| |
Orchid Seedling Potting Mix
If you want to grow seedlings you will need a fine grade Orchid Seedling Potting Mix. You'll find a recipe below.
Growing Orchids from seeds is not an easy task for the home orchid grower, but it’s not impossible. Orchid seeds are extremely small and lightweight. In fact, it may take as many as 32 million seeds to weigh 1 ounce!
Unlike other seeds, Orchid seeds do not carry their own food source. Consequently, they need to be grown in a nutrient-rich solution, or beside their mother. In order to use the nutrients, a special fungus must be present.
If you really want orchids from seed, there are 2 methods available......Do it Yourself, or, have a commercial lab grow seedlings for you.
Doing it yourself will not always work and will never yield a high return. However, it is fun to give it a try. Here's what you do:
- Start with an orchid that will not need to be repotted for a couple of year.
- Allow the flowers to pollinate and go to seed.
- When the seed pod is mature...dry, cracked, and brown.... crack it open and distribute some of the seeds in the pot of its mother.
- Water lightly to anchor the seeds.
That’s It!
If you are lucky, you will see little plants growing around the base of the mother in several months, that will continue to appear for up to a year.
Special care needs to be taken when watering the mother plant until the seedlings are well established. Instead of pouring water on the roots from the top, soak the whole pot by placing it in water. This will allow the water to be soaked up by the potting material and will not disturb the immature plants.
Seedlings may take over a year to become established. Repot in 2” pots when they are about 2-3” tall.
If you need a recipes for orchid seedlings potting mix, the following mixture is suggested.
Orchid Seedling Potting Mix for Orchids that prefer Dry roots:
- 80% Fine Grade Fir Bark, Redwood Bark, or Tree Fern Fiber
- 20% Fine Grade Charcoal, Lava, or crushed brick
Orchid Seedling Potting Mix for Orchids that prefer more moisture:
- 80% Sphagnum, or Coconut Husks
- 15% Fine Grade Lava, Charcoal or Crushed Brick
- 5% Vermiculite
For more information about potting mediums check out the links below.
More information about Orchid Potting Mixes
Repotting Orchids
Leave Orchid Seedling Potting Mix and go to Home Page
|
