Creating soil for good orchid growth. Soil for orchids: we collect the composition with our own hands

Tell me, what soil is needed for an orchid? Colleagues presented a flower at work a couple of years ago. During this time, the orchid has grown rapidly, the roots literally spread out on the windowsill, and the bush itself will soon fall out of the pot. I came to the conclusion that I need to transplant into a large bowl. This is my first orchid, and at home, apart from the universal substrate, there is nothing. I heard that such soil is not suitable for these flowers, so what to plant it in?

Orchids, like other epiphytic plants, receive nutrition thanks to aerial roots. They "root" with them, clinging to a support-tree in nature. These flowers do not need the earth as such, it serves more so that the bush does not fall over and firmly occupies an upright position. But at the same time, an orchid growing at home, you need to eat something and take nutrients from somewhere. For indoor copies, special mixtures are created that absorb and give water well, and will also nourish them. In order for a capricious epiphyte to feel good and bloom regularly, it is important to know what soil is needed for an orchid. Many flower growers prepare the soil on their own, including for these plants. Knowing what and what to mix with, it will not be difficult to do.

When choosing or mixing soil, it is still important to consider which group your orchid belongs to. Although epiphytic flowers are most often grown in apartments, there are terrestrial orchids. For them, the composition of the soil mixture will be slightly different.

The composition of the substrate for epiphytic orchids

Phalaenopsis and dendrobiums require, above all, reliable support in the pot. Growing on branches, these orchids feel great in pots with pine bark. It absorbs moisture and fertilizers well when watering, then gradually giving them to the roots of the flower, and also lets air through. Such plants do not need the earth, moreover, they will die in it, “suffocate”.

Instead of bark of pine bark, you can take the bark of oak or birch.

Bark is the main component of the soil mixture for epiphytes, and moisture can be retained in it for a long time by adding a little moss and charcoal. The latter, moreover, will cleanse the soil of harmful bacteria.

What soil is needed for a terrestrial orchid?

Since in nature such flowers do not grow on a tree, but in the ground, the substrate in the pot should also contain it. In this case, it is he who acts as the main constituent of the mixture, and the bark is already a secondary, additional, “ingredient”. Earth should be light, but nutritious, with the addition of organic components. Ground orchid will take food from the soil, so you need to make it saturated with trace elements.

The cultivation of representatives of the orchid family of the house is significantly different from the classic breeding of houseplants. The main feature of tropical beauties is that they do not eat from the earth, but from the atmosphere and the bark of donor trees. To create conditions close to their natural existence, orchid pots and specially prepared substrates are used for their growth.

What are the main features of the plant?

The regal orchid beckons and bewitches with its unusual beauty. Gorgeous flowering clusters made her a favorite among indoor plants. When growing this flower, it is necessary to take into account its natural features, and then for a long time it will delight with its abundant flowering. The main difference between crops and potted plants is that they, being epiphytes, have aerial roots and in the natural environment feed not from the soil, but from the atmosphere and bark of the tree donor.

The cultivation of tropical beauties at home became possible after breeders breeding special hybrids, the bright representative of which is phalaenopsis. It has a wide color spectrum of color and unpretentious care. When growing representatives of the orchid family, the main task is to create conditions close to natural. Properly prepared soil will allow the flower to gain a foothold in one place and constantly receive nutrition.

Ready-made soils for orchids are widely represented in specialized outlets, they can be ordered via the Internet, but it’s better to do it yourself.

What is the soil for orchids?

Successful plant growth directly depends on the quality of the soil. Soils for home gardening must meet certain requirements:

have the ability to retain water for the root system;
do not retain moisture in the pot for more than four days;
do not be compressed, good air permeability.

Compliance with these classic rules allows you to have beautiful healthy flowers of all kinds all year round. The roots of the representatives of the orchid family have a unique ability to store moisture, like an earthen coma in a pot, and then give it to the plant. This property is due to the presence of a layer of velamen on them, which has a structure similar to a sponge, and should not be in a wet state for a long time - otherwise it will rot. The velamen coating replaces the earth with orchids, and this is their main difference from all other types of indoor flowers.

The root system of orchids transfers the accumulated liquid to the plant, remaining dry and able to breathe air, that is, the substrate must dry out as quickly as possible. This is the main condition that the finished soil must meet.

