Advantages and disadvantages of humus soil, moss and other plant materials

Humus soil, water moss, sawdust, wind fossils and other plant materials in addition to good permeability, the composition is quite different, the physical and chemical properties are also completely different. The growth of orchids does not only need good air permeability, orchids, like other plants, their plants should meet the needs of water, fertilizer, gas and heat.

What kind of planting material is more suitable for orchid growth? We might as well look for some inspiration from the soil environment of wild orchids! As long as we look carefully, we will find that the soil where wild orchids grow is generally divided into three layers: the upper layer is a layer of deciduous and rotten leaves. Most of them are deciduous and withered stems of plants, which are non-rotten and semi-rotten, with more attached and parasitic hyphae, light porosity, strong air permeability, certain acidity, and can provide a lot of organic matter. The bottom layer is a variety of mountain soil. Some are sticky and loose, some are sour and some are alkaline or neutral, with comprehensive nutrients; there are better "ground humidity" and "ground temperature", which can provide moisture for the upper and middle layers, make them "moist", and adjust the temperature of the upper and middle layers. The middle layer is a mixture of the upper and lower layers of matter, which is also the transition layer between the upper and lower layers, where various substances are further decomposed and synthesized. Because this layer of soil contains more organic matter, it is generally called humus soil. The middle layer is the main distribution area of wild orchid root system, and the orchid root grows radially around. If the bottom layer is loose and slightly acidic soil, there is also a small amount of orchid root growing downward. The middle layer has good air permeability, suitable for humidity, sufficient organic matter and certain mineral nutrients, and the temperature changes little, which is very conducive to the growth of orchid roots and the reproduction of root fungi, so as to provide rich nutrients for the growth of orchids.

From the soil environment in which wild orchids grow, it is known that orchid cultivation plants should meet the following requirements:

① is highly breathable.

③ has certain water retention and water retention capacity, and the plant material belt is in a "moist" state.

③ has sufficient organic matter and certain mineral nutrients.

④ is good for heat dissipation in summer and heat preservation in winter.

Then see whether humus soil, water moss, sawdust and wind fossils can meet the above requirements.

① humus soil. It contains sufficient organic matter and certain mineral nutrients, and the air permeability, water retention and water permeability are good, and the performance of heat dissipation and heat preservation is also good, but when it is used in potted plants, after a period of watering and leaching, the soil aggregate structure becomes bad, the air permeability decreases, and the soil is stagnant. It's not suitable for orchid planting.

② water moss. Strong air permeability, strong water permeability, but because it is a living plant, not easy to decompose, can not provide organic matter and mineral nutrients for orchids, good heat dissipation and poor thermal insulation.

③ sawdust. Strong air permeability, good water retention and permeability, can provide sufficient organic matter and a small amount of minerals after decomposition, good heat dissipation and heat preservation performance. However, in the process of sawdust decomposition, fungi need a large amount of nitrogen, and its requirement is proportional to the carbon intake (the so-called carbon-nitrogen ratio), which will lead to a serious shortage of nitrogen supply to orchids, thin orchid seedlings and obvious shrinking grass in lower mountain orchids.

④ wind fossils. Strong air permeability, strong water permeability, can provide rich mineral nutrients after decomposition, good heat dissipation, slightly poor thermal insulation, no or only a small amount of organic matter, can not provide sufficient source of organic matter for the growth of orchids.

From this point of view, each kind of orchid planting into the village has its own length, and its use alone can not fully meet the needs of orchid growth. In order to obtain a more ideal orchid plant material, we must learn from each other's strong points to make up for our weaknesses, moisturize and reuse. The author uses 60% wind fossils, 20% humus soil, 20% sawdust mixed plant species orchid. The plant material has strong air permeability, good water retention and permeability, often in a "moist" state, with sufficient organic matter and certain mineral nutrients, good heat dissipation and heat preservation, and resistance to watering and leaching. Sawdust decomposition in the early stage will compete with orchids for nitrogen, but the nitrogen in the soil can basically meet the needs of orchid growth, and the sawdust decomposed in the later stage will in turn supply nitrogen to orchids.

In addition, water moss can be used as a material for soilless orchid planting, clean and hygienic, without choosing a pot. As long as a certain concentration of total nutrient solution is poured regularly, the orchid can grow normally. (Hubei-Liu Jingqiu)