A Complete Analysis of the Characteristics and Applications of Common Substrates for Potted Flowers

1. Peat soil, also called turf.

There are mainly two types, namely raised bog peat and lowland peat. Peat on the market is mainly coarse peat and fine peat, most of which tends to be acidic, so it is best to adjust its pH value before use.

① Fine peat is peat that has been crushed and processed. It is relatively expensive and is mainly used for flower seedling raising.

② Coarse peat is often used for pot flower cultivation.

2. Humus soil and leaf mold.

① Humus soil, also called compost soil, is made from various plant residues and fallen leaves, crop straw, and various easily rotted wastes from greenhouses, gardens and nurseries as raw materials, which are piled up and decomposed, and can all be used as potting substrate. Before use, crush it and sift it, and it is best to steam-sterilize it to kill pests, insect eggs, harmful fungi and weed seeds, and then it can be used.

② Leaf mold is formed by piling up and rotting the fallen leaves of broadleaf trees, and it can be used after steam sterilization.

3. River sand and fine sandy soil.

① Sandy soil has a pure texture, contains fewer clay particles, drains smoothly, and has strong air permeability. It is suitable for sowing, cuttings and seedling raising and is the main material for mixing potting soil. ② It is quite suitable as a mixing material for potting soil; particles with a diameter of 1-2 mm are better used as a cutting medium.

4. Perlite and vermiculite.

① Perlite is formed by crushing magma, heating it to above 1000°C, and expanding it. It has a closed porous structure, is light in weight, has good aeration, and contains no nutrients.

② Vermiculite is formed by expanding silicate material at a high temperature of 800-1100°C. It is better to choose large particles as a cutting medium.

③ They are usually used as additives to potting soil, and can improve the physical properties of pot soil, making the soil looser, more breathable and water-retentive; however, when perlite and vermiculite are used for a long time, they are easily broken and compacted, making the soil's aeration and drainage performance worse.

5. Pond mud, river mud, mountain soil, yellow mud.

① Pond mud is fertile and has good drought resistance and waterlogging tolerance. It is often used as soil for pot flowers and lawns, and can be used to grow orchids, kumquats, lawns, etc.

② Mountain soil is commonly known as orchid soil. It is generally distributed on high mountains where orchids, azaleas, etc. grow, and is often used to cultivate flowers such as orchids, rhododendrons, camellias and Aglaia odorata.

6. Rice husks, mushroom residue, coconut coir.

In South China, they are often used as cultivation substrate for flowers. Before use, they need to be piled up and decomposed, and can be mixed with substrates such as peat soil to be used as potting substrate.

7. Moss and fern roots.

① Moss plants mostly grow in cold and humid places, and are distributed in forest areas of Northeast China and the Southwest Plateau. They have a loose texture and strong water absorption and moisture retention capacity. They are commonly used flower cultivation substrates and flower packaging materials in horticulture. Taiwan, China and Japan often use them to cultivate orchids.

② Fern root refers to the root of Osmunda japonica. It is dark brown, about 1 mm in diameter, very cold-resistant, and is often used to cultivate tropical orchids, bromeliads and other epiphytes.

③ In flower cultivation, moss and fern roots are often used together as potting materials, which are both permeable and moisture-retentive.

8. Ceramsite and coal cinder.

① Ceramsite is made from soil through high-temperature expansion. It is granular and suitable for cultivating epiphytic orchids.

② Coal cinder is mainly used for orchid planting.

9. Bark, wood shavings, sawdust.

① Bark has good physical properties and can replace fern roots, fern roots and peat soil. It is often used as cultivation substrate for epiphytes.

② It should be screened into different specifications according to different diameters. Small particles can be mixed with peat soil, etc., to grow ordinary pot flowers; large specifications are used to plant epiphytes, such as orchids, ferns, etc.