Growing orchids in plastic foam: economical, affordable, and no root rot

The medium used for growing orchids needs to be loose, breathable and well-draining, and of course it also has fertility requirements. Meet these conditions and pair them with an elegant clay pot, and the orchid will grow very well. But how many people know that plastic foam can also be used to grow orchids? It is a very practical little trick.

Plastic foam is very easy to get. The transport of all kinds of utensils uses plastic foam. It is extremely light in weight, basically weighing nothing. Pinch it into pieces and place it at the bottom of the pot as a drainage layer, and the drainage and breathability of the orchid's medium are greatly improved, working even better than broken tiles and expanded clay pebbles.

Every time you repot, you can replace it with new crushed foam pieces, which also counts as recycling waste. Some flower growers have tested this method, and it is fairly practical. The plastic foam should be pinched into irregular pieces and placed at the bottom of the pot, but it is not suitable for mixing into the soil or using as a top dressing, otherwise it will blow away in no time.

It is best to pinch it into pieces 2~3 cm in size, which keeps the orchid's medium slightly moist rather than soggy, makes overwatering less likely, lets the root system grow better, and avoids root rot.

These days plastic foam can be found in many packaging boxes. Just tear off a piece at random and you can plant a pot of orchids.

The benefits of plastic foam have all been mentioned above. It is a very good choice for growing Chinese orchids (Cymbidium), and this medium also has a slight warming effect. Foam is also a kind of insulating material, and its effect is even better than broken tiles or expanded clay pebbles.

Of course, this plastic foam also has drawbacks. For a newly planted orchid, using such a light medium is not good for the new plant to stand firm, and it easily grows crooked, so it needs to be sheltered from the wind.

Furthermore, although this plastic foam is not toxic to orchids, it has no nutrients, so more fertilizer needs to be added; without nutrients the orchid will not grow well either. Plastic foam has very good drainage, extremely good, which causes water to be lost easily, so you need to replenish water often and increase the frequency of watering.