The process of changing habitat for indoor plants is stressful. Orchids are no exception.
So often do not transplant, once every 2-3 years is enough. For this period:
As is known, the main component of the substrate for orchids is tree bark. Which, as a result of frequent contact with water, swells and decomposes. Subsequently, the substrate becomes dense, air circulation stops. Accordingly, the roots do not receive the proper amount of oxygen.
For full development, an exotic flower needs soil acidity at a level of 5.5-6.5 pH. If this indicator differs from the norm, then the orchid will not be able to fully absorb iron, and its green foliage will turn yellow.
Watering with poor quality water also leads to negative consequences.- mineral salts accumulate in the soil, so the roots of the plant cannot continue to perform vital functions.
Why is it important to choose the right soil for transplanting?
It's no secret that the natural habitat of orchids is an impenetrable, tropical forest. As a place of residence, they choose the trunks of powerful trees. Clinging to aerial roots for their irregularities, epiphytes receive the necessary elements, and moisture from the air and rain. This specificity of exotic should be taken into account when choosing a soil.
Properly selected composition of the substrate is a guarantee of future flowering and plant health.
Criteria to be met by the correct composition
What land does an orchid need for transplantation? When choosing a substrate, you need to pay attention to the following qualities:
Representatives of the Orchid family, which are grown at home, are divided into 2 groups: epiphytic and terrestrial. The difference from each other is not only in the name, appearance, but also in the growing environment. So, the substrate for terrestrial and epiphytic orchids is significantly different.
Varieties of epiphytic plants:
- Dendrobium.
- Cattleya.
- Lycasts.
- Phalaenopsis.
- Cumbria.
- Zygopetalum.
- Masdevallia.
For such flowers, the soil primarily serves as a support, and then a source of nutrition and moisture. It can be concluded that the earth base should not be included in the composition of the soil mixture for epiphytes. It will be enough organic and mineral components.
Substrate options: 1 part charcoal and 5 parts bark.
Sphagnum moss, ash and small pieces of pine bark in proportions 2:1:5. As additional components, dry fern roots can be used, natural baking powder, drainage.
Ground Orchids: Cymbidium and Paphiopedilum. They need enhanced nutrition. The following soil composition is suitable:
- leafy humus;
- peat;
- pine bark;
- crushed coal;
You can improve the finished mixture a little more by adding sphagnum moss, cork material cut into plates and part of the soddy land.
Can regular soil be used?
Do not choose ordinary soil as a substrate for exotic plants. After all, the root system needs light and oxygen for the process of photosynthesis. That is, the substrate should consist of light, breathable components. Otherwise, the heavy earth will be a kind of pressure for the roots.
Also, dense soil can lead to disruption of the drainage process, and stagnant water will adversely affect the root system. Orchids will be difficult to fully grow and develop in such conditions.
Do not forget that the habitual habitat of the exotic is loose, light soil or its complete absence. BUT ordinary earth is a dense enough environment in which an orchid simply cannot survive.
Not all types of orchids die in normal soil. For example, varieties Bletilla striata, Pleione, Orchis and Cypripedium grow well and winter in the garden.
How to make the right choice when buying in a store?
The market for orchid substrates is overflowing with various offers.
The stores sell both ready-made mixtures and individual components.. But even well-known manufacturers are not always pleased with the quality of the goods. Often the soil contains a large amount of peat, which is useful for terrestrial orchids, and is contraindicated for epiphytes. Therefore, before buying, it is important to pay attention to:
- The purpose of the substrate, for which varieties of orchids is suitable. Soil for epiphytic exotics is sold under the name "Mix for phalaenopsis", and for terrestrial orchids "Mix for cymbidium".
- Supply of components and soil pH.
- The nutritional value of the soil.
- Recommendations for use.
We offer you to watch a video on how to choose the right substrate for orchids:
How to cook on your own?
If you are not sure about the quality of the finished mixture for orchids, it will be better to prepare it yourself. This method has its positive aspects:
There are many recipes for preparing a substrate for exotic flowers.. It will not be difficult to fulfill them, even for an inexperienced grower. The main thing in the process is to observe the specified proportions of the ingredients.
