Orchid Mix seem safe?

[dadmccabe]

I bought some Jungle Mix and noticed it was missing a few essentials from the ABG recipe. So, I decided maybe I'd try to mix a "healthy" soil substrate myself. I found organic sphagnum at home depot s well as this stuff (see link) which seems to be "clean" and contain beneficial ingrediants. I have such a hard time trusting anything that isn't "made for" pets... Special Orchid Mix-5002 at The Home Depot

[arielgasca420]

I would take out the charcoal and sponge rock (perlite?) if you will be potting it in a place that your pet can get to. you definitely do not want them accidentally ingesting charcoal or sponge rock.
in my opinion I would put the pot in a glass container so that if anything leaches out (after fertilizing) than it cannot reach your pet.
"organic" is a tricky word that some horticulturists (like my professor) do not like to use.
I trust fox farms (which is organic), but I am not so certain about a brand like better-gro.
I never plant directly into the substrate. I always keep them in containers with their own organic soil.

[flybyferns]

I would take out the charcoal and sponge rock (perlite?) if you will be potting it in a place that your pet can get to. you definitely do not want them accidentally ingesting charcoal or sponge rock.
in my opinion I would put the pot in a glass container so that if anything leaches out (after fertilizing) than it cannot reach your pet.
"organic" is a tricky word that some horticulturists (like my professor) do not like to use.
I trust fox farms (which is organic), but I am not so certain about a brand like better-gro.
I never plant directly into the substrate. I always keep them in containers with their own organic soil.

I agree. "I never plant directly into the substrate. I always keep them in containers with their own organic soil."
Re-pot the plants into small nursery containers ( into tropical soil / coco fiber) outside the enclosure, and wait.
Let the fertilizers and/or pesticides grow out for a couple of weeks.

[arielgasca420]

I agree.
Re-pot the plants into small nursery containers ( into tropical soil / coco fiber) outside the enclosure, and wait.
Let the fertilizers and/or pesticides grow out for a couple of weeks.

The best way to speed up this process is to fertilize for a few days and flush out with distilled water. give your orchid a nice bath before putting it back in the enclosure.
the good thing about flushing orchids is that there is nothing in the sphagnum moss or bark that will be significantly lost.
you can also use stones (or glass fish beads) with your sphagnum moss too instead of bark. just a thought

[flybyferns]

The best way to speed up this process is to fertilize for a few days and flush out with distilled water. give your orchid a nice bath before putting it back in the enclosure.
the good thing about flushing orchids is that there is nothing in the sphagnum moss or bark that will be significantly lost.
you can also use stones (or glass fish beads) with your sphagnum moss too instead of bark. just a thought

dadmccabe,
I'm not so sure we can "seed up" this process".
I would suggest re-potting w/coco fiber, no fertilizer of any kind ( regardless of how safe it says -it is ) ,and WAIT about 2 weeks before exposing a frog to the the plant. I do not think you should use the "orchid mix" from HD.

[dadmccabe]

I didn't suggest speeding things up. Question: doesn't ABG contain charcoal(among other things)?? Josh's Frogs cites ABG as part of their substrate formula? Ps, just asking - not challenging previous remarks

[arielgasca420]

yes it contains one part charcoal among other things. the only thing missing on your list is tree fern fiber. if you need the recipe than let me know

[arielgasca420]

my only suggestion is to make sure you know what type of care your orchid needs. some mediums, like coco fiber, will kill certain types.
Orchids is a touchy subject because there are 25,000 species out there with even more hybrids.
I am assuming that with the AGB question that you have an epiphytic orchid and not terrestrial.

[dadmccabe]

phalaenopsis