How orchid pots and potting media should match in orchid cultivation

Common orchid pots include clay pots, purple sand pots, purple sand glazed flower pots, southern clay pots, coarse pottery glazed pots, fine pottery pots, plastic pots, and so on. Because of the properties of the materials, the formed pots have different degrees of porosity (micropores), and the degree of porosity determines how good or poor the pot's moisture absorption and drainage are. Pores and holes differ enormously in geometric size; pores have the function of absorbing and draining moisture, while the role of holes is to allow air through. Moisture absorption and drainage should be a criterion for evaluating the performance of a pot. After water is poured into the pot, in the first stage, excess water drains out through the bottom hole, and at this point the potting medium reaches a state of saturated water absorption. Iforchidsare regarded as plants that do not like water, then in the second stage, a pot with good moisture absorption and drainage can, through the siphon action of the micropores, conduct the water contained in the potting medium to the outer surface of the pot and release it into the air; this slow process continues until the environmental humidity and the humidity inside the pot are similar. The release of water from the potting medium in the pot, besides being conducted out by the pot wall, also partly evaporates from the pot surface and other holes in the pot. In pots with poor moisture absorption and drainage, or with no moisture absorption capacity at all, the water in the potting medium is mainly released through the pot surface and holes (without considering absorption by plant roots). The process from watering until the water in the potting medium is almost fully released can be regarded as the watering cycle. The saturated water absorption rate of various potting media is different, and the ability to absorb water depends on the structural form of the medium. Porous granular material with a very large specific surface area clearly has a greater water absorption capacity than densely structured weathered rock particles, while a whole pot of mountain soil absorbs water more easily than a whole pot of sintered pond stone. When pots with different moisture absorption and drainage properties are matched with potting media of different water retention rates, their watering cycles should be different. Growers must determine the watering cycle according to the selected pot and potting medium as well as the environmental temperature and humidity, and must never make sweeping generalizations or trust immature experience that does not suit them. Judging from the orchid pots and potting media currently chosen by orchid growers, it really is a case of every radish and cabbage having its own lover. Some people pay great attention to the moisture absorption and drainage of the orchid pot, choosing clay pots and fully fermented, loose organic potting media to grow orchids. The orchid roots do not hang suspended in the medium, fertilizer is applied moderately, and after watering, excess water is absorbed and drained through the micropores in the pot wall to the outside of the pot wall and evaporated away, so water damage to the roots rarely occurs. Although this is a bit traditional and the growth rate is not very fast, there is less disease, the orchids grow sturdy and are not "leggy", the floral fragrance reaches the intensity and purity it should have, and the orchids look very much like orchids. Some people use plastic pots and sintered granules to grow orchids, especially those granules with such a pleasant name, called "Zhijinshi" (plant gold stone). This concept alone is enough to tempt people: using orchids as a metaphor for gold, a fine dream comes true; who cares whether it is organic or inorganic, since they say the stuff contains trace elements. Nowadays trace elements are highly praised, and besides, after growing them for several years they still bloom, still smell fragrant, and still love to send up shoots. The orchid roots seem to suffer a little, but someorchidshave growing conditions on the mountain that are not even as good as this. Spurred on by high-tech fertilizer, the orchid shoots grow swiftly, just like bean sprouts grown with chemical fertilizer: very high yield, very high benefit, and the orchid is still an orchid. Yet some people grow orchids to highlight elegance and nobility, and try to embody through the pot theorchid'sprofound cultural heritage. Never mind how the orchid grows; just looking at the exquisite craftsmanship of the pot and the pot stand is enough to delight the eye. Who still cares whether the pot wall transmits moisture? If it transmits moisture, that is terrible: it dirties the pot, and harming the appearance is a big matter. Passed down to later generations and placed on a curio shelf, it will appreciate in value. Famous people like fine clothes, a good horse deserves a good saddle, a delicate orchid is grown in a precious pot, showing off all its magnificence. Still others choose pots randomly: the pots are diverse, the potting media are various, the watering cycle is the same, yet spring, summer, autumn, and winter are still distinguished, and raw potting medium is often mixed in in large amounts; when the orchid gets sick, the root cause cannot be found. One can imagine that with so many variables, it is very difficult to sum up experience and find the pattern. If the orchid is grown well, it is considered to be the result of sincere devotion; if it is grown poorly, there is still that saying to help one off the hook: "watering takes three years of skill." (Liu Liming)