous when orchids grow lots of roots so fast in spagnum moss and I am so tempted to repot in like 6 months. Any tips for this would be great. P.s: Hope Milo is doing good. Fingers crossed for him to get well soon.

[@JoeyR1210]

Hi Danny, another fantastically informative video as always! glad to see you are back and hope that bendy is well.

[@jmichellewilbur9442]

I bought the miracle grow orchid mix and wondering what your thoughts are on it.

[@madeleinepettigrew1033]

hello danny .I'm not sure if water is a "media" but do you ever grow orchids in water culture? If not why? I only have two mini phalaenopsis orchids and when i got them they where both in incredibly compact and dry peat moss . One of them was dehydrated and the other had pale leaves.Both of them are now in water culture and i'm not completely sure if that was the best idea,but both of them are now very healthy.I only let some of the roots grow into the water and all the roots are green and firm.

[@LadyAnyaRomanov]

Is it normal to get white blotches in bark when using a drip fertiliser…..I repotted my Phal. with fresh orchid media bark yesterday and added a ‘baby bio orchid drip feeder’ and today I can see what looks like a build up of salts….is this ok or do I need to remove the fertiliser and flush the orchid? [I will add that I’ve cut the stems down after blooms fell and one of the bottom leaves is beginning to yellow to drop and she is producing new roots at this point]

[@derrissilas7830]

I live in Florida can l use the moss off the trees here as media

[@ethelrizarri2614]

I live. In Canada and I prefer mixes say pine bark +sphagnum moss+perlite+vermiculite + a bit of charcoal or orchiata bark +sphagnum moss +perlite and anyways you are right Deny I play around with mixes every lava rock and it works in myt invironment

[@mayanazarro5022]

Hello! Love your videos! They're very helpful! I'm just wondering if I could mix Sphagnum moss & Leca media for my orchid? First time taking care of orchid indoor. Thanks!

[@donnacone4714]

I’ve got a question I had RO system put in and the PH is about 8.8 is this bad if it is what shall I do 🤔. I finally got a Shari Baby it’s got 2 spikes none have opened flowers yet! Excited to smell them thank you very much for help an video’s 👍🏻

[@raquelswavycurls]

Hi Danny. I recently bought a net pot that I intended to fill with mostly sphagnum moss when I repot some of my orchids. Which species would do best in the highly ventilated pot? I need to repot my cattleya and my oncidium most urgently - would the net pot be suitable for either of these?

[@Valyrian_GP]

Hey Danny, need your help of advice. I have a little bit problem with bark after repotting. It’s seem that mold start to growth due to over watering. But it’s a new bark. How do u clean the bark and reuse it again?

[@najlajaber5643]

Halo. Can you reported at night for the plant any plant I’ll have to be morning or afternoon let me know thank you

[@ovettachalmers6809]

What medium do you use to grow your Brassavola cucullata? I have mine mounted but I will like to grow one in a pot. Also where did you purchase yours?

[@kiranshah5]

Thank you so much for your informative videos. Can we use pumice stones as a planting medium. In theory they should keep the roots aerated and retain small amount of moisture.

[@azdesertorchids8758]

I use pumice. They work very well especially when lightly mixed with moss.

[@seanmercyhoyt6785]

What about polished pebbles/river rock? Could these be used?

[@iseeflowers]

Can bark chips grow little bugs? I purchased orchid from street fair with bark media and after a few months, there were little bugs in the pot 🤮

[@marcausn]

can anyone tell me how the video of Dany is called where she show how to put down pH on LECA and what special kind of fertilizing she does? She mentions it (in this video??), but I can't find it - a link would be even more appreciated... thanks so much

[@SnowDragonka]

Very well structured video on the media, thank you for that. In the end everyone uses what suits them the best and there is actually rarely any "right way" to do it, anything can work given the right circumstances. This got me thinking to try some of those "stay always wet" orchids in my bonsai medium... Maybe I'll try it with something.

[@egemen5578]

Hello Danny! Which media is the best for a Dendrobium Keiki? Help me out on this one please...

[@shannab2033]

Hi Dani! I have a phalaenopsis I recently repotted to semi-hydro and it has sprouted many new roots and a new leaf. But I just accidentally left it in direct sun too long and I have a mushy spot developing. Only, I dont think it sunburn? It’s dark and discoloured and starting to soften. Is it rot do u think? Help!

[@sougataa268]

Hi Danny.. Can I repot my Phal. Valentinii from sphagnum moss to LECA ? Can she adjust in that media? She is my summer blooming species.

[@janinacarlona450]

I live in Southern New Mexico where it is very dry. Bark is definitely out of the question, it is too dry here. If I use moss, what should I mix with it?

