lacunosa done, finally/ What is your favorite potting mix?

14 years ago

I held a funeral for my lacunosa cuttings yesterday. When I opened the bag each day, I could smell a faint wiff of ammonia, and yesterday found that the stems were all mushy so decided my adventure with this was over. It seems like the ammonia may have played a role in them dying but this is a picky one to root so I'm not surprised that *I* would not have success being such a newb.

The perlite I have has Miracle Grow in it, I'm assuming that is where the ammonia came from. I was using straight perlite for these cuttings. I'm wondering now if it will hurt my other plants, I mixed this same perlite with orchid bark and potting mix to pot up all my other plants.

Is there a general agreement on what mix is best to pot hoyas in?

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Comments (8)

Denise
14 years ago
What works for one person doesn't necessarily work for another. I use coir and perlite, about 2/3 and 1/3. It works well for me, but some don't like coir. You have to experiment and see what works for you.

I'd suggest that you start watching for an EA lacunosa at one of the box stores. I had trouble growing it, too, until I got one of their big plants. I've had mine now for probably 5 or more years.

Denise in Omaha
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cpawl
14 years ago
I have started to use coir(fine and chunky) with cactus soil.If I have other stuff around then I add it but this is the bare bones that I use. I really like coir and my plants seem to like it also.

Cindy
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treelover3
14 years ago
One of the nice things about coir is that it does not expand and contract, like peat, when it is watered and it dries.
This is especially important for succulents and cacti that need to dry well between waterings.

The peat contracting as it dries can actually break small roots on these plants and when the medium is watered again, those breaks can lead to rot setting in. Has anyone ever had a plant rot and they didn't know why? More than likely, this could be the reason.

I have not started to use coir for my hoyas, but need to try it and see if there is any change in how they grow.
Mike
0
mdahms1979
14 years ago
I have started to use coconut husk chips mixed in with my standard medium bark/perlite/soil mix. You have to soak and rinse coir or coconut husk chips because they are often very salty and will eventually kill the roots of plants. Apparently in some countries the coconut husks are rinsed in the ocean during processing and that is where the salt comes from. I soak and rinse until the water is clear and that can take almost a week of twice daily water changes.

Mike
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birdsnblooms
14 years ago
MrsDoodle..your soil smells like ammonia? Do you have a pet/s? Sounds like a kitty or puppy decided to use your soil as a liter box/yard.
Soil shouldn't small anything like ammonia. Most black soils have a distictive odor..soil-less mixes haven't any scent, none I detect anyway.
I use MG Perlite, it's odorless.
If there is/was urine in your soil, it sure would kill a plant. Toni
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therealmrsdoodlepunk
Original Author
14 years ago
I don't think anyone peed in my perlite! LOL That is the first thing I thought of though. This was pure perlite, and it had Miracle Grow in it, the cuttings in the moist perlite were in a bag. I left the bag open a little and it was up at eye level. I thought the ammonia came from fertilizer, which MG is....
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Denise
14 years ago
Mike,

I buy the coir bricks that have already been rinsed. I just add the water to expand it and it's ready to use. I've also just started using the extra chunky perlite, which I'm liking so far.

Denise in Omaha
0
laura1
14 years ago
I can root no problem but I've had a couple of hoyas (1 lacunosa) die. When I saw them looking bad I treated them with $$ fungicide dench I had for the roses. That may have helped in the short run but one I just threw out yesterday. Of the ones that are dying I've gotten rooted cuttings so I'll give it another try. All is not lost.
I think I'm going to start using the succulent mix...I think that is a good idea and ditch the peat moss mix.
The most resent ones I've potted up I did use the peat moss mix but added additional perlite.
The majority of my hoyas are doing ok so I don't really know why 2 got sick. Another 2 got sick but I think I know why!!!
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lacunosa done, finally/ What is your favorite potting mix?

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Denise

cpawl

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lacunosa done, finally/ What is your favorite potting mix?

Comments (8)

Denise

cpawl

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