As you know, the technology for growing orchids is significantly different from the method of caring for ordinary indoor plants. Since the root system of this beautiful decorative room culture has a special structure, it is supposed to plant it in a special soil.
Of course, on sale today you can also find mixtures for orchids compiled in a special way. For example, recently in the shops there appeared a substrate of a special variety “Ceramis”. For orchids, this flower, according to many lovers of indoor plants, is just perfect.
What is the soil
The usual garden soil for orchids is not suitable primarily because it contains a very large number of nitrogen components. Such soil for this decorative culture is considered "heavy." Unfortunately, not a single orchid species survives on ordinary soil.
In many varieties of such indoor flowers, roots in the wild hang from tree trunks and saturate the remaining parts with oxygen. Therefore, for such orchids, garden soil will also be too dense.
Lovers of indoor plants usually prepare the soil for orchids on their own from bark and moss. Pots for this decorative culture use transparent ones. As a result, the roots of such plants, as in the wild, are illuminated by the sun and have access to oxygen. The new substrate “Ceramis” also has exactly the same properties.
Many companies produce such soil. But in our country, mainly Seramis is sold for Pokon orchids (Netherlands). The substrate of this brand, judging by the reviews, is of rather high quality.
What are the varieties
When buying such soil, of course, first of all, you should pay attention to what type of indoor plants it is intended for. Today, Ceramis compounds are available for sale, designed both for ordinary ornamental crops and for orchids themselves.
The latter type of soil, in turn, is also divided into two large groups. If you wish, you can buy a simple "Ceramis" for orchids, as well as a more expensive one, additionally saturated with various kinds of mineral additives, very useful for such plants.
Composition
The main component of this substrate is the usual environmentally friendly, containing a huge amount of clay minerals. From it, when preparing the soil for Ceramis orchids, porous granules of different fractions are made. In addition, the composition of such a substrate usually includes the tree bark of larch or pine (tar-free). This material is also crushed before being mixed into the soil so that ultimately particles of different sizes are obtained.
The composition of "Ceramis" for orchids may also include fertilizers containing:
nitrogen;
potassium;
phosphorus.
Specifications
According to its properties, the “Ceramis” soil resembles expanded clay compounds well known to many orchid lovers. The granules of this substrate easily absorb water, hold it and subsequently give it to orchids as necessary. Since particles of such soil differ in different sizes, absolutely all the roots of the plant have access to life-giving moisture: small, medium and large.
That is, the composition of "Ceramis" is such that the plant always receives the necessary nutrients for development and does not get wet. Since the granules in such soil do not adjoin each other too tightly, the roots of orchids, as in the natural environment, get the opportunity to “breathe” and transfer oxygen to the tissues of the stem, leaves, flowers, etc.
"Ceramis" for orchids: positive reviews
One of the main advantages of this soil lovers of ornamental plants believe that it is able to maintain its properties for a long time. Experienced flower growers do not recommend, for example, even throwing out an old mixture of this variety from a pot when transplanting an orchid. They advise to simply pour this substrate into a new container for the plant and add a small amount of the same soil.
As lovers of decorative indoor cultures note, “Ceramis” is not necessary to change even when the orchid growing in it before that died from the disease. In this case, the soil is placed in the oven and calcined for 30 minutes. After such disinfection, the substrate no longer poses any danger to plants.
Reviews on the soil "Ceramis" for orchids on the Web are good, including in terms of its proper properties. As many netizens note, such flowers grow and develop on it very well. Even those orchids that are stunted and sluggish on other types of soil, when transferred to this substrate, depart, grow new roots and leaves and begin to bloom. Changes are noticeable after a few days.
Among the undoubted advantages of this soil, among other things, lovers of decorative cultures also include:
In containers with orchids when growing on "Ceramis" it is not even necessary to make drainage holes. Moisture in such a substrate never stagnates. Moreover, it is distributed throughout the pot as evenly as possible.
According to its characteristics, as already mentioned, this soil resembles expanded clay. However, Ceramis is able to retain moisture three times longer. That is, even if it is necessary to leave for a rather long period, the orchid owners can not worry that it will dry out.
The opinion of gardeners: are there any flaws
Judging by the reviews of houseplant lovers, there are practically no disadvantages of Ceramis for orchids. The only drawback of such a substrate, many flower growers consider only its high cost. This soil is brought to Russia from Europe.
On an industrial scale, orchids for sale are grown in our country, including on the "Ceramis". This is partly due to the high cost of such ornamental crops in flower shops.
Which plants are suitable
Some gardeners believe that this soil can be used exclusively for phalaenopsis. However, there are many reviews on the Internet about the successful cultivation of this variety and, for example, types of orchids, such as:
Cattleya.
Wanda.
Dendrobium.
Miltonia.
How to plant
The undoubted advantages of the “Ceramis” soil are many indoor flower lovers who also attribute ease of use. It is allowed to fill with such a substrate both clay and transparent plastic or glass pots.
An orchid transplant in “Ceramis” is carried out approximately as follows:
gently pull the flower out of the old soil (which does not need to be watered first);
inspect the roots of the plant and remove dead;
for the same purpose, inspect all other parts of the orchid;
plant roots are dried for 8 hours;
disinfect the new pot and lay the substrate in it;
plant an orchid in "Ceramis".
When planting a flower, you need, among other things, to ensure that the ratio of its roots and substrate is approximately 2/1. Sprinkle the roots of the plant with soil, of course, is not necessary.
Tramming “Ceramis” for orchids should not be planted. But the plant should not hang out in a new pot, of course, nevertheless.
Orchid Care
Taking care of your capricious pet when growing it on “Sermis” will actually be very easy. The first watering of orchids in such soil is carried out approximately 4-5 days after transplantation. At the same time, settled warm water is used to moisturize. In order for the flower to take root better, some mineral fertilizers are added to the water.
The frequency of further watering the orchid in "Ceramis" depends on the temperature in the room in which it is grown. If this indicator is equal to 20-22 ° C, it will be necessary to moisten the substrate under the flower, most likely, once every 20 days. At a temperature of 25 ° C, watering is usually carried out 1 time in 14 days.
Many lovers of indoor flowers advise when growing orchids, including on the "Ceramis", be sure to install a special humidity indicator in the pot. Its blue color will subsequently indicate a normal water balance in the substrate. As soon as the indicator changes color to red, the orchid in "Ceramis" will need to be watered.
Useful advice
It costs "Ceramis" is really very expensive. Therefore, many lovers of indoor plants for planting orchids mix it with cheaper expanded clay. In this case, the proportions are observed as moss / bark. Expanded clay on the structure of the substrate is more solid. In such compositions, he will play the role of "bark". Of course, for orchids in this case, you should not purchase expanded clay, but intended specifically for growing indoor flowers.