The main components of the substrate:
- pine bark You can use the bark of any tree. Crushed to a size of 2-3 cm.
- moss sphagnum, grows in forests, lowlands. Used fresh and dry.
- wood ash, the size is needed approximately the same as the bark.
- fern roots are used exclusively in dry form.
- Expanded clay granules are excellent for drainage.
Various variations of mixtures may contain additional components: coarse sand, pieces of foam, cork, turf or hardwood, gravel, perlite, vermiculite, walnut shell, humus, coconut fiber and others.
We offer you to watch a video on preparing the substrate for orchids:
Step-by-step instruction
Description of the process in detail will eliminate unnecessary errors and add confidence in action. So, how to carry out a transplant with soil replacement:
We offer you to watch a video instruction for transplanting an orchid:
Choosing the soil and doing it is not difficult, but so important. The further full development and violent flowering of the orchid depends on this. BUT subsequent correct and care will ensure a quick adaptation of the beauty.
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Orchids require conditions as close as possible to their native ones, so terrestrial species grow on the soil, and epiphytic species grow on pieces of bark or in a special substrate. Drainage, for example, must be organized, since fresh air must get to the roots. We will talk about all this below.
Some orchids grow in the ground even here, these are limodorum, orchis, and lyubka. They prefer lawns, edges, mountain clearings, but if someone wants to grow them at home, then the soil should be similar. But lovers of home flowers usually grow more exotic species, and phalaenopsis is unlikely to grow in the ground, except perhaps for the purpose of experiment.
Novice flower growers often ask questions about what land to plant a tropical orchid in, what kind of soil it needs. As a rule, all orchids growing at home do not receive food from the soil, but stability, possibly additional moisture. To their roots there must be a constant unhindered influx of fresh air - can this be expected from the lightest earth? Epiphytic orchids are arranged to grow on tree trunks or branches, they receive moisture and nutrition from the air or from the surface of the tree bark. Their roots absorb moisture during rain, and then use it sparingly, storing nutrient reserves not only in the roots, but also in the leaves, which in many species are quite thick and fleshy.
The entire body of the plant (leaves, trunk, roots) is involved in the process of photosynthesis, so the roots must receive not only air and moisture, but also sunlight. Based on these requirements, for a phalaenopsis orchid, a loose substrate placed in a transparent plastic pot with many holes would be the best solution. You can see phalaenopsis planted on a block without any soil.
Orchid Wanda can live without a substrate at all, wicker baskets or glass vases are suitable for her. Dendrobium and cattleya will prefer a moisture-retaining substrate, while cymbidium can be transplanted into a humus-rich substrate.
Substrate components
The substrate for planting tropical beauties usually consists of components that do not compact, do not cling to the roots. The basis is most often the bark of trees, which does not contain substances hostile to orchids, it is the bark of larch, cedar, pine, spruce or oak. The bark is taken from a fallen dried tree, it should easily move away from the trunk itself, but not contain signs of decay.
Fern root absorbs moisture well, but does not collapse for a long time, which makes it convenient for such mixtures. Often use pieces of cones, husks of forest, cedar, walnuts, sunflower husks.
Sphagnum moss, coconut fiber or chips hold volume well, retain moisture. Peat also meets these requirements, but it makes the whole mixture acidic, dolomite flour is used together with it, they are mixed for transplanting terrestrial plants that can get food from the soil. For such cases, they still take fallen leaves.
Of the minerals for the substrate, perlite and vermiculite are taken, they not only maintain breathability, but still prevent the substrate from turning sour, having some antibacterial properties. Charcoal is used as an antiseptic and absorbent.
When asked if special drainage is needed for orchids, they answer with an obligatory layer of expanded clay or polystyrene at the bottom of the pot. It is usually advised to repeat the same layer in the middle of the dish.
Landing in a block
Blocks are used for orchids that do not need a substrate at all. It can be made from a piece of bark, foam, wood. But you need to remember that the plant is placed on the base for a long time, this is not a substrate that is changed every couple of years, which means that the base for the block must be strong, light, and not contain substances hostile to the orchid.
