How to mix orchid potting medium? Detailed explanation of methods and techniques

    Good potting medium combined with a good environment and scientific management will make orchids grow well with twice the result for half the effort, so orchid growers have always been tirelessly exploring and pursuing this. I have been continuously experimenting with the issue of potting medium suitable for the environment, and mixed potting media made from various proportions are also under unremitting testing. Seeking potting medium suitable for the environment has thus become my priority. Below are some data from last year's experiments, now sorted out after repotting, along with the preparation and application of new potting media, listed as follows:

I. Disadvantages of mixing orchid fungus soil with peat soil In the autumn of 2006, some adjustments were made in the use of potting medium, such as:

①, Kanuma soil 50%, orchid fungus soil 30%, tree fern 5%, peat soil 5%, Xiantu soil 5%, plastic foam granules 5%

②, Kanuma soil 50%, orchid fungus soil 20%, tree fern 5%, peat soil 20%, plastic foam granules 5%

③, Kanuma soil 50%, orchid fungus soil 10%, tree fern 5%, peat soil 20%, Xiantu soil 10%, plastic foam granules 5%

    The above three potting media with different proportions have now produced results after repotting. The unwashed peat soil was caused to swell and harden by the orchid fungus soil like a brick. Under such hardened and impermeable conditions, the root system could not penetrate downward, causing the crystal tips of new roots to easily necrose, the root system to be short, thick, and black, and old roots to easily rot. I use active soil as a base fertilizer, generally buried in the middle-upper part of the potting medium. Among several different potting media, active soil differs greatly. In pure granular potting media such as Kanuma soil mixed with Xiantu soil or mountain soil, it performs well, but active soil played a negative role when mixed with peat soil, causing the unwashed peat soil to clump and become impermeable, with symptoms exactly the same as the situation of orchid fungus soil mixed with peat soil.

II. Potting medium adjustment and rational application of base fertilizer Summarizing the gains and losses in the use of potting medium in 2005 and the deficiencies of the environment, I changed to a new environment with ample sunlight. Before changing to the new environment, I conducted multiple cultivation experiments, such as different pots and potting media on flower racks and inside the balcony, so I selected a more optimized potting medium formula.

 ①, Kanuma soil 50%, Xinchang orchid mud 40%, tree fern 5%, plastic foam granules 5%

 ②, Kanuma soil 50%, Xinchang orchid mud 20%, Qingcheng black Xiantu soil 20%, tree fern 5%, plastic foam granules 5%

 ③, Kanuma soil 50%, fired soil 15%, finely washed peat soil 30%, tree fern 5%

 ④, Lanzhiyou 10+1 potting medium

 ⑤, pure Kanuma soil 90, tree fern 5%, foam 5%

 ⑥, screened old potting medium

    In addition, for the first five potting media, there are two formulas for covering the pot surface. One is Kanuma soil plus a little tree fern, and the other is Kanuma soil, fired soil plus a little tree fern. The first and second prepared potting media each account for 45% of usage. The third and fourth are used for several pots of experiments. The fifth is used for coaxing old backbulbs. The sixth is for planting wild-collected orchids. For orchids with good roots, this time all used the base fertilizers "Zhixiang", "active soil", and "Mofei". This major adjustment of potting medium and the ample sunlight of the environment will surely lay a solid foundation for the growth and high yield of orchids.