Soil Components

The stores now offer a wide range of ready-made soil mixtures for orchid cultivation, however, it is not always possible to choose the soil for a particular type. It is easy to prepare the necessary substrate with your own hands, the choice of components should be determined not by the nutritional qualities of the components, but by how much the finished mass will be permeable to air, moisture and light. The soil consists of several ingredients, both natural and man-made.

Soil components:

woody, pine bark;
moss sphagnum;
fern roots;
coal;
expanded clay;
polystyrene;
coconut fiber;
peat;
perlite - rock;
vermiculite is a mineral;
pine cones.

Each material fulfills its role. This determines its share in the total volume of the substrate, so that the soil mixture is properly structured and meets the necessary requirements.

Tree bark

The main component of soil for orchids is tree bark. It experiences significant stress from moisture and sprawling roots. Its condition directly affects the quality of the soil mixture.

The best option is pine, you can use other conifers. This material is offered by flower shops, but it is easy to procure it yourself. The collection is made only from dead trees: sawn logs, fallen trees or dead wood. Pieces should be taken strong, without mold, traces of rot and massive damage by insects. Acquired or collected bark must be processed as follows:

boil in water for an hour: to destroy eggs and larvae of insects and cleanse of excess resins;
cut into plump pieces of size 2x2 cm;
dry in the oven at a temperature of 100 degrees.

The material is ready to be sent to a flower pot. To reduce the acidity of the soil, you can add a pinch of dolomite flour to it.

Moss sphagnum and fern roots

Sphagnum bog moss has a number of properties that create comfortable conditions for the growth of orchids, namely:

gives looseness to the soil;
retains moisture without compacting the soil;
absorbs harmful salts;
prevents decay.

It can be purchased ready-made, pre-dried and disinfected. With self-preparation, the collected raw materials must be sorted, washed, filled with boiling water and dried out well dried. The best time to gather is late autumn.

Sphagnum is an ambulance for orchids dying from rotting or drying out roots.

Fern rhizomes have properties similar to moss. Before being added to the ground, they are cut into small pieces and subjected to the processing described above.

Technical materials

Florists are widely using technical materials to structure the soil. This is expanded clay, polystyrene, polystyrene and foam. Expanded clay drainage is indispensable when growing orchids, its main advantage is its high hygroscopicity. Charcoal has a similar property, which is also used as a disinfectant and absorbent. It is included in the composition of the soil in pieces of at least two centimeters.

Fragments of synthetic materials - polystyrene, polystyrene foam and foam very well show their properties in the composition of the soil for orchids. Their presence significantly reduces the risks of caking of the soil mixture and increases its breathability, in addition, they do not emit harmful substances and have long periods of use.

Other soil components

Peat, pine cones, coconut fibers, perlite rock and vermiculite mineral can be added to the substrate for orchids. All these components increase the friability of the soil mixture, prevent caking and increase air permeability.

In addition, peat and vermiculite can protect plants from mold, fungal infections, harmful insects and retain moisture in the soil. When using peat, it is necessary to take into account its increased acidity, to reduce it add dolomite flour. All species of the orchid family are epiphytes, so the classic version of the land for indoor flowers does not suit them. The substrate for orchids should consist mainly of whole pieces of pine bark up to three centimeters in size, with the addition of sphagnum and expanded clay.

The composition may include other additional components that increase air permeability and friability of the soil. The durability of the constituent materials and their dimensions affect the duration of use of the prepared mixture.

Examples of preparing a mixture for orchids

There are many options for preparing soil for orchids. The main task is to maintain the desired ratio between the components. If the composition is selected correctly, the plant will delight with its flowering for a long time.

Example No. 1:

pine bark - 5 parts;
charcoal - 1 part.

The soil will have good breathability, low moisture capacity and protection against decay.

Example No. 2:

pine bark - 5 parts;
moss sphagnum - 2 parts;
charcoal - 1 part.

The soil will be loose, with good air circulation, retaining moisture and preventing decay.

Example 3:

tree bark - 3 parts;
peat - 1 part;
expanded clay - 1 part;
coal - 1 part;
dolomite flour - 1 pinch.

The substrate is used for adult plants and meets all the requirements. With independent preparation of the soil, a good guideline is the ingredients of the soil in which the orchid was sold.

