How to use moss for an orchid
soil substrate for plants, especially indoor crops, is a source of nutrients and moisture. Moss for orchids is used as protection for the root system, for better soil moisture and stem insulation. The plant is useful for combating diseases that threaten the orchid.
Moss for orchids
What is moss for?
The main use of moss is moisture storage. Due to its composition, sphagnum absorbs 20 times more water than its own weight.
It changes color: it brightens as it dries, so it is easy to use at home. It grows without roots and, after dying off, turns into peat - a substance that serves to protect the upper layers of the soil throughout the year. The upper layers continue to grow until they completely turn into peat: this process takes several months (the dying off of the moss depends on the level of moisture and soil).
This additive does not rot - this is the main advantage due to which moss is used in horticulture. The green part of the plant contains antiseptic substances that can disinfect the soil. Moss for orchids is especially important in spring or autumn, when the flower is weakened and susceptible to fungal diseases.
The benefits of the plant
The plant is best used for planting a home crop - it is a simple and cheap shelter. The plant makes the soil looser and lighter. It conducts water more easily, which does not stagnate and does not lead to rotting of the orchid root system. If you plant a fresh shoot in the mixture, it will not need additional nutrition for 2 weeks (the first watering is carried out in a week). The plant is useful for increasing soil hygroscopicity.
Other Benefits of Home Orchid Supplement:
- sphagnum intensively absorbs water of any temperature;
- the soil is evenly moistened through the dry layer;
- soil moisture remains up to 3-4 days (without re-irrigation);
- the active components of the plant affect the root system and prevent it from rotting.
For phalaenopsis orchids, a fresh and dried layer of the plant is used. It retains its beneficial properties even after drying.
Which plant to choose
Choose a dry additive of a certain variety: sphagnum moss is more suitable for orchids that are grown at home. Only sphagnum is able to change the quality of the soil. This type of plant controls soil moisture: it absorbs excess moisture and moisturizes dry soil. If necessary, for orchids, the additive is dried: drying is needed before intensive watering during flowering. Dried sphagnum is stored for several years, so it is prepared in advance.
How to make a blank
To prepare sphagnum, you need to find a dry shoot - the plant can be found in swampy areas. They choose a natural additive that already forms peat cushions: it is useful for planting a new orchid and for fertilizing an adult flower. In the southern regions, sphagnum grows on mountain slopes. It is difficult to find a plant in the forest that is useful for protecting an orchid.
Live moss is prepared and used for orchids only after processing. In an open area, only the upper layers of the plant are collected: they store all the nutrients necessary for home culture. New shoots are formed from the lower part, after a few weeks the sphagnum is harvested again.
The collected plant is treated with boiling water: the entire green part is washed. This wash kills the larvae that damage the orchid's rhizome. The culture is dried on a windowsill or in the fresh air. You cannot wipe it. If live moss cannot be harvested, it is replaced with a purchased crop that is ready to use.
Cooking sphagnum for an orchid
Application of an additive for orchids
Dry natural additive is used as drainage. It increases the looseness of the soil, so it is easier for water to escape through the holes in the pot. This natural additive is suitable for creating bedding for flowerpots or orchids. The potting soil is covered with a plant before winter. With such a shelter, the orchid survives the winter without suffering from temperature changes. The rhizome of the orchid is wrapped with moss before transplanting: this procedure increases the moisture level in the new soil - there is no need to additionally fertilize the transplanted flower.
Mix with orchid soil
The live or dried supplement is used as part of the fertilized potting mix. This additive improves the drainage properties of the soil. A special substrate is prepared according to a simple recipe:
- the dry additive is pre-poured with boiling water;
- wipe the plant, trying not to damage its structure;
- freeze the plant;
- after 12 hours the additive is dried in the freezer.
After cleaning, the plant is fertilized (using mineral additives) and dried again. The use of the mixture allows not only to regulate the level of moisture, but also to fertilize the soil while watering the orchids. In the soil, mineral additives are kept much less.
Nutrient substrate composition
The soil for the orchid contains not only sphagnum, but also additional nutritional components. Using the supplement in combination with other nutritional mixtures is more effective. Fern leaves, pine bark and coal are added to the soil (it is better to choose a wood additive).
Conclusion
Orchid is a beautiful, but whimsical plant to care for. For its maintenance, sphagnum is used, which is collected on the mountain slopes. The additive retains moisture and prevents rhizome rot. A dry or fresh plant is used: the additive is processed and fertilized before use.