What Are Growing Materials? A Detailed Guide to Common Types and How to Choose Them

Growingmaterials refer to the materials required before plantingorchids. These include orchid pots, growing medium,growingtools,growingsubjects (plants), etc. 1. Orchid pots. Orchid pots are further divided into growing pots and display pots. If you have aorchidcollection of modest size and grow them on a balcony or indoors, it is best to choose display pots. If the quantity is large and they are grown in a simple open-air orchid shed, then the priority should be conditions that favour growth and propagation and make management convenient. However, no matter which kind of orchid pot you choose, it must have good breathability and strong drainage, and pots with a smaller diameter than ordinary flower pots, a taller body, and more or larger holes in the bottom are preferable. 2. Growing medium. The growing medium used for cultivatingorchidsshould preferably be loose, breathable, with fairly good drainage, and of a humus-containing or slightly acidic soil texture. Other growing substrates should be used with caution if you have no experience with them or have not tested them. However, no matter which growing medium is used, it must be disinfected and sterilised before use (soil sterilisation methods include sun exposure or treatment with sterilising agents). 3. Growing subjects. Growing subjects refer to the grade (quality) of the orchid varieties you intend to cultivate. If you are a hobbyist, then choose orchid varieties with graceful leaf shapes, multiple plants and fragrant flowers to cultivate. If you are a professional grower, then the various grades of orchid varieties mentioned above should be your cultivation subjects. If your growing conditions permit, the more the better.