Can vermiculite be used to grow orchids?

Can vermiculite be used to grow orchids?

Orchids cannot be grown with vermiculite. The material of vermiculite is not suitable for the growth of orchids, and vermiculite does not contain any nutrients. If you must use vermiculite to grow orchids, you need to choose some soil to plant them together, otherwise the orchids will not be able to obtain sufficient nutrients.

Advantages and disadvantages of vermiculite for growing orchids

Advantages: Vermiculite is a mineral silicate material and an acidic substance. Vermiculite is granular, so it has good air permeability to a certain extent, can increase the water absorption of the soil, and is also a sterile matrix.

Disadvantages: Vermiculite is easy to turn into dust. After long-term use, it will lead to a decrease in soil water retention and permeability. It will also float up easily when watering, which is not conducive to growth.

How to grow orchids with vermiculite

1. Selection: When using vermiculite, you need to select some complete and defect-free particles in advance. Such vermiculite is more durable and will not turn into dust quickly.

2. Soil preparation: Vermiculite can generally be added to the inside of the flowerpot to increase permeability, or it can be placed on the surface of the soil to achieve the effect of retaining water and retaining moisture.