Various Types of Potting Material For Your Orchid

Orchids are said to be known for their beauty, delicacy and elegance and all these factors are true regardless of the species. It is also mentioned they are extremely tropical but this fact remains debatable as they can be found in many areas of the world, including your back garden. They can be grown anywhere with the enthusiast having the knowledge to ensure they remain healthy and grown into a strong plant.

Whilst it is vital to know how to care for your orchid you should also bear in mind they are easier to grow than your average roses. You just have to be aware of their individual, and in some cases, unique needs in terms of planting and cultivating. Each species has its own requirements and so to give a step by step guide on planting orchids would only lead you to failure, as your experience grows you will become aware of each species needs.

The basics for when you start out in orchid planting are as follows, and remember these can vary slightly from species to species but will give you a foundation to work on;

- Seeking the best planting ground for your plant
- Establishing the optimal climate for your plant
- Providing the correct levels of humidity
- Sufficient light supply for your plant
- Adequate, but not excess watering of your plant

These foundations will help you create the perfect, healthy orchid but all of the above must coincide with the basics of the correct potting methods – this will depend on the weather, climate and conditions of where you will grow your orchid.

Potting Material for Orchid Planting

It is a certainty that you will have questions and doubts about what are the best pots to be used for your orchids and therefore it s paramount to visit your local gardening centre to se the options available to you.

The least expensive and most simple method of potting s through the use of plastic pots, and also great for indoor planting as they generally have only one water drain at the base, remembering that your plant requires good drainage this is vital to have. Planting outdoors will mean you want to look at alternatives to plastic as conditions such as wind can affect them severely.

Outdoor planting can bring clay pots into play in a great way, also with a hole in the bottom for drainage and enough weight to hold them against wind resistance. The holes in clay pots can often be found in the side as well as the bottom making them a great drainer, and the water has a tendency to evaporate quickly from clay, and also can add a beautiful surrounding to your plant.

Transparent Polythaline Containers – Although the pot itself is great, they are not as suitable as the other options that have been mentioned due to water drainage and appearance, but to point a good factor of these the sun can easily access the roots which is an important part of growth.

Basket Pots – Ideal for trailing, or hanging orchids, on most occasions the lining of the pots are ideal for drainage and they can often be purchased without the lining for you to select your own.
Before selecting your pot bear in mind the species you are thinking of growing and their individual requirements, an expert can guide you further if you wish to gain more confidence.

Potting Soil

So, you have selected the best potting container for your plant, now you need to choose the best inorganic material for them to rest ads grow within – using normal potting soil can be a dangerous mistake as they store far too much water for your orchids requirements, instead consider some of the following;

- Coconut husks
- Fir bark
- Redwood bark
- Sphagnum moss
- Tree fern fiber

These may not seem the best option, but they are dry, and they dry out easily making them a great home for your orchid.

Inorganic material is also needed to help the plant remain healthy, using some that provide great light for the roots and drain easily are the best options. As your knowledge of orchid planting grows so will your knowledge of great combinations to achieve this, consider these;

- Charcoal
- Vermiculite
- Heavy Lave Rock

Each of these plays an important role in maintaining a healthy root.

As with organic materials, there are choices of inorganic matter for you to select from, seek advice from the garden center assistants to be sure of your right selection.

If you see the roots becoming tight amongst your orchid pots there is no worry, orchids actually enjoy having a close root, so avoid repotting unless you see it as vital to their survival. Planting orchids is not complex, it just requires an understanding.