What Is Best “starter” Soil Medium For Orchid Seeds?

Question

I received tiny orchid seeds as a gift. Don’t know the details about them. I am asking for direction with regard to what is the best soil medium to plant these little seeds in to start their growth. All of the “Orchid Soils” I can find at Amazon, et. al., seem to be composed of larger, coarse materials, e.g., tree bark, charcoal pieces, etc. If I put these tiny seeds into a medium like that, it would seem they will simply fall through the large spaces in the “soil” to the bottom of the pot – thereby not getting the sunlight, ventilation, etc. that they will need to grow properly. Please provide guidance about the correct “starter” soil for orchids. Thanks.

Answer 1

You are correct. The coarse medium is not suitable for seeds. They need specialized care in a sterile environment. You may need a book reference from the Orchid Society. Here is more info:

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/orchids/planting-orchid-seeds.htm

https://www.canr.msu.edu/uploads/resources/pdfs/propagatingorchids.pdf

http://hort.ufl.edu/plant-restoration/kane-lab/orchids/pdf/kauth_seeds.pdf