Bromeliads
Growing and Helpful Tips
Please recognize that all information is given as good faith and as a lot of growers know, what works for us may not suit your growing conditions or climate. The same as what works for you may not suit our conditions. To give you an idea of our conditions Temperature ranges from approx -2 to +40 Degrees. We do get normally a few light frosts a year. Rain normally when it does happen can get falls up to 200mm in a day but we may go for 8-10weeks with no rain at all. This makes a big difference for how one picks their potting mixes especially if plants are in un-covered houses or growing conditions. For any locals we are very similar growing conditions as Ipswich Qld
We use a mix of premum potting mix and orchid bark approx 50/50
Potting Mix (Mediums)
Bark:-
We use either Debco or Aus-Grow orchid bark (typically
25-50 Litre bags) both are very similar products to use
Just give us a call
we don't normal list small bags on price list but this is not a
problem . Without going into types of bark of
what we have tried and tested these are the best barks available to us. There are also
various sizes
or grades of these barks
Small or Mini Size Bark:- We use this only in our tubes (baby plants) mixed in with other mediums
Medium Size Bark:- We use this for smaller plants coming out of tubes or just a small growing size plant that may need a bit more moisture (smaller bark generally won't dry out as quick due to less airflow).
Large Size Bark:- We use this in lager sized plants and mixed with medium size bark,
Perlite:- There is a few
different brands of perlite
generally sold in 100 Litre bags we mostly use a coarse bag mix
(approx 5mm in size)
Just give us a
call we don't normal list small bags on price list but this is not a
problem
Charcoal:-
Medium size is a good all rounder approx
10x15mm in size Just give us a call we don't
normal list small bags on price list but this is not a problem
Coconut Husk/Chip:- There are a few
different brands
of this and of what we have found you have to be careful when buying
chip as there are big differences. This normally comes in a dry and
compressed form and before you use it, it needs soaking to expand and
hydrate. Some available brands will need to be washed, this is
more to remove unwanted salts. We mostly use 8-12mm chips, that is
pre washed and PH ready. In uncovered locations never pot directly in chip as we found
out if you get wet/rainy conditions over a long period (2-3weeks) it
holds too much moisture and may rot your orchids and bromeliads. We
have been trying a mix of approx 5-10% to the pot chip with some
orchids. A lot of growers use coconut husk/chip as it is a bit cheaper and also
takes up less room in the shed being compressed. We don't use a lot
of it due to the market of people we sell plants to. Most may not have a
covered growing area etc..therefore bark gives them a much greater
success
growing orchids
when they get them home.
Peat:-
We only use Canadian peat moss this is used in a covered shade house
on tube stock (baby) plants. Bag size is 60kg. I do know some
growers that use a peat and perlite potting mix using typically 5x
perlite to 1x peat and that's it. The main disadvantage for us is the pots
are light and if your growing area is not well sheltered your
beautiful
pots might fall over etc... and it does not ship/travel real well.
Just give us a call we don't
normal list small bags on price list but this is not a problem
Sphagnum
Moss :- We use this on seed, tubes (baby)
plants with great results. When wet it may hold too much moisture and may rot
your plants. We pot lightly. We now have a small 100g compressed
Spag which when mixed with water makes a 300x120mm pot full, this is
great for when tying Brom's to the side of a tree to help hold
a little moisture around the roots till it holds onto the tree
itself.