Illustrated Guide to Caring for Orchid Seedlings

Many flower enthusiasts have trouble getting the care of orchid seedlings right, which makes orchid seedlings, small seedlings, and weak seedlings very easy to lose. Through repeated practical experience, one enthusiast found that using sphagnum moss to cover the pseudobulb area is a fairly ideal method. No matter how small or weak the seedling is, as long as the moisture is controlled properly, there is almost no seedling collapse. The method is illustrated below for the reference of orchid enthusiasts:

1. Do not be afraid of trouble. If you really like your little grass orchids and hope they will grow well, prepare a small amount of sphagnum moss (preferably moist) and one piece of binding thread:

2. Wrap a small amount of sphagnum moss around the orchid pseudobulb, just enough to cover the pseudobulb. Longer roots should be left exposed; do not wrap the roots completely:

3. Place the wrapped orchid seedling into the pre-prepared potting medium. Part of the sphagnum moss should remain exposed, and it must not be buried too deep. You should also grow several seedlings together in one pot so they keep each other company as they grow; do not put one seedling per pot, which wastes pots and potting medium:

Summary and homework: Once potted, do not repot it casually; leave it undisturbed for at least 2-3 years. After potting, you can use a spray bottle to mist the sphagnum moss, keeping it moist (of course, the inside must be moist too, not just the surface). From then on, whenever you see the sphagnum moss has dried, spray it; spray when dry, and do not spray when it is not dry. Absolutely do not fertilize. Let go of the mentality of seeking quick results and let it grow slowly; after 1-2 years it will produce new growth. Below are small variegated orchids that have been cultivated for three years or more. They have not been repotted to this day, and the sphagnum moss is still as it was when first potted, though after so long it has changed color. When they were first collected from the mountains, they were dragon-root seedlings with only 1-2 growths, and the growths were all very weak. Now they have produced many, and the new growths are getting stronger and stronger.