Can Dendrobium officinale be planted in the soil?

Can Dendrobium officinale be planted in the soil?

No soil is needed during the planting process of Dendrobium officinale. Since Dendrobium officinale has aerial roots and shallow roots, it cannot be planted in the soil. You can choose sphagnum moss, peat, rocks, bark, wood shavings, fern roots, board edges, mushroom chaff, wood chaff, etc. as the planting substrate.

Dendrobium officinale is planted not in soil, but in various matrices in the soil. These are all artificially configured matrices that must be able to absorb water and drain water, be breathable and contain nutrients. Commonly used matrices include bark, sawdust, gravel, wood shavings, logs, etc.

Soil cultivation method of Dendrobium officinale

1. Bark planting

(1) Before planting, the materials for planting Dendrobium candidum should be prepared. The preferred material for planting is bark, followed by sawdust. It should be broken into particles the size of corn kernels. No matter what material is used, it must be disinfected in advance. The disinfection method is to boil water, then pour the materials into the boiling water and boil for more than an hour, then take them out and dry them to remove the moisture in the materials before use.
(2) Take out the Dendrobium seedlings and wash the roots with clean water until they are clean. Be gentle to avoid damaging the roots and leaves. Make sure to clean them thoroughly, otherwise the roots will rot. Plant the Dendrobium seedlings in a pot and cover the roots with sawdust and bark chips all around. Do not cover them too deep. Try not to bury the stems of the seedlings in the substrate. The substrate should cover most of the roots. Water thoroughly after planting.

2. Planting sphagnum moss

The air humidity in the south is high, so it is suitable to plant Dendrobium officinale with tree bark. In the north, it is best to plant it with sphagnum moss to avoid untimely watering, which will cause the Dendrobium to die of drought. When planting with sphagnum moss, since sphagnum moss has better water absorption and water retention, a smaller flowerpot should be used for planting, and the sphagnum moss should be compacted repeatedly during planting to prevent water accumulation and root rot in the future.