Which flower pots are better?

Typically, the choice of pot for indoor flower is determined by the size of the plant and the preferences of the grower. Orchids are not so simple. In nature, tropical beauties with the help of powerful roots settle on tree trunks and live almost without land. It is impossible to create such conditions at home, they can only be approximated. The main role in solving this problem belongs to the capacity, which should provide:

unobstructed outflow of water;
good aeration of roots and soil inside the container;
optimal temperature conditions;
the ability to safely extract long roots.

Of great importance is the material from which the pot is made. This is clay or plastic. Glass is undesirable. There are several parameters that a flower container for orchids must match:

the size of the pot is equal to the volume of the root system;
the bottom has many drainage holes, it is good if they are located on the sides;
the material is transparent, but not glass;
for stability use a cache-pot, the diameter of which is 2-3 cm larger.

Clay pot

Clay is a natural material. A pot made of it allows air and moisture to pass through well. It is heavy and provides the plant with a stable position.

Clay container is good to use for orchids that love coolness, whose roots do not participate in the process of photosynthesis. The main disadvantage is the possibility of root growth to the walls, as during the transplant they will be damaged. Another disadvantage is the rapid drying of the substrate.

Plastic pot

The best for growing orchids is a transparent plastic pot, which allows you to monitor the state of the root system, moisture consumption, the drying process of the soil and timely respond to any deviations. Plastic containers reliably protect the roots from drying out, do not allow their overcooling or overheating.

The design of such a pot has many holes for draining excess water, which does not allow it to linger in the substrate. Plastic is a soft material, which greatly facilitates the transplantation of orchids in case of root sprouting outside the container. In such a situation, in order not to damage the plant and safely remove it, it is necessary to cut its walls.

The only drawback of plastic containers is their ease. The flower in such a container is very unstable, it can fall from the windowsill, receive serious damage and even die. To avoid this situation, it is recommended to use a spectacular flower pot, which will emphasize the beauty of the plant and protect it.

Planters or baskets

Orchids can be grown in baskets or wicker planters. They use different materials: wood, bamboo, plastic or metal mesh. They are very aesthetic and serve as interior decoration.

The main condition is a large number of drainage holes at the bottom. The disadvantage is short-lived, quickly rot due to frequent watering.

Planting and replanting orchids

It is necessary to plant an orchid before the start of a period of active growth (usually in spring). The main rule is not to damage the roots of the plant. You need to start by filling the pot one quarter with drainage: expanded clay, polystyrene or polystyrene. Then the root system of the flower is distributed and moistened soil is added. The largest pieces of bark are laid down, then smaller ones. The leaf outlet is tightly placed in the container and is not allowed to swing. Then it should be watered, kept in a shaded place for up to four weeks and exposed to the sun.

An adult orchid is transplanted when it no longer fits in its container, but no more than once every three years. In the beginning, it must be watered abundantly. If the plant has grown greatly, divide it into parts and plant it separately.

With the right transplant, as a result of which the root system has not been affected, the culture will be able to bloom this year.

Orchids are surprisingly beautiful flowers, but rather capricious in care. They require certain conditions of detention. They also need a special primer, which can be purchased at the flower shop ready-made. But it is quite realistic to make a substrate suitable for plants with your own hands, although this can turn out to be a somewhat troublesome task.

What soil is suitable for orchids

In the maintenance and care of these flowers are radically different from other indoor plants. Ordinary garden land does not suit them. In such soil they die quickly enough. Need a special primer for orchids. It can be done independently by preparing and mixing certain ingredients. But in order for the nutrient medium to optimally suit the plant, it is necessary to know exactly which species the orchid belongs to.

The composition of a suitable soil for orchids will depend on which of the two groups this or that plant belongs to:

flowers that naturally grow on trees - their aerial roots do not require a rich nutrient medium, but the soil should be loose and well-permeable to moisture;
orchids growing in the ground - although their root system is located in the soil, its composition is quite different from the soil used for planting other indoor flowers.

In indoor floriculture, varieties of orchids from growing on trees are more common. The substrate for them can be taken purchased, already completely ready for planting, or partially change it depending on the needs of the flower. But to be sure of the safety of soil for orchids, you can do it yourself.

