How to choose potting medium for Phalaenopsis in the South? Choose these three and avoid detours

Southern flower lovers growing Phalaenopsis orchids, the biggest headache is not watering and fertilizing, but choosing the wrong substrate—after all, it rains constantly in the south, the air is so humid you could wring water out of it, and the wrong substrate means root rot in no time. Growing Phalaenopsis in the south, the core of choosing a substrate is just two words: airy! Drainage! Anything that holds too much water or easily compacts, push it all aside!

First, we must mention fermented pine bark, the all-purpose choice for growing orchids in the south, almost no one steps in a trap with it. Why is it so good? Because it is granular, with particularly large gaps, even if it rains for a week straight, excess water can flow away through the gaps, and the roots won't be smothered in moisture“unable to breathe.” Moreover, pine bark is naturally rot-resistant, not easy to mold when buried in the pot, and can be used for two or three years without replacement, saving trouble and money. However, when choosing, you must pay attention: be sure to buy fully fermented bark, unfermented bark will burn the roots; granule size must also be chosen, slightly smaller than a fingertip is most suitable, too large won't hold small seedlings, too small isn't airy enough. Before use, remember to soak it in water for half a day, let the bark absorb enough water, then subsequent watering won't need to be too frequent, once a week is enough.

Next is sphagnum moss, but using it in the south requires skill, otherwise problems easily arise. Sphagnum moss holds water very well, if in rainy Guangdong or Fujian, planting directly with pure sphagnum moss, the roots easily rot. However, it has an advantage—securing small seedlings is super effective, for newly bought Phalaenopsis seedlings, wrap the roots with a small amount of sphagnum moss, then plant together with bark, which both secures the plant and avoids excessive moisture. In addition, sphagnum moss can also serve as a “humidity monitor,” if it feels damp to the touch, no need to water, water again when it dries out, even beginners can easily master it. But note, sphagnum moss compacts after long use, and must be replaced about once a year, when replacing remember to trim off rotten roots cleanly, don't plant directly with old sphagnum moss.

Finally, coconut husk chunks, a super popular emerging contender in recent years, go for it without hesitation in humid southern regions. It is somewhat like pine bark, but lighter than bark, and its airiness is not inferior, the key is it doesn't easily accumulate water, even in plum rain season the potting soil won't waterlog. Moreover, coconut husk chunks are especially fluffy after soaking, roots can stretch freely inside, without being squeezed. However, using coconut husk chunks has a small detail: when buying, choose“desalinated” ones, undesalinated coconut husk contains salt, which will make Phalaenopsis leaves turn yellow; after soaking remember to squeeze out excess water, don't pot it directly with a belly full of water. Used together with a small amount of perlite, airiness can go up another level, suitable for growing in the rainy Jiangnan region.

Growing Phalaenopsis in the south, the core of the substrate is just one thing“airy without water accumulation,” no matter which type you choose, never use garden soil—garden soil compacts as soon as it touches water, and the roots will certainly rot. In addition, when watering don't soak thoroughly, water in a circle along the pot edge, stop when you see water leaking from the bottom of the pot; on rainy days remember to move the orchids to a sheltered place, don't let rain fall directly on the potting soil. Actually, no matter which growing medium you choose, observing the orchid seedling's condition is most important, if the leaves are spirited and the roots are white, it means the substrate is chosen correctly, and following this you'll surely get blooms!