Not enough moisture?

[Diane Best]

I would like to know what type of potting mix people are using.  I have a mix of miracle grow with added perlite but think I might need to use something else or add less perlite because although I get bloomspurs and buds, I have 3 different plants that have lost their buds before blooming. Is this due to not enough moisture? It is confusing me because I do get blooms on other plants in the same mix. Diane/MI www.picturetrail.com/dianebest

[wrynsmom]

Usually, I try to use 2 parts orchid mix, 2 parts succulent mix and
sometimes 1 part perlite . :) It seems to work pretty well, out here
in the UT desert! hahaha

Carolyn

[treelover3]

Carolyn,
Do you really use such an open mix in UT? I'd have to water every day if I used a mix that open. I'm not sure if the "hahaha" means your kidding or not. (:o)
Thanks,
Mike

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[wrynsmom]

Nope, that's really what I use. No joke. I water ever 2-3 days, but
the pots are all very small (3") They seem to like it pretty
well. :)

The last batch I bought was Black Gold; a 12 qt each of orchid mix and
cactus mix. Oh, and a also bought a bag of Black Gold charcoal. I
didn't add extra perlite to this batch. Everyone seems to like it, so
far!

Carolyn

[wrynsmom]

Oh, Mike! I should add . . . I do not have a greenhouse. All of my
plants are grown in the house, and I mist twice a day. ;)

Carolyn

[treelover3]

Thanks, Carolyn.

The orchid mix you use must have pretty small chunks of bark, correct?
I was thinking of orchid mix for plants like large Cattleyas and it
wouldn't take many chunks of bark to fill a 3" pot.

I don't know if I've ever seen Black Gold soils sold around here. I'll
have to look the next time I'm at a garden center. I may have to give
your soil a try.
Thanks again for the info.
Mike

[suzuSD]

Hi all

For my hoyas, I use homemade epi mix* plus a bit of aquarium coral
for the lime lovers. I live in San Diego, so the humidity varies, but
it's usually fairly dry to way too dry here. Watering varies as well,
when the humidity gets low I mist 2x day and water every other day.
Otherwise, I water once a week. Most of my epis live outside all year
but then again I don't grow many tropical ones.

cheers all

linda

*Homemade epi mix:

1 part shredded coir
1 part perlite
1/2 part cactus mix
1/2 part azalea mix
crushed eggshells

Note I don't use any soil that has those moisture retention things. I
think it's too easy to overwater with them in the soil... your mileage
may vary

[suzuSD]

+ Most of my epis live outside all year but then again I don't grow
many tropical ones.

Ugh, I mean HOYAS, HOYAS!! Though I do plant them in epi mix.

Too early in the morning.

cheers

linda