What is included in the substrate

The basis of the soil for these colors is:

Bark - more often pine or oak bark is used. But it can also be taken from larch or aspen. The bark does not need to be cut from the tree, it should be easily separated from the trunk, be dry and without signs of mold. And it is better to remove it from a tree that fell at least a year ago.

Attention! Fresh bark for the substrate is not used, since together with it you can bring any disease.

Charcoal - it can be taken from a burnt trunk of a birch, oak or beech. And to be sure of the absence of extraneous impurities that can be harmful to the plant, it’s better to burn a suitable log yourself.
Moss - sphagnum is best suited; it can be bought or brought from the forest.
Expanded clay, pumice, pieces of polystyrene foam - are used for drainage when planting orchids.

In the preparation of soil for orchids, other parts are also used. In the substrate add the skin of nuts, coconut fiber, the husks of sunflower seeds - this is a good baking powder of organic origin. You can also add pieces of fern root, digging out a healthy and fairly large specimen of this plant in the summer.

And to protect the flower from the development of fungal diseases and to loosen the substrate, small pieces of minerals such as perlite or vermiculite are introduced.

In preparing the soil, sand (white river or large quartz), peat and sheet land, which in the warm period can be prepared independently, are also used. They are used for the substrate of certain orchid species. Fallen leaves are also not added for all species.

Tip. Fallen foliage is taken from trees such as oak, aspen, apple tree. And to protect the substrate from mold, it is good to add peach leaves to it.

Component processing for soil

All components of the substrate, prepared in the forest or in the swamp, must be properly processed before use. All components must be washed well in clean water and then dried. The bark and moss must also be boiled or calcined in the oven, then dried, and after a few days repeat this procedure.

Other components are also desirable treatment with boiling water. And many flower growers are advised to additionally treat moss with insecticides. After such treatments, the bark, moss and everything else can be safely used to prepare the soil for planting.

Soil preparation

The simplest soil recipe can consist of only 5 parts of bark and 1 part of charcoal. But it can not be called the best option for plants. It will be optimal for most orchids if the soil also contains moss (1 or 2 parts) and expanded clay or crushed pumice for drainage.

Orchid transplant

Other components can be used for the substrate depending on the needs of the flower, adding them to the soil if necessary. It is important that all parts are sanitized, well dried and thoroughly mixed. It is also necessary to disinfect the container for planting.

An orchid cannot be called an ordinary indoor flower, because it requires a special approach to growing. Soil for her also needs to be prepared very carefully. And although this procedure is somewhat troublesome, many flower growers always prefer to independently prepare the substrate. Those who do this for the first time, it is better to first see the whole process of preparation step by step in a video or photo.

The substrate for the orchid: video

As you know, replacing the soil for a flower is a kind of stress. For this reason orchid transplantation is done every 3 years with soil replacement (read about when it is best to transplant an orchid at home, read, and you will find out whether it is possible to perform this procedure in the autumn). So during this period, the soil is greatly depleted, loses valuable properties:

The balance of mineral salts is disturbed.
The substrate ages and decomposes.
The stock of micronutrients is running out.
Breathability decreases.
The level of acidity rises.

ATTENTION: Soil compaction leads to disruption of the drainage process, and stagnation of moisture can adversely affect the root system. For the full development of exotics, carry out a complete replacement of the substrate.

The general criteria for choosing a soil mixture for indoor orchids are the same. The soil should have the following qualities:

Representatives of orchids, which are grown at home, are divided into two groups: epiphytic and terrestrial. They differ not only in name, appearance, but also in the growth environment. Accordingly, the substrate for plants has a number of differences.

Epiphytic orchids include varieties:

dendrobium;
cattleya;
lycasts;
phalaenopsis;
cumbria
zygopetalum;
masdevallia.

For such plants, the soil is important mainly for maintaining an upright position, and then for nutrition and obtaining life-giving moisture. Consequently, epiphytes do not need land, enough without a soil substrate. Mixtures have variations: 1 part of charcoal and 5 parts of bark. Or moss-sphagnum, ash and slivers of bark in a ratio of 2: 1: 5.

Ground orchids: cymbidium and paphiopedilum, which require enhanced nutrition. The following soil composition is suitable for them:

pine bark;
wood ash;
peat.

TIP: You can also prepare a substrate from the prepared soil for orchids, adding moss and part of the deciduous land.