The bark can be taken from a coniferous tree, but it is very fragile, brittle. Suitable cork bark or pressed cork. But the wood must be taken only of valuable species - red, black, "iron" wood, you can still use a piece of mangrove or bog oak. All other options are subject to decay, they will do more harm than good. In our conditions, you can take the root of a fern or a vine.
The prepared block must be properly fixed, for this a hole is made, a metal hook or wire is firmly fixed. Then you need to outline the location of the plant, carefully fix it on the block with soft fasteners, it can be a fishing line, a net, a piece of a nylon stocking. Usually the plant is positioned so that the leaves hang down, this will eliminate the accumulation of moisture in the sinuses.
Do-it-yourself substrate
The easiest way is to buy a ready-made mixture at a flower shop, but you can assemble the orchid transplant substrate with your own hands if you want to take into account all the features of the plant you are planting and the conditions of the apartment. If the air is very dry, then it is advisable to add the amount of moisture-retaining components, for ground orchids - nutrients.
The basis is always bark, you can take 5 parts of pine bark (or replace half with cork tree bark), 1 part of moss, coconut fibers and charcoal, add expanded clay.
For terrestrial species, you can take a smaller bark, no more than 2 parts, 1 part each of peat, moss, charcoal, expanded clay and fallen leaves or crushed cones.
You can experiment with self-compilation, you can even prepare the components yourself. This is done gradually, collecting all the necessary elements that can be stored for a long time.
Pine bark for orchids
Pine bark forms the basis of the substrate; many flower growers do not use other components, settling their orchids among pieces of bark of different sizes. It can be bought ready-made, dried, chopped. And you can make your own. To do this, you need to find a tree that has fallen or cut down about a year ago, collect the bark from it, lagging behind the trunk. It is cleaned of resin and debris, boiled for at least 20 minutes. Then the bark is dried for several days, boiled again. Wet bark is cut into pieces of the desired size, usually 1 cm and 2 cm in diameter.
Boiling can be replaced with fifteen minutes of heating in the oven at a temperature of at least 70 degrees. Such treatment is necessary to get rid of the larvae and eggs of insects, undoubtedly present on the material.
The bark thus prepared is dried and stored in linen bags. Before use, it is soaked in water for several hours to restore the ability to absorb moisture.
Video “Preparing the soil for an orchid”
From this video you will learn about what kind of soil is suitable for an orchid and how to make the substrate yourself.
The phalaenopsis that we grow at home are specially bred hybrids, and their ancestors grow in the tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia. Their genus includes about 40 species and hybrids.
ATTENTION: For these orchids, soil is not soil in the usual sense of the word. In nature, they are accustomed to getting natural substances from the water that falls on their roots. In indoor growing, soil is needed as a support for growth and retention in potted plants.
If the soil is heavy for the plant, then enough air and nutrients will not get into the roots. And from this the plant will simply die. Therefore, when choosing a soil for a flower, it is necessary to take into account some of the requirements of the plant. It must provide:
- breathability;
- moisture permeability;
- retain nutrients and dry in 3-4 days.
The composition matters a lot. The soil for phalaenopsis is called the substrate.. It can be purchased ready-made in a special store, or you can make it yourself by choosing the right and high-quality components.
The composition of the best substrates should include:
If you do not have the opportunity, desire or time to make the soil yourself, then just buy it in a specialized store. There are a huge number of store substrates, but as practice has shown, not all of them are of good quality.. So, when buying a substrate, you need to pay attention to some features:
- The bark should be of good quality - dense, strong, without damage and not too small. Pieces of bark in the substrate should be whole up to 3 cm, in no case crumbled.
- Moss must be disinfected and dried.
- Charcoal - pieces should be 2 cm in size (smaller ones will easily collapse).
- The substrate should not look like a lump of earth, because it will accumulate moisture in itself and pass air poorly.
- The composition should not contain earth, only pieces of charcoal, bark, fern root, poured and coconut fiber.
What requirements must be met?
