How to make an orchid potting mix is what most orchid growers fear. If your orchids are not performing well, try making your potting soil.
Our team of gardeners is here to assist you with precisely this process, so that you will have the right mix for your plant, and it will help them grow in this base. Read on as we go through the detailed steps to help you make the perfect mix for your orchids.
Contents
How to Make an Orchid Potting Mix Easily?
To make an orchid potting mix easily, you must gather the materials, prepare the orchid bark and other components, mix all the ingredients, test the moisture retention of your mix, sterilize the mix, test the mix on your orchids, and make adjustments accordingly.
1. Gather the Necessary Materials and Ingredients
To start making your orchid mix, gather the needed materials and ingredients. It would be best to have the right bark, and this is because it is the primary component of potting mixes and is essential for providing excellent drainage. You can find bark at most gardening shops, so you must look for bark designed explicitly for orchids, preferably in sizes around a quarter or slightly larger.
In addition, you need sphagnum moss or coconut husk chips as it helps in moisture retention within the orchid soil mix. Perlite helps improve drainage, while moss holds moisture. You can choose either perlite or moss based on your orchid’s moisture requirements.
However, remember that perlite is preferable for orchids requiring more drainage, while moss is suitable for orchids with higher humidity.
You can also add charcoal to help prevent the potting medium from becoming stagnant and assist in absorbing impurities. It aids in keeping the orchid soil fresh and odor-free. Look for charcoal specifically meant for horticultural use, because this is what is needed.
Depending on the specific needs of your orchids, consider adding additional components such as lava rocks, tree fern fiber, expanded clay pebbles, or small amounts of vermiculite. For this, you can also aim to be using rock wool, but you must know that you don’t have to, as it cannot retain moisture.
Also, coconut coir and tree fern fiber enhance moisture retention, while vermiculite provides added water-holding capacity. You can use these optional ingredients sparingly and based on the requirements of your orchid species.
2. Prepare the Bark
If the bark you purchased is in larger pieces, it’s essential to break it down into smaller, more manageable pieces, allowing for better air circulation and drainage in the mix. You can use a hammer, mallet, or small pruning shear to break the bark into suitable sizes.
However, you must place the larger pieces of the bark on a steady surface, such as a workbench or a portion of wood, and for this, you should be mindful of any loose bark or dust that may come off during the process.
Now, you should gently strike the larger pieces of bark with a hammer or mallet, applying enough force to break them into smaller fragments. Aim for chunks approximately the size of a quarter or slightly larger. Avoid creating too much fine dust, which can interfere with the mix’s texture and aeration.
Continue breaking down the bark until you have achieved the desired size for your mix. It’s convenient to have a variety of sizes, as this will contribute to better airflow and drainage within the growing medium. Once you have prepared the bark, set it aside in a clean container or bucket until the time has come to mix it with the other components.
3. Prepare the Other Components
If you are using peat moss, it’s important to hydrate it before incorporating it into the mix. Take a portion of moss and soak it in water between 15 and 30 minutes until fully hydrated. Once hydrated, gently squeeze out any excess water to ensure that the moss retains moisture effectively when mixed into the mix.
Before adding charcoal to the mix, please rinse the charcoal to remove any dust or impurities that may be present. Place the charcoal in a fine-mesh sieve or strainer and rinse the sooty charcoal under running water until it clears. This step will help ensure the charcoal is clean and ready to incorporate into the mix.
Once you have hydrated the sphagnum moss, this is the case if you are using it, and rinsed the charcoal, set them aside temporarily. Preparing the other components of the mix ensures that they are speckless and ready for use. This step creates a healthy and suitable combination for your orchid plants.
4. Mix the Ingredients
Take a clean container or bucket large enough to hold all the ingredients and serve as your mixing vessel. Add the prepared bark, perlite, or hydrated sphagnum moss and rinsed charcoal to the container in the desired proportions. A typical ratio is five parts bark, one part perlite or sphagnum moss, and a small amount of charcoal.
If you have opted to include additional ingredients such as coconut coir, tree fern fiber, or vermiculite, add them to the container. Considering their respective moisture-retaining properties, you can add these optional ingredients in smaller quantities.
