orchidmedia

Potting Media for your Orchids

Now that you've got your plants and your pots, it's time to put the two together by choosing a medium (potting mix).

Two of the key components of a potting mix are fairly intuitive. It must anchor the plant in the pot firmly and it must hold SOME moisture long enough for the roots to draw it in and distribute it to your plant. Many substances will meet these tests.

The next two factors are related and critical. Your orchid potting mix must have great drainage and allow plenty of air to reach the roots.

Let's think for a moment about why this must be true. Most of the tropical orchids we grow at home are epiphytes, that is, they live ON other plants. They attach themselves with their roots to the mossy branches of trees and their roots run along those surfaces and through the mosses, sometimes dangling in mid air. The roots collect moisture from their surroundings and directly from the air.

Stuffing such highly evolved structures into pots is not a great way to keep them happy. Providing a potting mix with plenty of air is a huge help.

So what do you choose?

The most commonly available potting mixes for orchids are a bark-based medium and long-fiber sphagnum moss. Both create a loose , airy environment inside the pots that is suitable for most orchids.

Bark mixes are usually composed of chopped fir bark, perlite (a white, sponge-like substance) and horticultural grade charcoal.

Long fiber sphagnum moss comes from New Zealand or Chile. This can be used alone or in combination with other ingredients. It holds moisture and at the same time allows circulation of lots of air in the pot as long as it isn't packed too tight.

Most orchids will respond equally well to either of these media. Over time you'll learn that some prefer one or the other...usually because the moss holds water a little longer and provides a more uniformly moist situation for the roots.

BOTH media--and any other that contains organic components, will break down and decompose over time. Regular repotting is an essential part of your maintenance regime. See, Repotting Orchids for tips on when and how to pot.

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