Selection of Orchid Matrix

The matrix is the most basic condition for orchids to survive. In the natural wild state, orchids take root in the soil and grow freely with the sun, rain and air of nature. After a very long period of selection and evolution, orchids have long adapted to their place of origin and their living environment, so the natural environment in which orchids can live and grow must be the most suitable, especially the soil. However, under the condition of artificial cultivation, the environment for the growth of orchids has changed, and various factors are very different. Under this condition, even if the orchid has already adapted to the soil in the natural wild state, it can not meet the normal growth of the orchid under the artificial cultivation condition. In the natural state, the structure and properties of the soil are relatively stable and have a strong buffer capacity to adverse conditions, but in the artificial environment, the matrix is easily affected by external factors and changes greatly in a short period of time, such as temperature, moisture, air, nutrients, PH and so on.

However, in order to raise orchids well, people still try to imitate and create the environmental conditions that orchids have adapted to in the natural wild state. In the cultivation practice, a set of feasible technical measures were gradually explored and summarized. As for the cultivation substrate of orchid, it is generally believed that it should be loose and permeable, rich in nutrients and slightly acidic. In nature, there are many materials with these characteristics, such as leaves, sawdust, peat, pond mud, mountain skin soil, humus and so on. for example, a variety of commercial orchid, blue stone, blue mud and so on.

In fact, a certain material can not be defined as the fixed substrate of orchids, but should be selected and prepared on the basis of clear physiological characteristics of orchids, so that orchids can be cultivated according to local conditions. The materials of the matrix should be selected according to the characteristics of orchids. Orchid is a perennial herb, its fleshy root has a strong water retention capacity, and symbiosis with orchid bacteria, like shade, moisture, ventilation, avoid hot and dry, waterlogging saline-alkali. According to the knot characteristics of orchids, the substrate for cultivating orchids is required not only to provide a large number of elements and trace elements to meet the growth of orchids, but also to have good water permeability. Practice has proved that it is difficult for a single medium to have and maintain these characteristics for a long time, and growers should select and combine them according to the species of orchids in order to make an ideal orchid substrate. For example, the cultivation of Chinese orchids, that is, orchids of the genus Cymbidium, Cymbidium, Jian Orchid, Cold Orchid and Cymbidium, can use leaves as substrates, use deciduous leaves of oak trees and other broad-leaved trees to rot faster, and can be mixed with fallen leaves of coniferous trees such as pine trees, which can delay decay and improve acidity. Such a substrate is loose and breathable, rich in nutrients, and can meet the normal growth of orchids without fertilization. Its disadvantage is that the permeability is reduced after decay, and it is easy to breed insects and bacteria. Use to reduce the amount of matrix as far as possible, you can use a small basin, such as a larger orchid basin, you can increase the orchid plant, so that even if the matrix is rotten, there is no need to replace it. After decay, the matrix is reduced, and the upper orchid root is exposed. If there are more exposed roots, you can continue to add some matrix to cover it.

Practice has proved that the most important thing of orchid matrix is aeration and water permeability, and it is best to choose granular materials, which can absorb and conserve water, meet the water absorption needs of orchids, and the gaps between particles can exchange air and transfer oxygen. to meet the oxygen consumption needs of orchids, it is more ideal to provide various nutrients needed by orchids, if not, it can be solved by fertilization. For the artificial orchid substrate, can be directly applied according to the instructions, for the self-selected orchid substrate, it is best to go through a small amount of cultivation experiments, first try to plant with ordinary orchids for a period of time, convinced that it is feasible, and then cultivate precious orchids.

In short, for orchid matrix, can not follow others, must carry out practice, only through their own repeated experiments, skillfully mastered technology, can form a certain understanding, and can be flexible in the process of practical application, without deviation, even if it is local materials, can also raise orchids. (Yang Wei)