Growing in Dyna-Rok II

[K Barrett]

I've only used it in semi-hydro or as an additive to a bark mix, never alone. In my hands and in my conditions the plants would dry out too fast. Also while the Dyna-RokII comes in different sizes the rocks are essentially spherical so I've had trouble getting them to pack and stay packed around the plant's roots, its hard to 'firm up' the plant.

YMMV

[timinlexky]

Thanks for the input. I have considered semi-hydro, and have checked out Rays site. Semi-hydro does have advantages to using bark mixes.

[raybark]

Originally Posted by timinlexky

Thanks for the input. I have considered semi-hydro, and have checked out Rays site. Semi-hydro does have advantages to using bark mixes.

Just for the sake of clarity: Semi-hydroponics is a whole variation in orchid culture, not just the use of an inert medium. Once can grow orchids in "traditional" culture using non-bark media - I have done so with pumice, diatomite (aka Dyna-Rok II), and various brands of LECA, to name but a few.

Unlike Ms. Barrett, I found diatomite to be unacceptable in s/h culture in my conditions. In addition to being anything-but-spherical pieces that packed too tightly together (I probably should have gone with a super-coarse grade, rather than something on par with "standard"-sized LECA), the light color seemed to really favor the growth of algae, then moss, which really clogged up the works.