I've tried the following mix before:
- pure long sphagnum moss
- sphagnum moss + perlite (1:2)
- coconut chips + coconut peat + sphagnum peat + sphagnum moss (3+1+1+1)
- wood bark + sphagnum peat + chopped up sphagnum moss (2+1+1)
- fern tree bark + perlite + chopped up sphagnum moss (2+1+1)
Generally a pure long sphagnum moss does well for me compared to the rest but after about 2 years, the moss compreses and my plants do not look that good. Also slimy algae starts to grow.
I do not have much problem with sphagnum moss + perlite, but somehow my plants are not very happy with this mix. Growth seem to be very slow.
I have similar problems that Marigoaldsfail21 faces for my coconut chip mix. Problem with the top half of the media drying up too fast. But when I place a layer of sphagnum moss on top to lock in the humidity, the neps seem to like it. However, I've just recently started to use this media (in the past 6 months) and would not know how long my plants would be happy in it, especially when the coconut chips start to decompose.
So far the wood bark mix and fern tree bark mix is the best. The fern tree bark does not decompose and so the media does not compress over time. This is great but it's not easy to find in Malaysia and is expensive. Also if the fern tree bark that I buy comes from an old fern tree, I can't break up it's strands even with a hammer (It comes in block of about 1 feet x 1 feet). The wood bark is also good but it will decompose over time.
Fauzi is testing with florafoam with some good results. His plants seem to love it. Need to get an update from him. For those who do not know, this is the material florist use to stick flower stalks in to keep them in place in a basket arrangement. It usually comes in green colour. What Fauzi does is he cut the florafoam into cubes of 1cm x 1cm x 1cm (height x length x width). He then places a layer of sphagnum moss at the bottom and top of the florafoam in the pot. This material does not decompose and ratains water while allowing air between the flaorafoam cubes in the pot. On top of this it is relatively cheap. Have any other members here tried this before? I'm thinking of changing all my neps media to this but the problem is it does not come in cubes, At least I've not seen it yet in Malaysia. You'll have to cut it yourself. Here's how it looks like. Its on the row nearest to you, second from right
