When it comes time to pot your orchid plants, you’ll need to select the right potting medium for the kind of orchid you are growing. There are basically two types of orchids: those that grow well in the soil and those that don’t. Orchids that grow well in the soil include cucumbers, tomatoes, and peppers; they do not do well in clay soil or loose soil. On the other hand, orchids that don’t do well in potting media include hydrangeas, lilies, and most poppies. So you’ll have to choose the right potting media for the type of orchid you have before planting it in the garden.
Soil Choosing a good soil for orchid potting mix is important if you want your plants to thrive. Most orchids do well in most potting mixes except for one – the Leucaena species. This one requires extremely moist soil with very high nitrogen contents. In fact, most orchids would do well in a mix that has about fifteen percent nitrogen and eighty percent water. Too much orchid potting medium in the soil will make them susceptible to root rot, so choose the right balance of nutrients for your plants.
Clay Soilless Clay soils work very well for orchid potting mediums. They offer good drainage and are highly absorbent, while also being highly porous and hold organic material like fallen leaves and animal manure. This allows the nutrients in the soil to seep through to the roots, as they normally do. Unfortunately, too much clay in the soil would also prevent too much water from reaching the roots.
But if you choose the right type of clays, they can actually improve the overall growth of your orchids. They are available in two different forms, either mixtures or specific plans that are specially concocted for orchids. Many orchids are quite sensitive to the rays of the sun. In addition to this, direct sunlight can dry out their skin and make them more susceptible to diseases. Epiphytes are tropical plants and love sunlight; however, they are adversely affected by direct sun rays. On the other hand, Epiphytes and many orchids that do not have leaves prefer fine, moist soil that receives high amounts of indirect sunlight.
Soilless Clay Air Soils is ideal for orchid growing seasons. However, many orchids cannot survive the intense moisture stress associated with an air-soil mixture. They are best kept in potting media that is free of soil or plant debris. They can tolerate some moisture but prefer a moisture content of less than 10%. The leaves are quite small in the growing season so frequent watering is required.
High Quality Soilless Clay Potting Mediums is available at most garden centers or nurseries. They are usually made of iron oxide or tin oxide. They are generally acceptable for all types of orchids. These pots have black volcanic ashes in their composition. They are usually the result of mixing clay and lava rocks together and then being tumbled with water.
Potting media that contains excess moisture may encourage root rot or decay. Potting media that is too loose will not provide adequate support for the roots as they expand. This results in a compacting of the plant that can be unhealthy for the orchid. On the other hand, pots that are too tight will restrict air circulation around the roots. Leaves can also get crushed on the pots and this can damage the leaves. Most professional nursery growers do not recommend using any potting media other than medium-grade clay because of the dangers associated with it.
Plants grown in pots that are too small can not grow very large. It is important to make sure that you are able to provide ample support for your orchids like roots, leaves, and petals. If your plants seem to be growing too high or are drooping, it may be necessary to repeat them frequently. Repotting should be done after repotting for two or three years. Orchid leaves and petals can become brown or yellow if left on top of the pot without being removed.