In order for the plant to take root and be comfortable, certain selection principles must be observed:
- It should not be too tight and compacted.
- The substrate should dry out in 3 days - this is the ideal soil for phalaenopsis.
- The lower the humidity of the room, the more soil is needed. It must have a sufficient amount of moisture-absorbing components.
Remember, the desire to have a beautiful orchid at home is not enough. First you need to study the theory on. It is especially important to know the conditions of detention for just that. Read the advice of our experts on which ones are needed and how to apply them correctly, how it is necessary and why it is important to respect the premises in which the phalaenopis is located.
The easiest way is to plant your plant in ready-made purchased soil.. Now there are a large number of foreign and domestic compositions.
ADVICE: Remember that there should be no earth in it. If, nevertheless, you saw its presence in the substrate, then simply sift it. At home, it is not necessary to use all of the listed components. It is enough to take the most basic of them.
Compositions can be:
Experienced flower growers have developed the best formulations for the development of phalaenopsis. Consider them:
- The following composition is popular:
- pine bark - 2 parts;
- gravel or pebbles - 2 parts;
- expanded clay - 1 part;
- charcoal - 1 part.
- You can apply the following composition:
- pine or oak bark - 3 parts;
- pieces of pumice - 1 part;
- charcoal - 1 part;
- fern roots - 1 part;
- expanded clay - 1 part.
Do it yourself
Main components:
- The bark is oak or pine. Take from a fallen or cut down tree. It should easily separate from the wood, be dry and not rotten.
- Charcoal is taken from the burnt trunk of birch, oak, beech. It is advisable to do this yourself to be sure that it burned without polymers and toxic substances.
- Fern root - dig in the summer, clean from the ground, wash, cut into small pieces and dry.
- Sphagnum moss and peat can be collected on your own in the swamp or bought at the store.
- Skins of forest, pine or walnuts, sunflower seed husks or egg shells - baking powder.
- Minerals perlite and vermiculite - buy at the store.
- Expanded clay, polystyrene or polystyrene, pebbles, gravel, pumice - drainage.
Step by step manufacturing instructions:
- Collection of components.
- Sanitization - most self-assembled components cannot be used without disinfection. They need to be washed, thermally processed, crushed to the desired size, and dried. Can be packaged for long term storage.
- Parts of the substrate can be collected gradually.
- Using mixing recipes, prepare the soil.
Watch a video on how to prepare a substrate for orchids with your own hands:
Comparing a store-bought substrate with a self-made one, it's hard to say which one is better.. On the one hand, you can give preference to the store - it is already prepared according to all the rules and for all the needs of the plant, it also contains natural ingredients. But unfortunately it is not always of good quality.
On the other hand, if you give preference to a self-prepared substrate, you will certainly be confident in the quality of the assembled components and select them according to your flower conditions. But you will face such a problem - not all components you can find. Therefore, a store-bought one with the addition of your selected components will be a universal substrate for phalaenopsis.
Consequences of the wrong choice
An improperly selected substrate can become a problem for the root system of a flower.. It harms soil that has caked or compacted. As a result, orchids rot or dry out.
IMPORTANT: But a dying plant can be saved. To do this, it needs to be urgently transplanted with a complete replacement of the soil. And of course, reconsider its components. After all, they may have caused problems with the plant.
For details on how to transplant a phalaenopsis orchid at home, read.
Conclusion
To keep your plant healthy and delight you with beautiful flowering, you need to be very careful about the choice of substrate for orchids without it, cultivation is doomed to failure.
And then you can avoid problems and complications in caring for a flower. Now you know which substrate is best for planting phalaenopsis at home. Successful flower growing!
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An orchid is an amazing plant, and anyone who has ever seen it in bloom, probably wanted to grow the same at home. However, this may not be an easy test. The tropical beauty is rather capricious, and it will take a lot of time to get used to it. Often the first orchids of the owners die, which serves as some lesson that explains what can and cannot be done.
Several ways to kill an orchid
Quite often, a beginner brings home a flower and immediately rushes to transplant it. After all, there is almost no earth in the pot. At the same time, the substrate for the orchid is collected by eye, or even garden soil is taken, which is then abundantly flavored with top dressing. The result is rotting of the root system and death.
