For people who enjoy growing flowers and plants, the hope is always to see them bloom vibrantly. This not only brings a sense of accomplishment to the grower but also fills the home with the beautiful symbolism of flowers. In recent years, Phalaenopsis orchids have become the most popular choice, as everyone wishes to see them covered with blossoms. So, how can we scientifically mix the right “potting media” for daily care?
When caring for Phalaenopsis, if you want them to bloom abundantly, the first step is to cultivate strong, healthy roots. Drawing from the techniques used by professional growers, how can families create the “golden soil mix”? The key point here is to calculate by volume. If you’re not familiar at first, you can use a measuring cup with marked volume to make it more accurate.
Let’s start with a 1:1 ratio (sphagnum moss to bark by volume). For example, if you want to prepare about 1 liter of potting medium, measure out 500 ml of sphagnum moss and 500 ml of bark. Mix the two together, and you’ll have about 1000 ml of potting medium.
As for charcoal, it’s calculated as about one-tenth of the total volume of the potting mix. For instance, if you’re making 1 liter of mix, you can add about 100 ml of charcoal. Don’t add too much — a small amount is enough, as adding more won’t make much difference. These numbers may look troublesome, but in practice you can just use a measuring cup a few times, which is quite convenient.
That said, the ratio isn’t a fixed formula; you need to adjust it depending on your environment. For example, in southern regions, where the weather is generally more humid, you should use more bark and less moss to allow the mix to dry faster and prevent root rot — sometimes even a 1:2 ratio (moss:bark) works well. In drier northern regions, it’s the opposite: use more moss and less bark (for example, 2:1 moss:bark) to help retain moisture and keep the medium from drying out too quickly. For beginners, you can start with these ratios, then observe how your orchid grows and how fast the medium dries, and make adjustments gradually.
Finally, once you’ve measured the right amounts of bark, sphagnum moss, and charcoal, mix them evenly in a large container. Consistent mixing ensures the potting medium retains moisture while staying breathable. If you’re using domestic sphagnum moss, it tends to clump together, so make sure to crumble it apart thoroughly.
Leave a Reply