In order for orchids to bloom beautifully again and again, they need a special soil: special orchid substrate. We will tell you why orchids depend on a special substrate and what properties it should have for perfect flowering.
Orchids (Orchidaceae) cannot grow in normal potting soil. You need special orchid soil, called orchid substrate. In this article we explain what it is all about, which orchid substrate is the best, how you can make your own orchid soil and whether orchids can also grow without soil.
Do orchids need special soil?
In the wild, orchids don't grow on the forest floor because they don't get enough light there. The resourceful plants have therefore come up with a different survival strategy: They live as epiphytes high up in the treetops. Their roots hang freely in the air. No wonder, then, that orchids cannot thrive in normal soil. To provide orchids' delicate aerial roots with conditions similar to their natural environment, you need special orchid soil.
What properties should an orchid substrate have?
To clarify which soil is the best for orchids, you have to look at what properties a good substrate should have for exotic plants.
Characteristics of good orchid substrate:
- Loose and permeable
- Low peat content
- Contains Pine Bark
- With structuring material such as coconut fibers or expanded clay
- Combined with special orchid fertilizer
A suitable substrate for orchids should combine all of these properties.
Which orchid soil is the best?
We at Plantura recommend Floragard orchid soil. This special substrate is optimally adapted to the needs of demanding orchids: the composition is particularly airy and facilitates the water supply. In addition, it is 100 percent peat-free and the integrated orchid fertilizer supports the plant in developing strong flowers.
Note: Is it better to use orchid soil or granules?
In general, you can use both for orchids as long as the ingredients are specifically formulated for orchids. However, since granules for orchids also contain bark as the main component, there is no advantage of granules over orchid substrate.
Mix orchid substrate yourself
If you want to influence exactly what your orchid grows on, you can also mix orchid soil yourself. The quality of the ingredients is crucial for this. Contaminated materials may transmit bugs and diseases to the sensitive orchid. It is safest to buy the individual components from a specialist dealer. The main component of orchid substrate should be bark, ideally pine bark - bark mulch is not suitable as orchid soil. The pine bark is then mixed with equal parts filler. This can be coconut fibre, expanded clay, perlite or cork, for example. Charcoal is also well suited, as it also has a disinfecting effect.
How do I make my own orchid soil?
- Mix bark and filling material in a ratio of 1:1
- Matching bark: pine bark or pine bark
- Suitable filling material: coconut fibers, expanded clay, charcoal, cork, perlite, nut shells, moss
Making your own orchid soil is not easy. If the components are not 100% clean or are of poor quality, the substrate will do more damage to your orchid than help it grow. We therefore advise beginners in particular to buy ready-made, high-quality orchid substrate such as Floragard orchid soil in order not to be disappointed.
Can orchids grow in a glass without soil?
If orchids can do without soil in their natural habitat, can't they also do so in our home? In fact, it is possible to grow orchids without a substrate. However, this requires special care for the exotic plant. It is visually appealing to let orchids grow in a glass. In this way, enough light reaches the roots. The glass should be big enough. A conical shape means that the roots can spread out well at the bottom, while they don't grow out of the glass as easily at the top.
Before putting the orchid in the jar without soil mustall substrate must be removed from the roots. Any residue, no matter how small, can lead to root rot. Therefore, clean the roots carefully and thoroughly. Once planted in the glass, the orchid needs to be sprayed with water daily, both on the roots and on the leaves. Nutrients are added to the spray water in the form of fertilizer every four weeks and sprayed onto the plant.
What should you watch out for when growing orchids without a substrate?
- Sufficiently large glass
- Glasses with a conical shape are ideal
- Clean the roots thoroughly so that there are no more substrate residues
- Spray leaves and roots with water daily
- Add fertilizer to water every four weeks
The substrate for orchids should be changed every two years. The beautiful flowers are repotted. Everything you need to know about repotting orchids can be found in our special article.
Many thanks to Floragard for the support!