The second option is irrigation. We are used to the fact that the earth in pots should be constantly wet, so we begin to water the orchid as soon as the top layer of moss has dried up a little. Not all varieties are able to endure such abuse, but if your orch has not rotted, then you need to pay tribute to the substrate: it is quite light and does not retain moisture.
The third chance to get rid of the plant is to constantly rearrange it, look for that very illuminated place, then, on the contrary, hide it from direct sunlight. This plant does not like moving very much, so try to find the optimal location right away. But the most important factor is still a good substrate for the orchid.
The main properties of the substrate
The soil for an orchid of tropical origin is needed for the most part so that the flower can gain a foothold and stay in one place. When choosing components, you need to pay attention not to nutritional properties, but to breathability. The substrate for orchids should be well structured and absorb moisture. It is this ratio of qualities that should ensure the normal growth and development of the plant.
Typically, the composition of the soil includes several components, not only of natural, but also of man-made origin. The most important thing is that the chosen combination provides air and light access to the roots, and also does not cause decay.
Finished products
At first glance, the easiest way is to go to the store and buy a ready-made substrate for orchids. But here some problems arise. There are quite a few varieties of orchids, and the requirements of each of them can be seriously different. For example, you buy a package of soil, and there is one sphagnum moss or, even worse, peat. If you stuff the pot tightly with it, this can lead to rotting of the roots. Therefore, you will have to look for something to dilute the composition.
In fact, if we consider purchased soil, then it is very difficult to find a good one. Of the really high-quality ones, one can name German, Seramis brands. It is made on the basis of pine bark, to which a porous material made of special clay is added. An excellent substrate for orchids, reviews of which are extremely positive. Retains moisture and provides good air exchange in the pot, does not need to be modified.
All other ready-made mixtures are most often produced by manufacturers based on peat. Plants planted in such mixtures suffer from waterlogging. The root system completely rots and falls off during planting along with waterlogged peat. What to do? Experienced flower growers recommend making your own substrate for orchids. Reviews emphasize that there is nothing complicated about this. And the basis may well be store soil mixture. It must be sieved well to remove all peat, and then brought to perfection with moss, bark and charcoal.
Where to get bark
The optimal composition of the substrate for orchids is unthinkable without pine bark. This is due to the fact that this plant has unique properties to disinfect the air due to natural phytoncides. Therefore, the bark is the safest for the plant. But keep in mind that dead, flaky tissue, which is the easiest to collect, often harbors bugs and bacteria. Therefore, it is recommended to dry the bark well in the oven or boil it, and then spread it out in the sun.
There are two ways to prepare the bark:
- In the first case, you need to collect the bark in a park or a protected area, or even better outside the city, in a pine forest. Do not forget that you can not tear it off by force. Collect only what falls off by itself.
- Take the newspaper with ads. Surely you will find an advertisement for a local sawmill where pine is sold. Call the manager and ask if you can buy bark from them. In most cases, it will be given away for free, but a small amount may be requested.
We sort through the received material
Whatever variety you grow, the composition of the substrate for orchids will necessarily include bark. Having acquired this valuable material, be sure to sort it out. All dark, sunburned and tarry areas should be thrown away. It is best to select the upper sections, which exfoliate themselves. Now the resulting material needs to be made usable.
It is profitable and easy to make a substrate for orchids with your own hands. The bark needs to be cut into layers and then into pieces. Fractions should be approximately 1.5 cm in diameter. You can break it with your hands, cut with pruners or scissors. And experts suggest using a meat grinder. To do this, remove the mesh and knife, you definitely won't need them. The auger itself will grind the bark. Sizes will vary, which is perfectly normal.
Now you need to boil the bark. This is done in order to disinfect it from worms and insects. There should be enough bark and water to leave at least 5 cm to the edges. Boil the raw material for 15 minutes, then drain the water and lay the bark on a baking sheet to dry.