[@princeappleX]

Pardon me, Dani, but I wonder if you have an update about the setup of inorganic potting media. What’s your input on the combo of clay pebbles/lecca and microfiber? Thanks 🌸

[@MissOrchidGirl]

Hi, I gave up this setup completely over a year ago, it was just too much work for me ☹️

[@princeappleX]

MissOrchidGirl thank you for replying, Dani. Could you direct me to the related videos if you have please?

[@veronikahorvat5628]

Don't get too excited and make mistakes like I did. Do your research. I wanted to change my medium to bark, so I went to the store and bought 70L of some mixed bark chips. I was then told that not all types of bark are suitable for orchids, that I must buy pine bark that is accesible in my country. So I went back to the store and bough 70L of pine bark. When I opened the package, half of it was black, squishy and rotten. I wrote a complaint and was told that I bought decorative pine bark and that bark for orchids is specially chosen. So now I am waiting for a delivery of special pine bark for orchids with 140L of bark chips in my shed. It would seem I need to prepare a lot of flower beds with mulch in the spring :D

[@oanastan4602]

useful as always, thank you!

[@BlaisZeroni]

Whit is good to use for tiny dendrobium smaller than my pinky with very small and thin roots?

[@bobirceaveronica]

Wow, Dani, aproape 139 000 de subscriberi ! :)

[@nissapicard1728]

I really enjoy your videos! In past videos you’ve mentioned the Orchid Nature website in the comments, but it doesn’t seem to be live anymore. Are the education sheets, etc. available somewhere else now? Thanks!

[@jenniferthorndyke7379]

Would you recomend to se leca on a dischidia?

[@seabellesam]

Where do we find the water tester you show in this video? Great video!!!

[@MissOrchidGirl]

Hi Samantha, it's available fir sale on your local Amazon store, the name of the brand is Apera :)

[@seabellesam]

@@MissOrchidGirl Thank you for taking the time to respond! I love your videos & learn something new each time I watch!! xoxo

[@TrishsOrchidLife]

Side note on Leca….if you boil it two or three times your curing time is minimized

[@MrT-hk9wn]

I BBQ a lot. Now I finally have a use for the smaller charcoal pieces I usually put in the garden.

[@resilience4lyfe331]

Mr T umm idk but I don’t think they mean charcoal & wood chips we BBQ with! Lol... I wish I’ve got lots on hand as well...smh us Americans...

[@fugueine]

Make sure the charcoal is a hardwood charcoal, not something like pressed briquet kingsford that has a lot of chemicals in it.

[@Ol_wia]

No idea if she will see this message and have time to reply so if someone else knows about orchids can you offer some advice? I have an orchid which is doing really well and has a Keiki which is close to ready to be separated (I'm awaiting some new orchid potting medium, so I'm waiting) when I separate the keiki, should I cut the spike all the way down to the base or just below the keiki? I don't see any buds below the keiki as of now. Thank you.

[@09jesslic]

She made a video about this! I know I’m a little late on replying 🥴

[@kathrynmuller974]

I have an orchid - that I’d like your feedback on. Is there away to send you a photo and have you look at it?

[@mickirun]

Can't get seramis here. Wish we could

[@mohamedadham8973]

Ur Doing a "Great Job"....

[@montecristotravels]

what about water culture?

[@mansi1747]

Medium for dendrobium orchid seeding ???

[@maxweldlo21]

I use Coco peat + Leca clay balls

[@hiusan6216]

Obviously you could use Spaghnum moss/synthic, crushed fern tree fiber, or crocodile fern root

[@j.d.8075]

I like using horticultural charcoal with my Vandaceous orchids... it helps weigh the pots down while protecting the roots. Coir is popular here as it is plentiful and I haven't had any bad experiences, so I guess it comes down to brand.

[@adrianabonitaaziz7393]

You make everything look easy , but i am scared to take it out and kill the roots ...

[@mansi1747]

Dendrobium seeding.. medium???

[@Justusorjustone]

Here in INDIA, coconut husk is very popular....i dont use it because of tannin issue,semihydro is best for me,and in organic Sphagnum is the best....

[@margaridadominguesdasilva7871]

Hi danny, im wondering if i can repot my orchids (phalaenopsis and dendrobiums) that are in a bark medium, to a mixture of bark and leca. I was thinking of adding leca to the bottom of the pot filling the rest with bark and topping with leca again, allowing for more ventilation to the stem area. All my orchids are store bought or from nurseries and have come in a bark medium. But im concerned with there not being enough ventilation and since 1 year has already passed and in some orchids mould has formed its time to change the medium. Thus wondering if i can create this mixture.

[@natispatan]

thanks!

[@bme7491]

Clay has always been well known to be very alkaline.

[@donnagaylord8682]

Can’t you make your own charcoal by burning or torching tree branches

[@MsLouisVee]

I’m convinced Leca killed some of my plants especially my spider plants didn’t like it at all