Orchid potting mix without asking for help, improved recipe for fragrant blooms

After spending a long time in orchid grower circles, beginner orchid growers have started composting their own soil and fertilizer, and some can no longer hold back and are learning to mix their own potting soil for orchids. Today let's take a look at the potting mix method of this orchid grower called "Cactus Ge", and the little gardener will also offer his own views; seniors, please correct me.

1. The orchid grower's "soil recipe"

Let's take a look at this orchid owner's recipe. This hodgepodge growing medium contains: peanut shells, walnut shells, seed shells, and red brick pieces. The orchid owner says he plans to use this orchid soil to pot up and grow orchids. In the little gardener's view, this recipe has quite a few advantages, but drawbacks also exist, and we can "improve" it a bit before using it.

2. The advantages and disadvantages of the "potting mix"

Let's talk about the advantages first: the growing materials are all large particles, with good drainage and aeration; peanut shells, walnut shells, seed shells and the like are easy to obtain, have excellent aeration, and also provide some nutrients; red brick pieces are very practical, free, and have decent water retention. Usually quite a few orchid owners also like to grow orchids with large growing materials like these.

Growing orchids with such large growing materials has the benefit of good drainage and aeration, but the drawback is insufficient nutrients, so we'd best pair them with something that strengthens orchid rootsHuadongde organic nutrient solutionto supplement fertilizer and top-dress in time. During the vigorous growth period, use organic fertilizer diluted 500-1000 times for top-dressing, paired with fully rotted organic fertilizer; only then is the root-growing effect best, and it is also safer to use.

What are the flaws of this recipe? One flaw is that the growing materials are too hard, with no fine soil, which is not conducive to growing orchid roots white; with such large growing materials, orchids also do not bloom as fragrantly. The second flaw is that these growing materials are still very raw. This bark clearly looks unrotted, and using it directly is very dangerous and will burn the roots.

3. "Improve" it a bit, and the effect is even better

Let's see how to "improve" it. First, the bark must be rotted before use. Let's pretend the bark is already rotted now. At this point, we'd best add some fine soil into it, and 3 parts of fine soil is enough. It is said that soil is the mother of all things; without any soil at all, orchids cannot bloom fragrantly. Finally, add some granular stone, and it's done.

The little gardener knows that many orchid owners like to mix their own soil. Whether you use large hard growing materials or relatively fine soft growing materials, you'd best ensure these growing materials are fully rotted before use. This is the most basic requirement, and beginner orchid growers must remember it.