What type of soil is best for growing orchids
This article will elaborate on the best soil for growing orchids and related knowledge of homemade orchid soil recipes for concerned netizens. Let's learn about it together next.
The most crucial step in growing healthy orchids is choosing the right soil. Orchid roots are very delicate, and poor soil selection can directly lead to their withering. Therefore, we need to choose soil that is both well-draining and fertile. Of course, different orchid varieties have different soil requirements, so we need to select the soil they need based on their variety. I will introduce the best soil for growing orchids from two major points: suitable soil and soil selection.
I. Suitable Soil
There are three main points to consider when choosing soil for orchids: good breathability, fertility, and drainage. Because orchid roots are somewhat fleshy and have difficulty breathing in ordinary soil, we need to choose soil with good breathability. Moreover, orchids absorb nutrients from the soil quickly, so we must ensure the soil contains a high amount of nutrients. Lastly, orchid roots are very susceptible to waterlogging, which can cause root rot, so we also need to ensure the soil has good drainage.
II. Soil Selection
Orchids are generally divided into terrestrial orchids and epiphytic orchids. Since their varieties are different, their soil requirements are also different.
1. Soil selection for epiphytic orchids
Epiphytic orchids, also known as aerial orchids, usually grow on other plants or moss. Using a mixture of decayed tree bark and soil in equal parts as the growing medium is most suitable for them.
2. Soil selection for terrestrial orchids
Terrestrial orchids, also known as national orchids, have various soil requirements. The commonly used method is to mix decomposed leaf soil, red soil, and river sand in a ratio of (5:3:2). Soil prepared in this way meets the criteria of good breathability, fertility, and drainage. If you do not want to prepare the soil specifically, you can also choose specialized nutrient-rich soil.
The above-mentioned method of the best soil for growing orchids and the introduction of homemade orchid soil recipes are provided as reference suggestions for everyone.