Tropicals & Tender Perennials: Inquiring...... about growing mediums...., 0 by AlohaHoya

AlohaHoya wrote:
Since we are all spread all over nearly half the globe...I thought we could do a bit of 'comparison growing' with respects to potting soil. Since much of the success of a potting soil involves how it partners with our ambient humidity, where we grow etc., it might be helpful for others with our same conditions to learn or 'tweak' their patterns. We might be able to make this a sticky thread..... so let's keep the comments on topic, OK? Shall I start?

GENERAL CONDITIONS: Near the equator so the lengths of days does not vary much. Plants do not go dormant but they do slow down their growth a bit. General humidity is above 65% tho' sometimes we get dry winds (and I spray down the plants if it lasts longer than 3 days). Hoyas growing outdoors get very wet with a lot of rain or very dry during dry periods when I have to water. Our average rainfall is 150" yearly...mostly at night.

FERTILIZER: I use Miracle Gro foliar feed on EVERYTHING about 3 x year. Other than that, I use MSU fertilizer in water in the smaller pots and I use Chicken Manure (aged) on the hoyas in the ground or in big pots (about every 4 months).

POTTING MIX: My general potting mix - the BASIC: 1/4 Fine Orchid Bark, 1/4 Hydroton, 1/4 #3 Perlite, 1/4 Black cinders about the size of a garbanzo bean or a little larger.

GREENHOUSE Plant - a bit more Orchid Bark
OUTSIDE Plants - more black cinders for drainage

(NOTE: I put the pure Hydroton/Perlite combination in the bottom 1/3 of the pot for drainage)

GREENHOUSE - I mist daily in the summer and water about every 4 days if needed.

PS The photo is H. flagellata...one I have killed as many times as I have killed H. linearis!!!!