Usually, the substrate for orchid cultivation is called the plant material, which is divided into hard and soft. According to different regions and climates, the selection of plant materials is also different. Soft planting materials are mainly saprophytic soil, perlite and peat soil, which have high nutrition and strong water holding capacity, but easy to rot if the water quantity is not well controlled. Hard planting materials are mainly pine bark, coconut shell, peanut shell, etc., which have good drainage capacity, but fertilizer is also easy to lose. Generally, hard planting materials are selected in high temperature and rainy areas, while soft planting materials are selected in dry and cold areas.
1. Soft planting materials: soft planting materials mainly include sapropel, perlite, peat soil, etc. It is mainly composed of sapropel, peat soil and sandy soil. The proportion of the three is about 6:3:1. After fully mixing, you can add a little organic fertilizer as the base fertilizer to supplement nutrition for orchid
2. Hard planting materials: hard planting materials mainly include pine bark, Xiantu, zhijinshi, bluestone, etc. The percentage of pine bark is relatively high, usually between 40% and 60%. Xiantu and zhijinshi can be added equally. If it is weak seedling, bark can be less, fairy soil and planting more stone.
1. Selection of plant materials: the climate in the south is relatively wet, and there is more rain, so it is better to choose hard plant materials with better drainage. And the north is drier, the winter is colder, can choose the soft plant material that keeps water and heat.
2. Difference in watering: the soft plant material has strong drainage, so it should be watered more frequently, usually once every two days. The water holding capacity of hard plant material is good, watering should not be too frequent, otherwise it is easy to flood the root, generally once every 5 days.
