he right potting mix for orchids provides plenty of drainage , air circulation , and moisture depending on the needs of your particular orchid . Orchid mixes consist of a variety of potting materials , each of which has its pros and cons . You can mix your own blend from the recipes below , or you can buy ready-made orchid mixes .

Knowing your potting material options The phrase potting material isn ’ t just a fancy way of saying dirt . Potting materials can consist of gravel , dried plant fibers , bark , and more . You won ’ t find potting soil in orchid mixes because most orchids have roots that need more aeration than soil can provide . Orchids also need potting material that drains rapidly and at the same time retains moisture . Because orchids usually go at least a year , and many times longer , between repotting , they also need materials that are slow to decompose . No single potting material works best for every orchid or orchid grower .

By Steven A . Frowine and the National Gardening Association ( excerpt from Orchids for Dummies )

The table shows some of the most common potting materials used , along with some of their pros and cons of potting materials for orchids

Make your own orchid mix Following are recipes for two basic mixes that suit most orchids . The growing mixes are based on the texture or particle size of the mix , which is connected to the size of the orchid roots and their need for water retention .

Fine mix This mix works well for smaller plants of all types of orchids : slipper orchids , most Oncidium , Miltonia and any other orchids with small roots that like to stay on the damp side .

4 parts fine-grade fir bark or fine-grade coco husk chips or redwood bark 1 part fine charcoal 1 part horticultural-grade perlite or small-grade Aliflor

Medium mix This is your middle-of-the-road mix . If you aren ’ t sure which mix to use , try this one . This mix is also good for Cattleya , Phalaenopsis and most mature orchids . 4 parts medium-grade fir bark or medium-grade coco

Coco husk fiber Retains water well ; decomposes slowly Does not drain as well as bark or coco husk chunks

Gravel Drains well ; inexpensive Heavy ; holds no nutrients Hardwood charcoal

Very slow to decompose ; absorbs contaminants Holds very little moisture ; can be dusty to handle Lava rock Never decomposes ; drains well Heavy Osmunda fiber Retains moisture ; slow to break down Very expensive ; hard to find

Perlite ( sponge rock ) Lightweight ; provides good aeration and water retention ; inexpensive

Redwood bark Lasts longer than fir bark Hard to find

Retains too much water if used alone

Tree fern fiber Rapidly draining ; slow to decompose Expensive ; low water retention

husk chunks 1 part medium charcoal 1 part horticultural-grade perlite or medium-grade Aliflor If you ’ d rather just buy your mix ready-made , prepared potting mixes are readily available from most places that sell orchids , including home-improvement stores . Most mixes contain fir bark , perlite , charcoal , and sometimes some peat moss and are suitable for most orchids .

This material is reproduced with permission of John Wiley & Sons , Inc ., Orchids For Dummies © March 2005 by Steven A . Frowine and the National Gardening Association . http :// www . dummies . com / store / product / Orchids-For- Dummies . productCd-0764567594 . html

Phalaenopsis | First Quarter | Volume 23 | 2013

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