Orchid Growing Soil Preparation And Care

You may be surprised to know that orchids do not even grow in soil.

Epiphytes are orchids that cling to trees, supporting themselves on the bark. They receive all the water they need when rain water runs or drips down the tree. They can obtain what it needs from the air.

Lithophytes are a type of orchid that grows on rocks. Saprophytes grow in leaf litter, and terrestrials are found growing in sand.

Orchids, like other plants, prefer certain conditions when growing in the wild. You need to bear this in mind when growing them under greenhouse conditions. By knowing what natural conditions they thrive in, you can successfully simulate the environment at home.

For orchids, it's not very difficult at all to create a natural setting for them to grow in. Almost anyone can throw together some lava rocks or fir bark chips. Regular light watering is sufficient for most orchids. Allow enough time between watering for them to dry. Drainage should not be a problem with the loosely packed growing medium.

Your orchids should be re-potted every two or three years. Not only will they begin to outgrow their pots, but the material that they grow in will usually begin to break down as well. This is caused, mainly, by insect activity and repeated watering. If your plant's roots are beginning to grow over the side of the pot, it's time to replant.

The good news is that re-potting these types of plants is much easier than those grown in soil. However, great care should be taken no matter what type of plant you're dealing with. This procedure should only be undertaken when the plant is at it's lowest level of activity. An example would be early Spring, before the most growth takes place.

Carefully remove the plant from the pot and remove any remaining material clinging to the roots. To give the plant the best chance of surviving in it's new pot, clip off any damaged or unhealthy looking roots.

Many times this move will be made to a larger pot. Refill the pot with the proper growing media, whether it's bark, lava rocks or something else. There is also a special orchid sphagnum moss that works quite well for some types. Clear a place to insert your plant and refill up to the crown (rhizome).

If necessary, support the plant with a stake. Only use this method temporarily, until the plant is able to grow freely without falling over.

Always remember that the orchid will get most of it's nutrients from the air and water instead of the growing media. Make sure you provide proper airflow.

The amount of air available to the roots is dependent on the chip size. Make sure you have the right potting material for your specific plant. When the plant begins to sprout fresh leaves, you can use a bit of 18-18-18 to fertilize it.


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Moses Wright enjoys working in his garden. He provides more tips and guide on orchid care tips and common orchid diseases symptom on his site.