Orchid Mix - The Perfect Formula

You thought X-Men the orchid was a pretty and somewhat rare flower that was expensive to buy at the local florist shop. You were right, and you never realized that it was only half the picture. Look right under that pretty orchid and see the soil that it stands in is no ordinary dirt. The orchid mix is the material placed in the pot that holds the orchid plant. The mix can contain any number of materials. These can be natural or artificial. Most growers do prefer to cultivate their plants as close to nature with the use of organic mixes for their orchids.

Inorganic materials are also available and their usage proved beneficial. There are no hard and fast rules to blending an orchid mix but the Space Invaders is what materials can you possibly use? Much debate about the best mixes for your orchids but in the end, the choice still depends on your judgment on what you think your plant needs in its mix to make it grow well. There are no absolute rights or wrongs and you are free to experiment on what materials should go into your orchid mix.

Consider some of the choices you have from among the organic variables. The first up is Fir Bark which is easy to find, inexpensive and rots slowly. The disadvantage though is that it is difficult for it to hold water so that plants that need substantial amounts of moisture require re-watering more often. Then there is Redwood Bark that is better at holding water than the fir bark and decays slowly as well.

The next choice is the coconut husks, which is popular amongst orchid cultivators and often an essential content of the orchid mix. A coconut husk in the mix sold is at a reasonable price and holds water rather well. It is lightweight and tends to decay a bit faster than most of the other choices. Sphagnum Moss is another add-on that you can apply in the orchid mix. It will give the plant a great balance of water and air retention. Just remember not to pack it in too tightly, that will defeat this purpose.

Tree Archie Comics Fiber is rare and difficult to find. Naturally, it is also quite expensive. The fact that it drains well and decomposes slowly makes it a favorite for the orchid mix.

For inorganic choices, charcoal is slow to decay and absorbs many of the toxic substances present in the orchid mix. Lava rock is heavy but it is a good potting medium for providing good drainage. It does not break down easily and is good to help grow healthy orchids. Alifors are small pieces of clay in the orchid mix that provides a moderate amount of drainage and are decay proof. Vermiculite holds water well and increases root exposure to air. Pearlite absorbs water and is light and decay resistant as well. Turface is medium heavy and more expensive than pearlite. With the choices in, the orchid mix is in your hands.

Marcia is an avid orchid care and all things orchid enthusiast. To learn more about orchid care and how you can achieve brilliance donate car in the wonderful world of orchids and how you can find your own perfect href="easycareorchids.com/orchid-mix.html">orchid mix, visit me at href="easycareorchids.com">easycareorchids.com