TheNaturePlanet

In the numerous and diverse world of flowers, only Phalaenopsis can most touch the hearts of many people. One of the reasons is that it has unique petals, and the other is that it has a very good meaning and also has an auspicious meaning when placed at home. However, this "heartthrob" cannot be cultivated with ordinary garden soil like other flowers.
Phalaenopsis is native to tropical rainforests. Therefore, its birth environment is completely different from that of most flowers. Therefore, its growth habit is a kind of epiphytic orchid. Epiphytic orchid means that it cannot take root in deep soil and needs to grow by attaching to tree trunks or rocks. Because of this special growth method, ordinary garden soil commonly used for ordinary flowers cannot be used for cultivating Phalaenopsis.
So, what are the habits and characteristics of epiphytic orchids? The root system of Phalaenopsis is slender and thin, and it is very good at finding gaps in tree trunks or rocks to grow. Generally speaking, roots that like to be in gaps require very high oxygen. Therefore, with sufficient oxygen in maintenance, its root system can grow healthily.
Then why is it said that epiphytic orchids are not suitable for ordinary garden soil? Because although ordinary garden soil is rich in nutrients, the nutrients are often too heavy, making the total weight of the soil relatively heavy. Therefore, it is very easy to break the slender and thin root system of Phalaenopsis. You can also imagine that this situation is like a very thin lady covering herself with a quilt weighing 40-50 catties in winter. In this way, it is impossible to normally inhale enough oxygen at all. And the situation of Phalaenopsis is like this. Using garden soil may even cause the death of Phalaenopsis plants.
What nutrient soil should be used to cultivate Phalaenopsis in daily maintenance? The answer is to choose a cultivation medium that is light, breathable, and has good drainage. Soils with these three characteristics include sphagnum moss, bark, coconut coir fiber, etc. Choosing to cultivate Phalaenopsis with these media can not only provide the oxygen needed by the root system, but also maintain a certain degree of moisture, making the growth environment of Phalaenopsis more similar to the native tropical rainforest.