Experienced growers unequivocally answer this question - no. The habitual habitat of orchids is loose, light soil. The root system should be free to blow air, to participate in the process of photosynthesis. And in the earth it will be compressed, as if under the weight of a stone. In such conditions, it is rather difficult to grow an exotic flower and most likely it will die.

Can ordinary land be used? Soil for exotic plants you can buy ready-made, cook it yourself or purchase individual components, and choose the proportions yourself. In garden shops, there is a considerable selection of various soil mixtures for orchids. When buying a substrate, you should pay attention to:

Unfortunately, even in trusted stores you can buy a low-quality product. To avoid this, the substrate for orchids is prepared independently. It is not necessary to collect all the ingredients of the substrate yourself, which are sold separately in specialized stores. Thus, the substrate is easy to assemble by yourself, mixing the components in the right quantities. Good production of natural material from the manufacturer "Auriki Gardens".

How to make a mixture yourself?

In order to save money, as well as for full confidence in quality, the soil is prepared individually. The basic composition of the substrate contains:

Pine bark. This is the main component that is easy to find in a pine forest, on fallen trees. The bark should be crushed to 2-3 cm.
Moss sphagnum. Gather in the forests, in the lowlands, after a complete melting of snow. Moss has bactericidal properties. Use fresh and dry.
Fern rootsthat contain many useful substances. Add to the mixture dry.
charcoal easy to find in the ashes. Ash is needed the same size as other components.
Expanded clay, inexpensive and lightweight material. Granules are great as drainage.

Use options for preparing the substrate with the addition of sand of large fractions, granular clay, cork material, perlite, polystyrene, sheet soil, peat, humus.

Watch a video about collecting materials for an orchid substrate:

With soil replacement? A detailed description of the transplant process eliminates fuss and unnecessary errors. It is important to follow the sequence:

Watch the video about the correct orchid transplant:

At work, the girls handed me some wonderful orchids, and it was truly a royal gift. When it came time to transplant the “little sisters,” I used the soil they were talking about - normal for flowers. What a mistake it was! Fortunately, only one flower managed to suffer, transplanted “for trial”.

Having shoveled a lot of forums, I figured out what was the matter - it is better to mix the earth on my own (and not to listen to friends who grow only petunia and pelargonium, but not orchids). Do not repeat my mistakes! So that after the transplant, the orchid feels good, we definitely need ...

Since the orchid is an epiphyte, that is, a plant that clings its roots to the bark of trees all its life, it is easy to guess that this flower will prefer to grow in the bark in your apartment.

It is best if it is pine (the pine bark also fits well). True, you don’t need to cut it in a large piece - on the contrary, flower growers advise chopping the bark into small (with a coin) pieces.

You can buy it, but it’s cheaper to collect it, having climbed out into the woods for barbecue or for a walk (it doesn’t matter if it’s winter or summer).

It is right to do so:

the tree should be inanimate (felled, cut down some time ago or dried up), so there will be no tar in the bark;
the bark should not be with wood, cut only its upper balls;
do not take bark if bark beetles have worked on a tree (the bugs themselves are not your enemies, but the gnawed pieces will quickly crumble and the soil with them will become unusable);
at home, bark should be dried a little in the oven so as not to bring unwanted microorganisms to a sensitive orchid.

Sometimes pine cones are used instead of bark. This landing option is considered more experimental, but it has already proven itself ... And it’s also aesthetically pleasing and unbanal.

What else can be added to the substrate

Your main task is not to “clog” the soil so that it remains light and airy, without interfering with the gentle roots of the flower to breathe.

Charcoal

If you grow a phalaenopsis orchid, mix a lot of bark, a bit of coal, just a little bit of moss, and you’ll already get the finished mixture.

Where to get coal? You can grab a little from the fire after burning a tree (ideally, birch trees). The main thing is that the bonfire should not be lit with combustible mixtures.

Some color lovers add activated charcoal to the substrate for orchids.

Swamp moss sphagnum: what is it and where to get it

He perfectly absorbs water. At the same time, moss contains almost no nutrients - in our case, this is good, since the orchid is very demanding on nutrition.

