Detailed Explanation of How to Prepare Orchid Mix

Except for high-grade orchids, artistic orchids,Cymbidium goeringii, epiphytic orchids and the like, which need to be planted in expanded clay,four-seasonorchids、Cymbidium sinense, including Xiaotaohong, Yinzhentiegou, Yinbiandagong and others, I all use mix. For preparing the mix, I insist on about 50% fresh Chinese fir sawdust (that is, the sawdust produced by an electric planer when making furniture); sawdust from pine, camphor wood, or plywood cannot be used, 10-15% dried cow dung (the dried cow dung must be broken up, not left in whole chunks), and the remaining 35-40% is coarse chaff (rice husk), crushed peanut shells, crushed sugarcane bagasse, crushed brick powder and granules, burned pond mud, coarse river sand, etc., using whatever is available; choosing just one kind is also fine, or mixing several kinds is also fine, then add a small amount of superphosphate and mix evenly, then pour on human urine and compost for more than one month, then sun-dry for later use. Apart from the fresh Chinese fir sawdust, dried cow dung makes up about 60%, and the rest is mixed casually; river sand can be used without composting and fermenting, but the other materials must be composted and fermented before use. This kind of orchid material is both loose and has nutrients, and there is no problem not fertilizing for half a year after planting. I compost it on an open-air rooftop; at one time I prepared woven bags of coarse sawdust, composted and fermented it as above, then sun-dried it, and orchid friends find it very convenient to take. But when using this kind of orchid material, it is best to repot once a year, and no later than two years. With this mix, the surface of the orchid pot must be covered with a layer of crushed brick granules, which both ventilates and looks attractive; the most ideal crushed brick granules are old blue bricks, old bricks are also fine, otherwise, a discarded charcoal stove broken up is also fine; this is a material that costs only a little effort and no money. (Su Lan)