Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

Specific Families and Genera => Pleione and Orchidaceae => Topic started by: mark smyth on August 29, 2012, 10:20:19 AM

Title: Dactylorhiza potting mix
Post by: mark smyth on August 29, 2012, 10:20:19 AM
while I'm happy with my potting mix for my Dactylorhiza - leaf mould, soil and grit - I read so many variations on the internet and in book.

One book says
3 parts loam, 2 parts bark, 2 parts perlite, 4 parts pine duff (whatever that is) and 4 parts grit
or 4 x bark, 1 x loam,  2 x perlite and 2 x sand

Should I change? What do you use?

My self sown seedlings appear is very wet peat based pots and very gritty dry troughs. Maybe there is no perfect potting mix
Title: Re: Dactylorhiza potting mix
Post by: J.B.Wyllie on August 29, 2012, 10:39:26 AM
Pine Duff is composted pine needles.

Mixture sounds far too complicated for me
Title: Re: Dactylorhiza potting mix
Post by: Maggi Young on August 29, 2012, 10:40:27 AM
We have no problem with our  two parts sand; two parts grit and one part leaf mould mix.


Yes, those mixes are far too complicated- no need for that.

Pine duff is the accumulation of fallen needles under  pine trees.
Title: Re: Dactylorhiza potting mix
Post by: Peter Maguire on August 29, 2012, 01:33:01 PM
If it works for you, Mark, stick with what you are using.

It sounds like a good mixture to me. ;)
Title: Re: Dactylorhiza potting mix
Post by: Neil on August 29, 2012, 07:48:12 PM
Dactylorhiza are tolerant of many forms of growing medium,

I use 2 parts composted bark and 1 part grit. 
Title: Re: Dactylorhiza potting mix
Post by: Tony Willis on August 30, 2012, 09:13:01 AM
I use garden centre John Innes (as I do for 90% of my plants) and just add a bit of grit. Seems to work okay.
Title: Re: Dactylorhiza potting mix
Post by: mark smyth on August 30, 2012, 10:16:54 AM
So would I Tony except no supplier in N Ireland sells a good John Innes
Title: Re: Dactylorhiza potting mix
Post by: Tony Willis on August 30, 2012, 05:01:36 PM
So would I Tony except no supplier in N Ireland sells a good John Innes

I did not say it was good,it is all I have!
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