Auxiliary components
You can argue for a long time which substrate is best for orchids. The fact is that depending on the variety, the plant may impose different requirements on its composition. It's all about the ratio of ingredients. An ideal option that your tropical beauty will definitely like is a 1:3 ratio, where there is more bark and less moss.
Moss can be bought in a store where it is sold dried, or you can collect it yourself. Go to a pond or a river where it is damp and there are stones. It will be possible to collect the material with your hands or a spatula. Now you need to rinse the prey and spread it on a baking sheet to dry. If you have several orchids, then you can prepare for the future. To do this, 10 liters of bark will require about half a kilogram of moss and 30 activated charcoal tablets. More is possible, since this component is an antiseptic.
Substrate preparation
All components are ready for you. Now pour the prepared bark into a large basin. Moss needs to be cut into small pieces with scissors. This is important so that the soil is less caking. Coal needs to be crushed. The maximum quantity per pot is 50 tablets. Now the whole mass must be thoroughly mixed - and your substrate is ready. You just need to collect it in a bag and leave it until it is needed.
This is not only the best substrate for orchids, but also a versatile option for planting any flower. It remains only to put a little nutritious part, earth or humus and plant a flower.
If the bark cannot be found
It is quite possible that you will not be able to find it, but in specialized stores they shrug their shoulders and answer that there is nothing like that. It does not matter, the substrate for orchids can be collected without it. This component is not nutritious, and can be easily replaced with pebbles, crushed bricks or expanded clay. Any material that is non-toxic and allows the soil to remain porous can be used.
Transfer
If you just bought a new plant, then of course you do not know what kind of orchid substrate was used in the nursery where it was grown. Therefore, there are two options. The first is to observe the plant, and if it grows normally, then postpone the transplant. An alternative option is to immediately transplant, without waiting until the lack of growth makes you suspect root rot. Experts believe that a new plant should be transplanted immediately after it fades.
The most gentle method of transplantation is transshipment. If you are sure about the quality of the soil, then carefully shake the plant out of the pot along with the earthy clod, rearrange it in a larger container and pour a little substrate into the empty places.
Choosing a pot
As a rule, adult plants are sold in pots with a diameter of 12 cm. When transplanting, a slightly larger copy is used, that is, 14 or 15 cm. The best pots are transparent. This is very convenient, since the owner has the opportunity to see how the root system develops, as well as evaluate the drying of the soil. A new pot is chosen taking into account the size of the roots. Also, remember that they will continue to grow. But if you see that the root system is damaged, then change the soil, and leave the pot the same.
Transfer
In order not to injure the roots of the plant, it is better to cut the pot. An earthen ball is placed under a stream of warm water and gently washed. Pieces of soil that are firmly stuck should not be removed, let them remain. Now pay attention to the state of the roots. The absence of color in those that are in the depths is a normal phenomenon, because almost no light penetrates there. But if you see that there is a void in the middle of the root system, then this means that the plant was originally planted in peat, and then transferred with it to a large pot.
As a result, when you started watering the orchid by soaking, the following happened. The center of the pot, where the peat is concentrated, absorbed a lot of moisture, and the bark quickly dried out along the edges. Outside, we see that the soil has dried up, and we begin to water it. As a result, the roots simply rot in the center. Rotten roots are easy to recognize: they are empty inside. They need to be removed. If the roots are good, then the plant must be dried for three hours, and then planted in a new substrate. If you had to remove a lot of roots, you will have to wait for the next day.
Don't skimp on the ground
The best substrate for orchids should contain a large amount of large fractions. If you buy cheap soil from the store, you can be sure that it consists of moss and peat. Because of this, it dries unevenly, which is very bad for the roots. That is why we recommend refusing to use purchased soils or upgrading them yourself. Recall once again that the ideal substrate for Phalaenopsis orchids should contain 2/3 of the bark particles. It is not recommended to bury the plant so that the neck of the plant does not rot. Also try to fill the middle of the pot with large fractions so that it dries out faster. But for the top layer, you can leave the smallest fractions of the bark mixed with moss. It is this part of the substrate that dries out the fastest.
