Planting orchids and moss together looks absolutely perfect.

Friends who grow orchids at home should be familiar with moss. Besides being attractive, moss also secretes an acidic substance that can regulate the pH of the soil, so the two are simply a match made in heaven when planted together.

In addition, moss has a strong moisture-retaining effect. If the potting soil dries out, the moss will quickly show it. Let's take a look with Xiaozhi at the pros and cons of laying moss.

What are the benefits of laying moss on orchids?

1. Moisture retention in summer and autumn

If orchids encounter high temperatures, they will rot, which is a consensus we all know. So in the hot summer and autumn, cooling measures for orchids must be taken. Only by keeping the potting soil moist can the root temperature be prevented from suddenly rising or suddenly dropping, and laying moss solves exactly this problem.

But there is a trick to laying moss in the hot season. Be careful not to use too much! You can water and care for the orchid according to how the moss is growing. After laying the moss, it is best to observe the moss first. If the moss grows too well, it means the humidity is high, so you can water less; on the contrary, if the moss turns yellow, it means the humidity is not enough, and at this point you need to water it.

2. Heat preservation in spring and winter

When temperatures are low, plant roots, like people, need to be kept warm. Especially in winter and spring, which are relatively dry, pay attention to keeping orchids warm and moist. Laying moss on orchids solves exactly this problem. It can both keep them warm and retain moisture, and the effect is very good.

What are the drawbacks of laying moss on orchids?

1. Affects breathing

When moss is placed on the surface of an orchid pot that is mainly made of fine planting material, it easily makes the potting soil less breathable, thereby affecting the normal breathing of the orchid roots.

2. Too humid

Moss absorbs and retains too much water during the plum rain season. If too much moss is laid on the surface of the orchid pot, poor ventilation and excessively high humidity may cause the two rot diseases of orchids.

3. Causes pest problems

Moss is a place where various pests like to live, and many orchid diseases are mostly caused by pest damage.

How to solve these drawbacks?

1. For friends who are just starting to grow orchids, it is not recommended to use moss as a top dressing, because they already have many problems with watering and find it hard to master the frequency and amount of watering. If moss is also used to cover the pot surface, it will be even harder to manage, and it may even speed up wilting and death.

2. Choose short-leaf moss, tear the moss into pieces and mix it with the planting material, then scatter it on the surface of the orchid pot, and use misting to help it survive. The roots of moss planted this way combine with the planting material, making better use of its root system's acid-producing characteristic. At the same time, the moss planted this way will also be more vibrant, increasing the ornamental value of the orchid.

3. You can also choose long-leaf moss, which is more suitable for covering the orchid pot after autumn to provide moisture retention and warmth. However, after the flowering period ends the following year, the moss should be removed. Give the orchid an airy pot surface space, so that it will not affect the growth of new shoots during the plum rain season.