Question Potpourri

Q I just purchased a Dendrochilum magnum and am not sure about its care, medium or environment. Second, I was at a show and discussed the merits of coconut fiber as a medium. Could you tell me the pros and cons of the medium as well as what plants might benefit from it. What is its breakdown time? Finally, I bought a bottle of a new liquid fertilizer because the salesman seemed like a nice guy. In general, are there differences between liquid products and dry? I didn’t see any micronutrients listed on the new liquid formula. How important are they for growing orchids?

A  Dendrochilum magnum is truly the king of this fine genus and seems to grow easily under cattleya conditions (60 F nights and 80 F days with bright light). We use a medium similar to what we would use for paphiopedilums or oncidiurns, and prefer to underpot. Keep evenly moist while in active growth and repot in spring before new growths emerge. Coconut fiber and chips have different properties. The chips are being used successfully as a substitute for equivalently sized fir bark and seem to have about the same lasting qualities, though they dry more slowly. Some growers report longer intervals between potting, so there may be benefit in this medium for plants that do not respond well to repotting. Coconut fiber is not often seen, but ground coconut (coir), a substitute for peat moss, is. I have never really used liquid fertilizers on a large scale, because so much of what you are buying is water. I prefer high-quality dry fertilizers. They tend to be a little more stable and do not show precipitate problems. The new fertilizer that you directly ask about, however, does have an ingredient that will not translate to a dry fertilizer, so if you like the results you get from this product, it may be worth the money to you. Micronutrients are often found in the medium and water, but if the water supply you use is super-pure, you will want to add back the micronutrients in your fertilizer, otherwise it is not necessary. Ned Nash

Reprinted, with permission, from "Orchids" - The Magazine of the American Orchid Society, January 2001.