Okay, so I’ve got these orchids, Phalaenopsis, you know, the moth orchids? And they were looking kinda sad. The leaves were droopy, and just…not thriving. I knew it had something to do with the potting mix they were in, it was all old and broken down. Probably holding way too much water, too.
So, I started by doing some digging online. Figured I’d find out the best kind of soil for these guys. Turns out, they’re not like regular plants! They don’t even like actual soil. They’re epiphytes, which means they grow on trees in the wild, clinging to the bark.
My Orchid Potting Mix Experiment
I gathered my supplies. This is what I ended up using:
- Orchid bark: I got the medium-sized chunks. This seemed like the main ingredient in most of the mixes I saw.
- Sphagnum moss: The long-fibered kind, not the peat moss stuff.
- Perlite: Just regular perlite, like you’d use for any other plant to help with drainage.
- Charcoal: Horticultural charcoal, it is good for keeping things “sweet”.
First, I took the orchids out of their old pots. Oh man, the roots were a mess! Some were brown and mushy (rotten, yuck), and some were dried up and brittle. I trimmed off all the dead ones with some sterilized scissors. That was a bit nerve-wracking, but I just went slow and steady.
Then, I mixed up my potting mix. I didn’t really measure anything, just eyeballed it. I aimed for something like:
- About 60% bark
- 20% sphagnum moss (I soaked it in water first and then squeezed it out)
- 10% perlite
- 10% charcoal
It looked pretty chunky, which is what I was going for. Lots of air spaces, just like they’d have growing on a tree.
I put a little bit of the mix in the bottom of the new pots (I used clear plastic ones so I could keep an eye on the roots). Then I placed the orchids in, gently spreading the roots out. I filled in around the roots with more of the mix, making sure not to pack it down too tight. Just kinda tapped the pot to settle everything.
Finally, I watered them thoroughly, letting the water drain out the bottom. And that’s it! It’s been a few weeks now, and they’re already looking perkier. New roots are growing, and the leaves are firming up. I’m so glad I took the time to do this – it’s made a huge difference! I’ll keep an eye on the ph levels, but hopefully my orchids will be much happier and healthier.
