Knowing your potting material options
The phrase potting material isn't just a fancy way of saying dirt. Potting materials can consist of gravel, dried plant fibers, bark, and more. You won't find potting soil in orchid mixes, because most orchids have roots that need more air space than soil can provide. Orchids also need potting material that drains rapidly and at the same time retains moisture. Because orchids usually go at least a year, and many times longer, between repotting, they also need materials that are slow to decompose.
No single potting material works best for every orchid or orchid grower. The following table shows some of the most common potting materials used, along with some of their pros and cons.| Potting Material | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Aliflor | Doesn't decompose; provides good aeration | Heavy |
| Coco husk chunks | Retains moisture while also providing sufficient air; slower to decompose than bark | Must be rinsed thoroughly to remove any salt residue; smaller grades may retain too much moisture |
| Coco husk fiber | Retains water well; decomposes slowly | Does not drain as well as bark or coco husk chunks |
| Fir bark | Easy to obtain; inexpensive; available in many grades (sizes) | Can be difficult to wet; decomposes relatively quickly |
| Gravel | Drains well; inexpensive | Heavy; holds no nutrients |
| Hardwood charcoal | Very slow to decompose; absorbs contaminants | Holds very little moisture; can be dusty to handle |
| Lava rock | Never decomposes; drains well | Heavy |
| Osmunda fiber | Retains moisture; slow to break down | Very expensive; hard to find |
| Perlite (sponge rock) | Lightweight; provides good aeration and water retention; inexpensive | Retains too much water if used alone |
| Redwood bark | Lasts longer than fir bark | Hard to find |
| Sphagnum moss | Retains water and air; readily available | Can retain too much water if packed tightly in the pot or after it starts to decompose |
| Styrofoam peanuts | Inexpensive; readily available; doesn't decompose; rapid draining | Should not be used alone because doesn't retain water or nutrients; best used as drainage in bottoms of pots; can be too light for top-heavy plants |
| Tree fern fiber | Rapidly draining; slow to decompose | Expensive; low water retention |
Make your own orchid mix
Following are recipes for two basic mixes that suit most orchids. The growing mixes are based on the texture or particle size of the mix, which is connected to the size of the orchid roots and their need for water retention.Fine mix
This mix works well for smaller plants of all types of orchids, slipper orchids, most oncidiums, miltonias, and any other orchids with small roots that like to stay on the damp side:4 parts fine-grade fir bark or fine-grade coco husk chips or redwood bark
1 part fine charcoal
1 part horticultural-grade perlite or small-grade Aliflor
Medium mix
This is your middle-of-the-road mix. If you aren't sure which mix to use, try this one. This mix is also good for cattleyas, phalaenopsis, and most mature orchids:4 parts medium-grade fir bark or medium-grade coco husk chunks
1 part medium charcoal
1 part horticultural-grade perlite or medium-grade Aliflor
If you'd rather just buy your mix ready-made, prepared potting mixes are readily available from most places that sell orchids, including home-improvement stores. Most mixes contain fir bark, perlite, charcoal, and sometimes some peat moss and are suitable for most orchids.
