Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => General Gardening => Topic started by: veggirl on June 28, 2011, 17:32

Title: orchid compost invaded!
Post by: veggirl on June 28, 2011, 17:32

Well, I finally decided to pot up the baby orchid that has appeared on my Dendrobium. I picked up the compost, and discovered that it contained an ant's nest. I tried spreading out the compost to discourage them without successs, so went to the garden centre and bought some new. I don't fancy hundreds of ants indoors. I wonder why they liked it particularly?

Title: Re: orchid compost invaded!
Post by: mrs bouquet on June 29, 2011, 13:10

nice and warm in the bag maybe.   if you pot your orchids in clear pots you can keep a check on their roots and whats going on underground.   Good luck,  Mrs Bouquet

Title: Re: orchid compost invaded!
Post by: veggirl on June 29, 2011, 22:02

Thanks! I have a habit of rescuing orchids from reduced shelves, friend's bins, etc and now have 14, ten of which are in flower at the moment. Veggirl.

Title: Re: orchid compost invaded!
Post by: TerryB on June 30, 2011, 09:20

Don't think you should put Dendrobium into clear pots.

Phalaenopsis (Moth Orchid) should be because they grow in trees.

Title: Re: orchid compost invaded!
Post by: sunshineband on June 30, 2011, 09:50

Quote from: TerryB on June 30, 2011, 09:20

Don't think you should put Dendrobium into clear pots.

Phalaenopsis (Moth Orchid) should be because they grow in trees.

Phalaenopsis do grow in trees but dendrobiums are also epiphytes and really can do with very little growing medium around their roots.

Phaleanopsis need light on their roots as they have an algae that grows symbiotically om them, but dendrobiums do not, so it doesn't matter if the pot is clear or not.

The big chunky bark compost is good for both these  :D

Title: Re: orchid compost invaded!
Post by: mrs bouquet on June 30, 2011, 14:45

 :lol: :lol: :lol:  Oh well, what do I know - not alot  :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: Mrs B