The Orchidarium |
Orchid Media Particle Size GuideReference table for the Orchidarium collection |
Home Collection Journal Cultivation More |
| Bark particle size | Orchids in this group | Lava size to use | How dry before watering |
|---|---|---|---|
| ½–¾ inch | Brassavola nodosa ‘Susan Fuchs’, Yellow Bird | ½–¾ inch lava if available; otherwise omit lava rather than use very small pieces | Let become quite dry |
| 0.4–0.6 inch | Phalaenopsis, Encyclia cyperifolia, Chocolate Drop, White Knight | About ⅜–½ inch lava; pieces should be reasonably similar in size to the bark | Let become almost dry; Phalaenopsis especially must be checked at the bottom |
| ¼–⅜ inch | Sharry Baby, Cymbidium, Bulbophyllum rothschildianum | Your ⅕-inch lava can be used here, preferably in a modest proportion | Sharry Baby: approaching dry. Cymbidium: slightly moist. Bulbophyllum: do not allow to become completely dry |
| No standard bark | Vanda falcata / Neofinetia, Vanilla planifolia | Treat individually rather than forcing them into one of the above mixes | Vanda: strong wet/dry cycle. Vanilla: remain slightly moist, never waterlogged |
How the current materials fit
- ¾-inch ZeeDix bark → first row.
- 0.4–0.6-inch bark → second row.
- ¼–⅜-inch Orchiata → third row.
- ⅕-inch Pulovin lava → principally third row.
Critical lava rule: try to keep the lava reasonably close in particle size to the bark.
If you cannot, it is better to use bark alone than to pour ⅕-inch lava into ¾-inch bark
and fill the air spaces.
No sphagnum.