An expert teaches you step by step how to make your pot surface a delight to the eye

I advocate traditional orchid growing, and I am a bit particular about the pot surface; combined with the flower pots I have custom-made, it feels like only that way is it harmonious. A few days ago I gave some Selaginella uncinata to several orchid-growing friends, and I was worried they would not grow it well. There also seem to be very few systematic articles and posts online about growing Selaginella uncinata, so I will make a fool of myself here. The following content is all from my own exploration. If there are mistakes or unreasonable points, I hope friends will understand, and I also hope you will offer valuable opinions and suggestions. Thank you everyone!

The growing medium I use for orchids is soil that I had someone dig from deep in the mountains, all the pots are custom-made by me, and most of the orchids are native species, though some were bought online.

My principle for growing orchids: grow orchids, grow grass, grow pots, grow people.

Because the orchid pots I custom-made are three-legged orchid pots, piling the surface into a steamed bun shape is most suitable. If they are ordinary tall and deep orchid pots, you can also just keep it flat. The following method is mainly for Selaginella uncinata. My growing medium is soil, and the surface is the granular part sifted out from the soil. This method also applies to fine-granule growing, and the particle diameter on the pot surface is best at 3-5MM.

Step one: pile the pot surface into a rough steamed bun shape: as below

Step two: lay Selaginella uncinata of a suitable size on the edge of the pot, as below

Step three: use a spoon (of course other things can also be used) to sprinkle a layer of small granular soil over the roots of the Selaginella uncinata: as below

Using the same method, finish it all within a week. The effect at this point is as follows:

After that, in the gaps on top, lay Selaginella uncinata of a suitable size, and likewise sprinkle soil over the roots, as below

The effect picture at this point is as follows:

Next, sprinkle soil over all of them, whether their heads are raised or not. When sprinkling soil, be careful to let the heads of the Selaginella uncinata show as much as possible (after sprinkling the soil, you can gently lift them with a toothpick; just a tiny bit poking out is enough)

Treat all the Selaginella uncinata this way. The effect after finishing is as shown below:

At this time the soil is actually floating on the surface of the Selaginella uncinata, so I am used to gently tapping the entire pot surface with the handle of a spoon. In the gaps between the roots of the Selaginella uncinata, a little soil can get in, so that the roots of the Selaginella uncinata make good contact with the soil and adapt to the pot sooner, as shown below

After all the above is completed, you can water. Because Selaginella uncinata is relatively fragile and tender, hurrying to water is also a rather key matter. My watering method is as follows

At this point the project is 90% complete. Next is pressing a water groove along the rim of the pot, handled as follows:

Let me share a few pot surfaces from last year

In the end it slowly becomes lush and green

How is it? Isn't it very beautiful? Hurry up and try it!