Dactylorhiza potting mix

[mark smyth]

while I'm happy with my potting mix for my Dactylorhiza - leaf mould, soil and grit - I read so many variations on the internet and in book.

One book says
3 parts loam, 2 parts bark, 2 parts perlite, 4 parts pine duff (whatever that is) and 4 parts grit
or 4 x bark, 1 x loam,  2 x perlite and 2 x sand

Should I change? What do you use?

My self sown seedlings appear is very wet peat based pots and very gritty dry troughs. Maybe there is no perfect potting mix

[J.B.Wyllie]

Pine Duff is composted pine needles.

Mixture sounds far too complicated for me

[Maggi Young]

We have no problem with our  two parts sand; two parts grit and one part leaf mould mix.


Yes, those mixes are far too complicated- no need for that.

Pine duff is the accumulation of fallen needles under  pine trees.

[Peter Maguire]

If it works for you, Mark, stick with what you are using.

It sounds like a good mixture to me.

[Neil]

Dactylorhiza are tolerant of many forms of growing medium,

I use 2 parts composted bark and 1 part grit. 

[Tony Willis]

I use garden centre John Innes (as I do for 90% of my plants) and just add a bit of grit. Seems to work okay.

[mark smyth]

So would I Tony except no supplier in N Ireland sells a good John Innes

[Tony Willis]

So would I Tony except no supplier in N Ireland sells a good John Innes

I did not say it was good,it is all I have!