Dried moss is sold in stores, but you can pick it up in a forest or in a meadow (yes, it does not necessarily grow in swamps, it can also be found in lowlands or in moist glades). It is better to collect moss in the spring. Moreover, it is not necessary to dry it; you can also add live, fresh sphagnum to the pot.

By the way! In addition to orchids, this component of the soil is also loved by other flowers: anthurium, senpolia.

Fern roots

The option is not for every flower. Like terrestrial epiphytes (say, cymbidium, but not phalaenopsis).

These roots have strong nutritional properties, so adding them is worth a little.

They can be dug in the forest. This should be done in early spring or late autumn. After that, the roots are washed and dried. Store them in a tied bag in the dark.

Inorganic substrates: yes or no?

If you go to a store for flower growers, it turns out that modern science has created many artificial analogues of soils that your pet may like. And to buy them really for mere pennies. But is it worth it?

What you will be offered:

styrofoam,
foam rubber
mineral wool
gravel,
perlite (white pebbles),
vermiculite (small pebbles of gray color),
hydrogel (yes, the same color),
expanded clay.

Their advantages: high hygroscopicity, lack of reaction to top dressing, easy cleaning of heavy salts, which eventually accumulate in a pot of water (all these stones just need to be washed). All these substances can be used both as the soil itself, and as an additive to the already mentioned bark.

Their cons: during the first use (especially if you have been working on orchids recently), you can fill your hand for a very long time regarding watering, which may cause the flower to suffer.

Why you should not use expanded clay

And on a visit, and on a photo on the Internet, and even in video reviews, you can see pots filled with these brown porous ceramic granules in which the orchid is peacefully green.

It is not difficult to understand why flower growers are so fond of this material: it is porous, lightweight, cheap, sold in many places, eco-friendly. Suitable for both the main soil and as one of the ingredients (acts as a drainage).

Porous granules absorb not only moisture, but also all the “good” that is in our tap water, namely, salts of heavy metals. Pick up, and then in large quantities give dangerous salts to the roots of the flower. This slows the growth of the plant, interferes with flowering.

Moreover! If watering is delayed, not only the roots, but also expanded clay pellets become dehydrated - these hollow “caves” begin to draw moisture from the roots, dehydrating the flower that is already suffering.

Purchased primers for orchids

After all the above, you might think that they are not sold at all, otherwise why bother with cutting the bark and all that?

But the "factory" land is also there. Another question is what is its quality? Experienced orchid growers complain: in the purchased soil for these flowers there are often too many peat mixtures, or even completely soil dust.

Of course, there are good products. But it is better to buy them for experienced people who know exactly what the flower needs.

If you are preparing your orchid for the first transplant, bet on pine bark - it certainly will never let you down!

And the last

Each person with his apartment, life schedule and flower variety is special, so I will give some tips on how to make the soil "for yourself."

If you often do not have time (forget or are traveling) to water your pet on time, add more moisture-absorbing components (the same moss) to the soil. They will actively absorb moisture when watering, and then give it away for a long time.
If epiphyte phalaenopsis (as well as other species growing on trees, which in our stores 90% of the entire range of products are presented) will taste the bark, then cymbidium and papiopedilum are terrestrial inhabitants, which means they will not refuse humus and leaf litter, as well as peat. The soil for these flowers can be made on the basis of earth for ferns.
If your soil has dried up for too long, add a little more coal and bark to the pot.
And vice versa, if the flower has little moisture (the air roots dry, the leaves are clumped), the ground lacks sphagnum, coconut chips, fern root.
When transplanting, it turned out that you prepared too little bark? Add what is at home - shells from walnuts. Also, many flower growers use beaten coconut (but this supplement must already be bought in specialized stores).
Fallen leaves of oak, birch, aspen, beech are a good supplement, as well as a treat for epiphytes.
Small seedlings? Make a small substrate for them (cut the bark into particles measuring centimeter per centimeter). For a mature plant, the pieces should be larger.

Want to experiment? How do you like the idea of \u200b\u200bgrowing an orchid without any soil at all? Some gardeners allow roots to grow in a container of water, or even hang out in the air. And the plants at the same time not only do not die, but also bloom! Of course, such experiments should not be used if your flower is the first and only. But if you have already separated a lot of children and filled your hand in caring for them, why not try it?

But this capricious flower needs not only to be transplanted, but also regularly watered, fed ... How to do it right, this video will tell you: