TheNaturePlanet

Summer has arrived. Every morning, the sky gets bright very early, making people feel particularly good. Therefore, many flower lovers want to roll up their sleeves and start taking care of the flowers and plants on their balconies. Among them, a friend sent a private message to the editor saying that he was very curious about how the seemingly thin white roots of Phalaenopsis supply vitality to the orchid. Today, let's walk into the soil of Phalaenopsis with the editor to understand the mystery of its root growth!

Entering the inner world of Phalaenopsis, of course, we need to popularize the "aerial roots" of Phalaenopsis, referring to those white roots. They not only absorb moisture and nutrients from the air but also help Phalaenopsis "breathe". Therefore, as long as we understand how to make the environment of the "aerial roots" better, we can make the roots of Phalaenopsis strong and then make it bloom beautiful flowers.

Then, when it comes to the roots, we have to talk about the three major media for creating "aerial roots", which are bark, sphagnum moss, and ceramsite. What are their respective advantages? First of all, bark is a kind of natural medium, so it has good air permeability and water retention, which can provide a breathable and moist environment for the "aerial roots" of Phalaenopsis. At the same time, the bark has a certain hardness and can also support the roots to prevent them from lodging. In addition, it should be noted that when purchasing bark, be sure to see clearly if there are any pests and diseases in it, otherwise, it will easily breed Sclerotium rolfsii.

Then, the feature of sphagnum moss is that its moisture retention is very good. As long as the sphagnum moss is soaked for about 15 minutes before use, it can completely spread out. At this time, tightly wrap the "aerial roots" of Phalaenopsis with it, which can provide it with sufficient moisture. For later maintenance and watering, you only need to touch the sphagnum moss with your hand to analyze whether watering is needed. Therefore, sphagnum moss is also one of the media preferred by many flower farmers. However, it should be noted that sphagnum moss is prone to breeding bacteria and mold, so it needs to be replaced regularly and kept dry.

Finally, there is ceramsite, which is an artificial medium with good drainage and air permeability. In daily maintenance, ceramsite is generally spread at the bottom of the pot and then mixed with the soil to prevent water accumulation and root rot for the "aerial roots".