Substrates for the cultivation of epiphytic orchids

Abstract

Orchids are among the most commercialized flowers in the market of potted plants, cut flowers, and landscaping, making necessary studies that allow the optimization of its cultivation. One of the most important aspects for success in production areas is the use of quality seedlings, which requires the use of an appropriate substrate with appropriate physical, chemical, and biological properties to the species. Thus, this review aimed to report the importance and diversity of substrates used for producing epiphytic orchids. Several substrates have been studied for the cultivation of epiphytic orchids, among which can be cited coconut fiber and powder, pine bark, coffee husk, carbonized rice husk, almond bark, sugarcane bagasse, charcoal, vermiculite, S-10 Beifort®, among others, which provided satisfactory results in the production of seedlings and development of orchid plants. Studies with the substrates are directed to the ecologically correct cultivation and the rational use of agroindustrial residues available in each region in order to reduce their volume in the environment, in addition to allowing the adequacy in production costs.