Charcoal Suitable For Orchids?

Before using charcoal or tree bark as a potting medium, it is essential to consider the size of the roots. Orchids with smaller roots will prefer a fine-graded medium, while older ones are more prone to clinging to larger, medium-grade mixes. Charcoal is an excellent medium for orchids as it eliminates odor, breaks down bacteria buildup, and absorbs salt. Brick pieces and cobblestone add weight and stability to heavy orchid pots.

Orchid potting mix typically consists of pieces of bark, moss, perlite, charcoal, tree fiber, or coconut fiber. Medium-grade potting media is generally recommended. Phalaenopsis orchids are ‘epiphytes’, meaning their roots need to be able to breathe when potted. The best potting medium for orchids is one specifically formulated for them, such as fir bark, sphagnum moss, peat moss, lava rocks, perlite, charcoal, clay pebbles, tree ferns, or coconut fiber.

Hardwood charcoal can improve drainage and aeration by creating small pockets of air within the growing medium and acting as a natural filter, removing impurities from water and improving water quality. Lump charcoal made from whole pieces of wood can help keep the mixture sweet and filter out impurities. Our Orchid Potting Charcoal is made from Dorset hardwoods and is chemical-free, making it suitable for humid summers.

Horticultural charcoal is also recommended for orchids, as it holds no water at all and can be used in almost any culture technique. Each Imperial Orchid Mix is unique, with various ingredients including AAA New Zealand Sphagnum, Imported Cork Chips from Portugal, and Orchiata™ Monterey Bark from New Zealand.