I would like to know if there is anyone successful in raising phals
indoors with red lava rocks. I want to try since I have heard that
the coarse rocks will not hold up too much water. Are the outdoor
landscaping lava rock okay to use? Please advise if there are details
needed to be aware of. Thank you.

Hi Anne, noone's saying anything so I guess you get "Mr. mouth, haha.
Most of the orchids you find at the store or website are almost always
in spragum moss or bark. The ochid I got the other day was in moss,
very tight moss. I repotted it in moss around the healthy root (perfect
for damp and dry effect) and then half and half the rest of the way.
You might try lava rock, but it seems so rough, if your plant gets
moved, even once, how will it's roots like all those lava rocks grinding
together? Just a thought. I heard they put rocks in the bottom of
plastic pots for weight. Good luck.......me

Remember that you have to balance the moisture-holding capacity of the
medium, it's airiness, and the conditions you are growing in.

Phals like constant moisture, but not soppiness in the medium, which is
reasonable for lava rock if it is watered very frequently or if you grow in
a very humid environment. In the home, I think it is a poor option, as the
environment is probably too dry and you would need to water it very
frequently, possibly daily.

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies, Books, Artwork, and Lots of Free Info!

.. . . . . . . . . . .
"Anne" wrote in message
om...
I would like to know if there is anyone successful in raising phals
indoors with red lava rocks. I want to try since I have heard that
the coarse rocks will not hold up too much water. Are the outdoor
landscaping lava rock okay to use? Please advise if there are details
needed to be aware of. Thank you.

I moved all my phals, onc, and dends to the small decorative lava rocks =
with great success. I looked at the landscaping lava rocks, but they =
seemed much too big. I first tried two plants that were on their last =
legs, figuring that I wouldn't lose much if it didn't work out. I was =
amazed at the recovery, and then slowly began to convert all to lava =
rocks. Give one or two of your plants a try first.

Another Anne


"Anne" wrote in message =
om...
| I would like to know if there is anyone successful in raising phals
| indoors with red lava rocks. I want to try since I have heard that
| the coarse rocks will not hold up too much water. Are the outdoor
| landscaping lava rock okay to use? Please advise if there are details
| needed to be aware of. Thank you.

Schultz makes a mix that contains lava rocks that are pretty well rounded
and also has cedar bark. I find that if you supplement it with some
sphagnum (about 50/50) that everything does pretty well in it.

I live in the north and in a city where garden supplies are few, so I've had
to be somewhat experimental in growing but it seems to work. You really
need to keep this mix moist though.


"Anne" wrote in message
om...
I would like to know if there is anyone successful in raising phals
indoors with red lava rocks. I want to try since I have heard that
the coarse rocks will not hold up too much water. Are the outdoor
landscaping lava rock okay to use? Please advise if there are details
needed to be aware of. Thank you.

On of my friends grows paphs in 100% red lava rock. The plants hang in there
but do not thrive. Its just too open a mix and too dry for paphs (IMHO),
even tho they are watered 6x daily. My friend loves it and swears by it, but
everyitme I look at the plants I swear I can hear them screaming. *G* I
have a few catts in lavarock alone, but even they aren't doing great.

I think someone else mentioned trying it on a few plants and see how they
do.

But I like Christopher's idea best. I use a mix with lavarock in it as well
as bark and some other stuff. Holds more moisture at the roots that way. Has
some heft so the pots don't flop around if nudged. (wellll.... elbowed)

K Barrett

"christopher johnson" wrote in message
...
Schultz makes a mix that contains lava rocks that are pretty well rounded
and also has cedar bark. I find that if you supplement it with some
sphagnum (about 50/50) that everything does pretty well in it.

I live in the north and in a city where garden supplies are few, so I've
had
to be somewhat experimental in growing but it seems to work. You really
need to keep this mix moist though.


"Anne" wrote in message
om...
I would like to know if there is anyone successful in raising phals
indoors with red lava rocks. I want to try since I have heard that
the coarse rocks will not hold up too much water. Are the outdoor
landscaping lava rock okay to use? Please advise if there are details
needed to be aware of. Thank you.