Selection of Orchid Plant material

This is a topic that I extremely do not want to dabble in, because complex plant species are the things that best reflect the character of Lanyou besides selecting flowers. According to my observation, it carries almost all the expectations of orchids from orchids. If you speak carelessly, you will touch the sensitive nerves of some people and make people unhappy. But Lanyou always mentioned it, and recently there are many orchid friends asking about this in different ways. With the unpleasant character of Chongqing people, I simply explain my personal views on plant materials from a technical point of view. I have no intention of blaming anyone. If there is something wrong, I would like to discuss with Lanyou.

Personally, I think that the plant material of orchids is the soil on which orchids live. The ancients had a vivid note on the soil: "if you spit, you can spit everything that gives birth to all things." From the point of view of modern pedology, this statement still has its scientific reasons. In other words, the plant material of orchids is the carrier that enables orchids to grow and develop normally, and there is nothing special about it. However, from various ways of contact with Lan you, it seems that the extremely simple issue of plant material has been extremely complicated, and some people have even deified it. An orchid friend told me that in the nearly 20 years since he planted orchids, he has used no less than 40 kinds of plant materials, almost twice a year. Sometimes just planted, but also listen to a certain orchid friend say what plant material is good, immediately replace it. This proves not only his obsession with orchids, but also his lack of understanding or understanding of the biological characteristics of plant roots.

The root system of the plant mainly has the function of absorbing water and mineral nutrients from the soil, supporting and fixing the plant, and the orchid can not be beneficial, but its root system is fat and tender. This kind of root system needs plant material to be loose, permeable and leached. If water accumulates, it is easy to make the root system carry out anaerobic respiration, producing harmful substances such as ethanol, ammonia, hydrogen sulfide and causing root rot.

Since Langen has such characteristics, we can determine the principle of selecting plant materials: breathable and permeable without adhesion and hardening, have a certain level of fertility, have a certain ability to conserve water and fertilizer, have a wide range of sources, cheap and easy to obtain, and it is best to combine soft and hard when cooperating. As long as these basic conditions are met, whatever plant materials can be used in accordance with local conditions, there is no need to follow others, listening and believing.

According to this principle, in the five years from planting orchid to now, I have been using small red brick particles and Chinese chestnut king orchid plant material. I have never changed the plant material, no matter what is thick to fine, and bluegrass has always been full of vitality. In order not to flush out the root system when watering, but also to keep the basin moist for a long time, but also to make the bulb breathable and less susceptible to disease, so use thick plant material in the basin. In other words, I and most of the orchid friends put the crude material on the following is the opposite.

I always think that the plants, including most of Lanyou, are very breathable compared with farmers who grow crops. There is no need to deliberately put the coarse plant material below and plant it carefully on top. It may be a professional habit. I think it is too troublesome. I have joked with Lanyou more than once that farmers grow crops in order to loosen the topsoil in order to breath. if they are required to loosen the subsoil according to the thinking of the top and bottom, then they have to install pipes to breathe. Or make a hole from under the root to the end of the earth, but the Yankees certainly won't agree. I also have a point of view, that is, it is better to have a smaller plant material, so that the root can have better contact with the plant material, so as to better absorb water and mineral nutrients. It can also be said that there is a strong scientific basis: the roots of plants can also secrete viscose, which makes the roots stick closely to the soil to facilitate the absorption of water and nutrients. The use of fine plant materials to properly open the watering interval can prevent water from injuring roots.

Of course, different regions should have different choices. For example, leaves and sheep dung are commonly used in Yunnan, but Chongqing cannot simply imitate due to climatic factors.

At the same time, I personally insist on the combination of soft and hard plant materials, that is, the combination of hard plant materials and soft plant materials. Hard plant material mainly plays the role of loosening and breathability, and the mature organic matter soft plant material acts as the base fertilizer, which can make the nutrient elements as comprehensive as possible, so as to avoid orchid malnutrition. I am very opposed to soilless cultivation with hard plants, because it can be said that the research on orchid fertilizer is still in its infancy, different varieties, different seasons and different periods of growth and development, and what kind of fertilizer to use. how much can be said to be inconclusive. Unlike crops, there are many specialized agencies studying, such as rice fields with a yield of 1000 jin per mu, how much nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and many other fertilizers need to be applied, and when to apply them, there is a quite accurate conclusion. I will publish orchid knowledge and pictures every day, take you in-depth understanding of orchids, teach you to easily raise orchids, you can always ask me or leave a message below if you don't understand orchids. If my knowledge brings you help, I hope you can help me or forward it to help more people!