The Searles Orchid Speciality Mix in a 10-Litre bag is a top-notch, professional-grade potting media essential for growing healthy orchids. This mix is not ordinary soil; it is specifically designed to mimic the open, airy environment that most orchids—which are naturally epiphytes (growing on trees)—require.
Key Features and Benefits
- Superior Drainage: The mix is formulated to be open and porous, which prevents the mix from compacting. This is crucial as it ensures water drains away quickly, preventing the common problem of root rot.
- Optimal Aeration: The chunky nature of the mix provides excellent air circulation around the orchid’s roots. Healthy orchid roots need to “breathe,” and this prevents suffocating them.
- High-Quality Ingredients: The blend typically contains a mixture of high-quality components, such as:
- Aged and Graded Pine Bark: Provides structural support and excellent air pockets.
- Coarse Perlite or Charcoal: Assists with aeration and can help absorb minor impurities.
- Versatile Use: It is suitable for a wide variety of popular orchids, including Cymbidiums, Cattleyas, Coelogynes, Dendrobiums, and other epiphyte-style orchids.
How to Use
- Repotting: Use the mix when your orchid has outgrown its current pot, usually every 1-3 years, or when the existing mix has started to decompose and become soggy.
- Preparation: Soak the new mix briefly before use to pre-moisten it.
- Application: Gently remove the old media from the orchid’s roots. Place the orchid in a clean pot and fill around the roots with the Orchid Speciality Mix, tapping the pot lightly to settle the media (do not pack it down tightly).
- Watering: Water thoroughly after repotting and maintain a regular watering schedule, allowing the water to drain completely.
