VFT soil for Orchids?

VFT soil for Orchids?#428859

By P A U L -  Wed Jan 18, 2023 7:02 pm
Location:  Los Angeles, California
Posts:  180
Joined:  Mon Jan 29, 2018 5:04 am

- Wed Jan 18, 2023 7:02 pm #428859

I have a giant box of VFT soil/medium I bought from the website.

Was wondering if I can repot a grocery store orchid with the VFT medium?

OH SNAP!

Re: VFT soil for Orchids?#428860

By evenwind -  Wed Jan 18, 2023 7:13 pm
Location:  Long Island, NY
Posts:  2178
Joined:  Sun Jul 07, 2013 4:16 pm

- Wed Jan 18, 2023 7:13 pm #428860

Almost all the orchids you buy in a grocery store are Phals with an occasional oncidium or odontoglossum thrown in. They are all air plants. The roots must be able to contact the air. So if your VFT soil is peat based (or similar), then it's too dense and you'll choke the roots. If it's sphagnum, then it's useable, providing you pack it very loosely.

As Robin Hood examined the small bag of plunder, he learned a Life Lesson: Never steal from the rich when they’re out walking the dog.

Re: VFT soil for Orchids?#428861

By P A U L -  Wed Jan 18, 2023 7:32 pm
Location:  Los Angeles, California
Posts:  180
Joined:  Mon Jan 29, 2018 5:04 am

- Wed Jan 18, 2023 7:32 pm #428861

The website's medium is sphagnum AND peat lol

https://www.flytrapcare.com/store/venus-fly-trap-soil

OH SNAP!

Re: VFT soil for Orchids?#428862

By evenwind -  Wed Jan 18, 2023 7:38 pm
Location:  Long Island, NY
Posts:  2178
Joined:  Sun Jul 07, 2013 4:16 pm

- Wed Jan 18, 2023 7:38 pm #428862

Too dense for most orchids.

As Robin Hood examined the small bag of plunder, he learned a Life Lesson: Never steal from the rich when they’re out walking the dog.

Re: VFT soil for Orchids?#428864

By P A U L -  Wed Jan 18, 2023 8:00 pm
Location:  Los Angeles, California
Posts:  180
Joined:  Mon Jan 29, 2018 5:04 am

- Wed Jan 18, 2023 8:00 pm #428864

Dang.

Wait, so do orchids get their nutrients from the air? They don't need soil per-se, just some surface for their roots to cling to?

OH SNAP!

Re: VFT soil for Orchids?#428865

By evenwind -  Wed Jan 18, 2023 8:09 pm
Location:  Long Island, NY
Posts:  2178
Joined:  Sun Jul 07, 2013 4:16 pm

- Wed Jan 18, 2023 8:09 pm #428865

They likely get some nutrition from decaying organic matter caught in the petioles but basically they use photosynthesis. Most of them even have green roots.

As Robin Hood examined the small bag of plunder, he learned a Life Lesson: Never steal from the rich when they’re out walking the dog.

Re: VFT soil for Orchids?#428880

By DragonsEye -  Thu Jan 19, 2023 1:03 am
Posts:  1338
Joined:  Sat Oct 01, 2016 1:22 pm

- Thu Jan 19, 2023 1:03 am #428880

P A U L wrote: ↑Wed Jan 18, 2023 8:00 pmWait, so do orchids get their nutrients from the air? They don't need soil per-se, just some surface for their roots to cling to?

Most orchids are epiphytes or lithophytes. The trees/branches or rocks they cling to simply serve to anchor the plant. Because of this, their roots are adapted to and require conditions which provide far more air around the roots than most other types of plants could endure. The downside of this, is that most can't handle denser potting media. (Such media stays too wet too long and smothers the roots.)

As far as nutrients go, they typically get what they need from the small amounts of decaying leaf litter or animal wastes that washes down over their roots.

SDK1 liked this

Blessed are the "cracked" ... for it is they who let in the light.

Re: VFT soil for Orchids?#428886

By wcrosman -  Thu Jan 19, 2023 2:56 am
Location:  Front Range Colorado
Posts:  465
Joined:  Thu Apr 14, 2022 2:03 am

- Thu Jan 19, 2023 2:56 am #428886

No! It will kill them.

Tom
-.- . ——- .— - -.-.

Growth zone 5b
Grow Liist

FlytrapCare Carnivorous Plant Forums