Kiryu stone is a type of rock with absolutely no nutrients, so fellow orchid growers should stop being superstitious about it

Kiryu stone is a very "high-end, elegant, and classy" orchid potting medium. As a humble photographer-farmer, I have limited experience and have never used Kiryu stone. Recently, a fellow orchid grower mentioned it in conversation, so I looked it up online, this so-called great master, and it turns out to be an imported type of volcanic rock. So what exactly is the charm of Kiryu stone? Why do fellow orchid growers adore it so much?

Kiryu stone is just a type of rock, only with low density and easy water absorption. Using it as an orchid potting medium is not out of the question, since orchids value air permeability and free drainage. But this stone has absolutely no nutrients. To put it plainly, using Kiryu stone and using brick chunks makes no difference. If you insist there is a difference, it is that Kiryu stone is very expensive and costs money, while brick chunks are free and can be found anywhere.

As a humble photographer-farmer, I have always told fellow orchid growers in our exchanges that to grow orchids well, it is not enough to just buy Kiryu stone; you also need to pay attention to many details. An orchid is a plant, and any plant needs nutrients or fertilizer. An orchid without fertility will only decline the more you grow it. The reason I use pine bark is also because pine bark has all the functions that Kiryu stone has, and the only possible downside is that it may not look as good. And moreover! The bacteria or organic matter produced after pine bark decomposes is very suitable for orchid growth. You can see this just by looking at the growing environment of wild orchids.

If you are buying Kiryu stone in order to grow orchids well, I advise you that it is completely unnecessary; if it is for the sake of making the pot surface look good, then suit yourself.