A practical method for ensuring air permeability in orchid cultivation

Orchid growingIn order to protect orchid roots well, growers have tried every possible means. Ventilation and air permeability of the pot body is one of them. Many methods for ventilating and aerating orchid pots have been introduced in newspapers and magazines. After reading them, I had a sudden inspiration and wrote out a method I am currently using, for the reference of orchid friends. The method I use has some similarities with the perforated bottle pot-lining method introduced by Mr. Chen Gui of Yunnan; both use perforated bottles. The differences are: 1. Drill or burn several more holes in the bottom of the pot, and use foam as a lining layer. I use clay pots and plastic pots. Their inner diameters are all 20 cm to 22.5 cm (or called 8 inch and 9 inch), and the height is 20 cm. Therefore, beverage bottles with a capacity of 600 ml are mostly used, because the height is suitable. When planting orchids, stand a perforated bottle with its bottom and cap removed at the position of the large hole in the center of the pot. The large hole may be appropriately enlarged. Between the pot wall and the bottle wall, place a layer of foam particles about 2 cm X 3 cm in size. This both fixes the perforated bottle and serves as a lining layer. The function of the foam lining layer is to prevent the potting medium from blocking the air inlet holes at the bottom of the pot, so as to facilitate air permeability and prevent the occurrence of water accumulation and excessive moisture. After a certain time, the potting medium in the pot will settle downward, and then potting medium needs to be added to the pot. That is a later matter, and it is also a shortcoming of the perforated method. 2. The perforated bottle has its bottom and cap removed, and the height of the bottle should not be lower than the surface of the potting medium, so as to avoid the potting medium covering the upper air outlet and reducing the air permeability effect. Removing the bottom and cap of the perforated bottle allows air convection to form. Its function is to form a natural exhaust channel inside the pot, making air exchange in the pot smooth, facilitating drainage and helping heat dissipation. On an open rooftopwhen growing orchids, it plays a great role when humidity is high or rainfall is heavy. Excess water in the potting medium can quickly evaporate in a short time, reducing the phenomenon of root damage caused by excessive water in the potting medium, and reducing the breeding of pathogens in the pot. The potting media I use are all loose potting media, such as small flake-shaped peanut shells, wood shavings (or called machine planing shavings), rice husks, etc. (not burned or carbonized). Because perforated bottles are used for air permeability and loose potting media are used for growing orchids, the orchid root growth effect is ideal. I have used this method for many years, and the effect is ideal. Because what I use are mainly 8-9 inch diameter clay pots or plastic pots, how the effect is with pots of other diameters and how the effect is in other regions remains for all orchid friends to continue exploring. Address: No. 6, Lane 3, Fuxi Road, Beijiao Town, Shunde City, Guangdong Province Postal code: 528311 Telephone: 0765-6654278