Orchids are flowering perennial herbs grown worldwide for their beautiful, long-lasting flowers. For better growth, it is essential to prepare a suitable growing medium, which varies from plant to plant. There are two types of orchids: Epiphytic Orchids and Terrestrial Orchids.
Epiphytic Orchids
These orchids grow attached to trees without soil. Examples include Gongora, Acineta, Acampe, and Brassia. For epiphytic orchids, the following growing medium should be prepared:
- Compost: A dark, well-decomposed soil
- Rice humus
- Well-decomposed leaf mold
- Well-decomposed and dried cow dung
- Sphagnum moss (seaweed)
- Osmunda fiber (dried roots of Osmunda plants)
- Charcoal pieces
- Mixture of broken bricks and moss
- Coconut husk or cocopeat
Terrestrial Orchids
These orchids grow in the ground. Examples include Epipogium aphyllum, Grasspinks, and Jewel orchids. For terrestrial orchids, prepare the growing medium as follows:
Mixture:
- 1 part rice humus
- 1 part well-decayed leaf mold
- ½ part well-decomposed cow dung
- 1 part chopped Sphagnum moss and Osmunda fiber
