How to make your own Dendrobium growing medium? Detailed instructions
Dendrobium is a common potted plant, and because of its elegant flowers and fragrant scent, it is loved by many flower enthusiasts. So how should you make your own Dendrobium growing medium?
1. Basic introduction to Dendrobium
Dendrobium is a plant of the orchid family, genus Dendrobium, and has many aliases, such as Xianhu Lanyun, Busicao, Diaolan, Linlan, Jinsheng, Huanhuncao, Ziying Xianzhu, and so on.
Dendrobium is suitable for growing in warm, humid, semi-shaded and semi-sunny environments. It grows best in subtropical deep mountain forests with annual rainfall above 1000 mm, air humidity greater than 80%, and average January temperature above 8°C. It is not very strict about soil and fertilizer requirements. In the wild, it mostly grows on loose and thick bark or tree trunks, and some also grow in rock crevices.
The main distribution areas of Dendrobium are the Dabie Mountain area in southern Anhui (Huoshan), Taiwan, China, southern Hubei (Yichang), Hong Kong, China, Hainan (Baisha), western to northeastern Guangxi (Baise, Pingnan, Xing'an, Jinxiu, Jingxi), southern Sichuan (Changning, Mount Emei, Leshan), southwestern to northern Guizhou (Chishui, Xishui, Luodian, Xingyi, Sandu), and so on.
2. How to make your own Dendrobium growing medium
Because Dendrobium is shallow-rooted and has relatively high requirements for drainage and air permeability in the growing environment, it cannot be planted directly in soil. Generally, a homemade growing medium is needed:
1. Materials: sawdust, coconut husk, peat blocks, stones, bark, peanut shells, etc.;
2. First, place the larger stones, peat blocks, and wood chunks on the bottom layer;
3. Then use a mixture of pine bark, peanut shells, coconut husk, etc. as the substrate and spread it on top. Generally, 3-4 layers are enough;
4. Then place the Dendrobium seedling in the center of the flower pot and sprinkle on some substrate to cover the main root part.
After planting is completed, you can evenly sprinkle orchid-specific slow-release fertilizer around the Dendrobium roots, then cover it with a small amount of bark, and water once. After that, fertilize once a year.