Medium planting.........

A good planting medium must meet several requirements, namely:
• not easily damaged / rotten.
• not be a source of disease.
• have good aeration.
• capable of binding water and nutrient substances as well.
• mild.
• easy to obtain the desired amount.
• relatively cheap price.
Planting media can consist of one type of material or a mixture of several ingredients.
Some good materials as planting media for orchids:
• Cork:
Did not break down (decay), a mild but can not absorb water well. Can be used in the piece is mixed with other materials. Can also be used for orchids is posted.
• Charcoal:
No easy decayed, mild, not easily overgrown with fungi and bacteria, but less water absorption and less contain nutrient elements.
• Perlite:
from volcanic material, white, like rocks. Has a binding power of water, aeration and good drainage. Can be mixed with other materials. Weakness, no nutrients and difficult to obtain.
• pumice stone:
has a binding power of water, aeration and drainage is good and durable. Can be mixed with other materials such as pieces of fern, coconut fiber, charcoal, etc..
• Ferns:
has a binding power of water, aeration and drainage is good (quick dry), durable (not quickly decayed), and contains nutrient elements required for the growth of orchids. Ferns good board used for paste orchids.
• Skin pine / fir:
Specifications similar to ferns but rather difficult to obtain. Usually used for orchids which like quick-drying medium, such as Cattleya.
• Pieces of coconut coir (Coco husk chips):
This is the coconut fiber that has been cleaned and in-press and cut into rectangular pieces. Before you use must be soaked first to remove the remaining salt contained in the fiber. Power saving water is very good and contains elements necessary nutrients.
• Sphagnum moss:
Has a binding power of good water, and aeration and drainage have good also. The weakness, if it has been very difficult to dry in the back and a little basahkan expensive.
• The bricks and broken tiles:
Broken bricks widely used as basic medium for potted orchids to absorb water well, has a drainage capacity and good aeration, but a little heavy.
• Styro foam:
Styro foam pieces can be as basic medium for potted orchids to absorb water and have drainage and good aeration and light. Weakness, rather difficult to obtain.
The main criteria in choosing the media for orchid plant is a combination of the watering habits of masing2 people and the need for water orchids. If used frequently watered, so do not use very good media binding water (eg sphagnum moss) for phalaenopsis orchid as it will cause the roots to rot because most of the water.
pH media for orchid planting should be around 5,5-6,5. If damaged / rotten (acid) immediately do the replacement media (repotting).
To determine the small of the media to be used, depending on the thin thick roots. If roots thick, the large pieces will fit, and vice versa if the small roots are the pieces is the best.