How to grow Phalaenopsis orchids with pine bark, is it better than sphagnum moss?

It is well known that Phalaenopsis orchids have flowers shaped like dancing butterflies, and their flower colors are also diverse, making them the dream flower of many people. Therefore, many flower lovers place them in the indoor C-position as a decorative highlight. However, in the process of caring for Phalaenopsis orchids, many thorny problems often arise, among which the issue of using pine bark as potting soil for Phalaenopsis orchids is also a big question for many flower lovers. During care, would mixing some into the bottom of the orchid pot make it grow better? Let's find out together in the following article.

As is well known, using bark to grow flowers is a method that flower lovers are very familiar with. Among these, the bark most often mixed into Phalaenopsis orchid growing is pine bark, also called pine scale. Pine bark contains nitrogen fertilizer and potassium fertilizer, and especially the bark from old trees, after decomposition, can provide nutrients to the flowers. At the same time, it also contains substances that inhibit bacteria and insects, so the plants and flowers grown with it are less likely to suffer from pests and diseases.

So what role does bark play in Phalaenopsis orchid soil? First of all, it is a natural organic material, and its breathability and water retention are what Phalaenopsis orchid soil needs. Therefore, as long as it is added appropriately, it is beneficial to the plant's root system. However, just because it is good does not mean everyone can use bark. It is recommended to combine it with the flower lover's own living environment when adding it. If the surrounding environment itself is relatively humid, then use less bark and more sphagnum moss, because adding too much can easily block the absorption of the sphagnum moss, causing the root system to be damp and accelerating the possibility of rot. If the environment is relatively dry, the amount of bark can be increased and less sphagnum moss used, so as to achieve the effect of increasing the humidity in the soil.

In addition, it should be noted that when purchasing, you must pay more attention to the quality of the bark, because if what you buy back is not fresh, it will produce a kind of mycelium called "Southern blight fungus". Although this fungus does not have a great impact on the root system of Phalaenopsis orchids, it will not provide nutrients to the Phalaenopsis orchid. At the same time, seeing with the naked eye some sticky yellow stuff left on the flower pot or cup will make people feel rather disgusted. This kind of fungus can also be killed with carbendazim, but its practical significance is not great, because fungicides will kill some of the beneficial bacteria naturally present on the plant roots. If there is still an unfresh source in the bark, it will still regenerate later.