Osmunda

This is the root fibre of the fern Osmunda. In olden days of orchid culture , this was very popular and is still the best medium available . but in recent years its cost has gone up so much that people had to turn to something cheaper. Osmunda fibre may be used as such or in combination with moss, which will help to increase its moisture holding capacities , and also with some amount of humus as is needed by semi-terrestrials like cymbidium, Paphoipedilum etc. The greatest advantage with Osmunda is that it needs very little fertiliser. Oven dried Osmunda fibre is reported to have the following composition:

PH-4.7