Thursday, February 22nd, 2024
Disclaimer: Product stock, prices, and information is subject to change after blog publish date.
We’ve put together a guide to help you choose the right growing medium for your indoor tropical plants. The growing medium you choose plays a crucial role in the health and growth of your houseplants.
So, let’s start with orchids! Choosing a growing medium for your orchid depends on what kind of orchid you have and what kind of environment your orchid is living in. A general rule for all orchids is that they should not be planted in regular indoor potting soil as it is too dense and does not drain well enough.
Phalaenopsis is one of the most common and popular varieties of orchids. Phalaenopsis orchids are often planted in sphagnum moss or fir bark. While both growing mediums are suitable for phalaenopsis orchids, they are not necessarily ideal if you’re growing these orchids at home.
Sphagnum moss is better suited for warm and humid environments, such as a greenhouse. Otherwise, it can become dry and compact over time, restricting air flow to the roots. Fir bark will break down if it is constantly exposed to moisture, which can negatively impact orchid roots.
For phalaenopsis orchids, we recommend using a mix of fir bark, perlite, sphagnum moss, lava rock or charcoal. This mix will slow down the decomposition of the fir bark and increase oxygen flow. A 3L bag of general orchid bark mix is $12.99.
Let’s talk about sphagnum moss and fir bark and how these growing mediums can be used with other tropical plants!
Sphagnum moss retains moisture. Tropical plants that do not like to dry out completely, such as carnivorous plants, anthurium, and ferns, can be planted in sphagnum moss. Perlite can be mixed with sphagnum moss to help prevent it from becoming compacted and to encourage more air circulation. A 150g bag of sphagnum moss is $12.99.
Medium and fine fir bark can be added to indoor potting soil to create a light, chunky mix that holds moisture while still allowing plant roots to breathe. Aroids, like philodendron and anthurium, as well as epiphytes, like hoya and orchid cactus, love this mix. A 3L bag of medium or fine fir bark is $9.99. If you’re looking for a good indoor potting soil to use as a base for this mix, we recommend Fafard Connaisseur. Available in a 5L bag for $5.99 or a 10L bag for $7.99.
Perlite, pumice, lava rock, and clay pellets are all great growing mediums with unique uses and benefits.
Pumice is a great alternative to perlite as it does not break down as easily. Pumice is heavier than perlite, so it does not float to the top of the soil when watered. It is great for cacti, succulents, and plants in Bonsai. The smaller the pot you have, the finer the pumice you should use. A 3L bag of fine, medium, or coarse pumice is $9.99.
Clay pellets, also known as LECA (lightweight expanded clay aggregate), are a very versatile growing medium. They can be added directly to the soil for extra drainage, or they can be placed in-between a grow pot and a decorative pot to function as a drainage layer. The best part about LECA is that it is reusable! Unlike most growing mediums that decompose over time, LECA does not break down and can easily be washed or boiled before using it again. A 3L bag of clay pellets is $12.99.
We hope you found this guide useful and informative! If you have any questions or are still unsure what growing medium is best for your indoor tropical plants, please reach out to us. We’re happy to help!
If you’ve had your eye on any of our large tropical plants, now is your chance to purchase one in-store at a discounted price! All tropicals in 10″, 12″, and 14″ pots are 25% off until Thursday, February 29th, 2024.
Immerse yourself in the world of Bonsai! All of our pre-potted Bonsai trees, Bonsai tree starters and Bonsai pots are 25% off until Thursday, March 7th, 2024.
Pre-potted Bonsai trees range from $19.99 to $100. Bonsai tree starters range from $14.99 to $29.99. Bonsai pots range from $8.99 to $39.99.
Sales are in-store only. Sales cannot be combined with any other offer or applied to any clearance items. Sales also cannot be applied to any prior purchases.
We encourage you to visit the sales page on our website regularly. By doing so, you will be the first to know about any exclusive offers or coupons!