Growing in a glass
As we have already found out, the orchid soil is not a nutrient medium, pieces of bark simply hold the plant in one position. However, some flower growers decided to get by with just an empty vase. An orchid without a substrate grows just as well. In order to grow a plant in a new way, you need to remove it from the pot and rinse the roots thoroughly. After that, place it in a glass vase, glass or glass based on the size of the plant. You can put a little moss or coconut fiber on the bottom, but this is more for beauty.
Water the plant by soaking. Water is poured into the glass (up to the place where the leaves are attached), and after 10 minutes it is drained. The next watering is after 7 days, but if the plant is wilted, then it is possible earlier. In this case, the transplantation of orchids is simply incredibly simplified. The substrate is not needed, just choose a cup according to the size of the overgrown root system, and you're done.
Instead of a conclusion
An orchid is a capricious plant, but most often it dies not even because the new owner turned out to be too inexperienced. Tropical beauties are ruined by our gullibility. Since the plant was sold in this soil, it means that it is optimal for it. If you bought a box in the store that says "Orchid Substrate", then this is the best thing you can think of for this plant. Is not a fact. As you can see, it is much better to collect the soil yourself. Then you will definitely be sure that the proportions are optimal, and the orchid will feel good. Today we looked at what the substrate should consist of, and also learned how you can grow an orchid without it at all. This information will be useful to anyone who decides to grow a beautiful orchid on their windowsill. Good luck!
Substrates for planting orchids are now offered in large quantities by stores. Unfortunately, their quality is not always good. Friends, I would like to warn you against purchasing low-quality substrates for planting orchids and teach you how to cook them yourself.
There are various recipes for compiling substrates for orchids. Someone prepares a mixture for planting himself, while someone prefers to buy a substrate for planting orchids in a store.
It is known that in a good substrate for planting orchids, the roots should breathe well - easily and freely and well take water from it, therefore, it should be breathable, loose and relatively moisture-intensive, it should also not emit harmful substances and be slowly decomposing.
Ideally meets all these requirements and therefore pine bark is suitable for preparing a substrate for planting orchids. See in detail the process of preparing the bark for planting. But there are different orchids - epiphytes, terrestrial orchids, lithophytes. Is it really possible to plant them all in the same substrate? Let's figure it out!
Substrate for planting epiphytic orchids.
The most accessible material is crushed, heat-treated, its particles are usually made from 0.5 to 1.5 cm. It can be used in its pure form, without adding anything.
Such a substrate is ideal for planting adult orchids (phalaenopsis, dendrobium) with well-developed roots. If we transplant a plant with a small number of roots, then add a certain amount of moss - sphagnum (up to a third of the volume of the bark) to the bark.
Substrate for ground orchids.
The substrate for planting ground orchids is made more water-intensive. It can be prepared by mixing prepared bark with commercially available peat-based orchid substrate. Proportion - for 2 parts of chopped bark 1 part of the mixture from the package.
Still, peat-based store substrates are best used in a highly diluted form.
In the salon where I work, we have repeatedly had to transplant orchids planted in ready-made mixtures based on peat. The sight is not the most pleasant, I tell you - rotten roots literally remain in the hands or fall off along with pieces of waterlogged peat.
Of the ready-made substrates for planting orchids, I liked only one - this is the German Seramis soil.
It is made on the basis of pine bark, to which a porous material from specially processed clay is added. These clay particles are porous. On the one hand, they retain moisture well, on the other hand, due to the porous structure, there is good air exchange in the pot. Excellent soil that does not need any modifications. I recommend both for planting phalaenopsis and for planting cymbidiums!
Remember to dry well between waterings!
Be careful with other soils!
Is it possible to improve the purchased substrate for planting Phalaenopsis orchids?
As I said above, purchased peat soils for ground orchids should be well diluted with bark. But what about epiphytic orchids? What to do if it is impossible to find bark for planting? So let's improve!
We proceed as follows: we take a ready-made substrate for planting orchids and sift it through a sieve with large holes - you can use a colander, a plastic lattice box. Our task is to remove peat from the substrate as much as possible. After the peat is removed, the prepared substrate can be used to plant healthy orchids.