You can make your own phalaenopsis orchid potting mix recipe or a cymbidium orchid potting mix recipe, or any orchid species by adjusting the quantities; you won’t even have to search for an ‘orchid potting mix near me’ or ‘orchid potting mix home depot’ or ‘amazon orchid potting mix.’
Thoroughly mix the ingredients with your hands or a miniature garden rake. Ensure to evenly distribute the bark, perlite, sphagnum moss, charcoal, and any optional ingredients throughout the mix. However, you should also be mindful that this step is crucial to achieving a well-balanced blend that provides proper drainage, aeration, and moisture retention for your orchids.
Continue mixing until you have achieved a consistent blend of all the components. You have created potting medium that has almost all of the miracle-gro orchid potting mix ingredients. Break up any clumps or chunks that may have formed during the mixing process.
For this, the goal is a uniform and well-integrated mix to provide an optimal environment for your orchids’ root growth and overall health, so be detailed on this.
5. Test the Moisture Retention
Take a handful of the bark mix from the container and gently squeeze it in your hand, so you must now apply slight pressure to gauge its moisture retention; for this, you should observe how the mix responds. It should hold together without being overly compacted, indicating adequate moisture retention.
At the same time, it should not release excessive water or feel excessively wet, as this could lead to unfavorable waterlogged conditions for orchid roots.
If the mix feels too dry and crumbles apart easily, it may indicate that it lacks sufficient moisture retention. If you wish, you may consider adding a small amount of hydrated sphagnum moss, coconut coir, or vermiculite to enhance the mix’s moisture-holding capacity.
But, if the mix feels excessively wet and forms a muddy or soggy ball, it indicates that the blend retains too much water. In such cases, you can add more bark or perlite to improve drainage and decrease moisture retention.
Repeat this moisture retention test with additional handfuls of the mix as needed, making adjustments and fine-tuning the mix until you achieve the desired moisture retention level. By testing the moisture retention of the mix, ensure that it makes the right balance between retaining enough moisture for the orchid’s needs and still allowing excess water to drain correctly.
6. Sterilize the Mix
To eliminate potential pathogens or pests, sterilize the mix by baking it in the oven at around 200 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 to almost 45 minutes. This step is beneficial when reusing old potting media or to ensure a sterile environment for your orchids.
Sterilizing a new medium is also helpful as it removes any hidden infestations of infections. After sterilization, you must let the mix cool completely before using it to avoid damaging the orchid’s roots, this is very important to be detailed on.
7. Test the Mix
Please check if the mix you just made suits your orchid species; it is a good idea. Fill your orchid’s pot with the mix, leaving enough space at the top for watering. Carefully remove your orchid from the current pot, removing any old mix from the roots.
You must try to place the orchid in the new pot, so the roots spread evenly, and the stem’s base is slightly above the mix surface. Fill in any remaining gaps around the roots with your just-made best potting mix for phalaenopsis orchid, gently pressing it down to secure the plant.
8. Provide The Right Amount of Water and Care
Now, you must have your question, ‘Is the orchid potting mix phalaenopsis-friendly?’ answered. After potting, water your orchids thoroughly until the excess water drains out from the pot’s bottom, as general plant care.
Generally, it is best to water orchids weekly in winter and twice a week in summer. You should provide proper orchid care to your plants, including appropriate light levels, humidity, and water, depending on the specific needs of the orchid species you are growing.
To ensure the newly-made mix shows the best results, add a liquid fertilizer instead of a concentrated fertilizer to avoid damaging your orchid’s roots.
Conclusion
You are now ready with your potting mix, using the material you obtained from our article, so let’s go through the main points quickly, so you make the mix in a hassle-free way:
- Hydrate the components like moss to help it retain moisture when you water your orchids.
- Break the larger bark into smaller pieces to help with aeration. Please cover your face with a mask to avoid breathing in the dust released.
- It is an optional step, but it would be best to disinfect your potting medium before use.
- You can modify the portion of the bark mix according to the orchid species. It can take a few tries, so patience is vital.
Now that you have all the recommended tips, you are prepared to make your orchid potting mix and remove the growing guide that did not help you in taking care of your orchids.
- 25 Kalanchoe Types and Colorful Varieties for Your Garden - October 3, 2023
- 17 Hawaiian Flowers That Grow and Thrive in the Hot Summer - October 2, 2023
- Watering a Poinsettia and How is it Done Correctly? - September 30, 2023
