Use decaying wood blocks as fillers

Conforming to the pleasant characteristics of orchid root and trying to improve the permeability of orchid basin is the key to raise orchids well. The traditional method is to cultivate it with loose and fertile humus soil and fill the bottom of the orchid basin with some hydrating, moisturizing and breathable medium to meet the physiological needs of orchids. Therefore, it is very important to choose what kind of medium as filler, improper use will make a big mistake, light will weaken the growth of the plant, serious may lead to the death of the whole orchid plant.

In the past, I referred to the practice of my predecessors, first of all, we should use broken bricks, tiles, slag, charcoal and so on, and achieved certain results. However, after years of practice, it is found that their shortcomings are obvious and can not fundamentally improve the limitations of orchid pots.

Broken bricks and tiles are water-absorbing, moisturizing, breathable and economical, but the mass density is high, the heat dissipation is slow, the PH value is often greater than 7, and does not contain organic matter, which can not provide organic nutrients for orchids.

Charcoal, light weight, low density, PH value equal to or greater than 7. Due to carbonization, its organic matter is destroyed, and the rest of its properties are the same as those of bricks and tiles.

Obviously, the above-mentioned medium has only permeable effect but no fertilizer effect, and must be acidified when used. The traditional method is only considered to improve the permeability of the orchid basin, and fails to comprehensively deal with the limitations of the orchid basin, such as poor air permeability, narrow nutritional area, poor fertilizer preservation and so on. At present, the soilless cultivation method adopted in Hong Kong, Taiwan and abroad is aimed at the deficiency of orchid pots and tries to create a good ecological environment for orchids, but it is not safe to use because of its high cost, inconvenient operation and management, and the lack of systematic cultivation experience in China, so it is impossible to popularize and popularize orchid cultivation in the family in the short term.

In view of the above reasons, I was inspired by the characteristics of Lansheng Valley, which is associated with rotten wood in the humus soil layer. In 1987, I began to try decaying wood to fill the orchid basin, and achieved unexpected good results. All orchids cultivated with it have gratifying growth, high germination and flowering rate, increased leaves, bright leaf color, and plant height rebounded, which is close to the robust degree in the wild.

Through the study, it is found that rotten wood not only has the common advantages of other media, but also can achieve the effect of foreign soilless cultivation, and better improve the limitations of growing orchids in pots.

① itself is rich in organic matter, but also can absorb, preserve and store fertilizer, which is conducive to the growth of orchid symbiotic bacteria, can supplement the lack of soil fertility, and can provide nutrients for orchids for a long time.

The pH value of ② is acidic (4.5-7) and does not need to be acidified when used.

③ has excellent heat dissipation, thermal insulation and permeability, and is economical and easy to obtain. It is safe and reliable to use. It is a cheap and excellent medium in cold and hot areas, as well as in urban and rural areas.

It has been proved by practice that no matter what kind of rotten wood, the effect is good, especially willow and pine. In use, must go through disinfection, disinfection with drugs and sun exposure disinfection can be, generally do not make high-temperature steaming, so as not to destroy its organic matter. Using decaying wood to cushion the basin, there is no need to change the basin every year, it is generally appropriate to change every 3 years, which is conducive to the attachment of Langen to rotten wood and absorb nutrients from it. (Nanjing-Zhao Keshun)