Can Orchid Compost Be Used For Other Plants?

Reading Time: 5 minutes 🍃

Buying a specialized type of compost can be the ideal way to boost plant growth. It will have a nutrient mix that will be tailored to suit the orchid. But will you be able to use it with other species?

Some types of plants will be better suited to orchid compost. These include epiphytic and bromeliads. Other varieties, like houseplants, can tolerate a small amount of compost. But because of the high nutrient load and lack of water retention, it’s best to mix it into a potting mix first.

There is no reason why you can’t use orchid compost on other plants. You just need to be aware of the nutrient load and pair it with plants that will thrive under those circumstances. Keep reading to learn how you can do this.

Table of Contents

What Characterizes Orchid Compost

There are a few elements that comprise orchid compost. The first thing to consider is the pH level that orchids will require. This will vary a little, depending on the species you intend on growing. In most cases, like cyclamen plants, they will need slightly acidic soil. Typically, the ideal pH level is between 6.5 and 5.5.

The next thing to consider is the NPK. This is how the quality of the compost will be determined. If you are purchasing from a store, this should be on the front of the packet. If not, you will need to get a test from the hardware store and determine these values for yourself.

This is another area that will change. It will depend on the species you are growing and the conditions you are growing it in. In some cases, they will need a balanced fertilizer with a 20-20-20 mix. At other times, they will need a higher concentrated level of nitrogen. You might find a 30-20-20 mix.

There are a few other nutrients that the orchids will need to thrive; these are:

Calcium

Copper
Iron
Manganese

Though these will all be found in trace amounts, with the bulk of the nutrients coming from NPK.

Another important element is water retention in the soil. Orchids don’t need a lot of water in the soil. Because of this, this type of compost often has a lot of air pockets for plenty of drainages.

Orchids tend to be a fairly hardy species. As long as you give them the right soil conditions, they will grow. But there are a few elements that you need to consider. For example, you will need to make sure that you are introducing nutrients slowly. It’s also important to avoid giving the plants too much water.

Plants that Can Thrive in Orchid Compost

Of course, orchids aren’t the only things that will be able to thrive when faced with these soil conditions. You just need to pair the compost with the right type of plant.

The best option is to use the soil to grow an epiphytic plant. These species are known for attaching themselves to trees. But you can grow them at home; all you need to do is put them into the right soil. Often, you will be growing epiphytic ferns; here are some examples to consider:

Staghorn Fern

Birds Nest Fern
Rabbit’s Foot Fern
Strap Fern

Another plant species that tend to thrive in orchid compost are bromeliads. There are plenty of options that can be included under this banner. This makes it easy to find one that will adjust easily to the conditions in your local area.

You might also need to adjust the compost mix a little. It can often be a good idea to mix in some potting soil. This will improve drainage and make it easier for these plants to take root. Just remember that they aren’t heavy feeders. So, you won’t need to add too much fertilizer to supplement the nutrient-rich soil.

The nutrient mix will suit most plants that are grown in tropical conditions. However, it’s best to double-check the pH requirements before you use too much orchid compost.

There are a few other plants that gardeners have reported performing well in orchid soil; these include:

Desert roses
African violets

Hydrangeas

Soil Amendments to Orchid Compost

Sometimes, you will need to change the orchid compost a little to make it more suitable for your plants. Here are some of the things that you can mix into the soil to improve aeration and drainage:

Perlite

Orchid bark
Sand
Gravel

Once you have added these, you should mix the soil thoroughly. As we mentioned, this normally isn’t something that you need to worry about when using orchid compost. Sometimes, you will need to improve water retention in the compost to make it more suitable for other plants. Here are some of the ways you can do this:

Weed-free grass
Hay

Manure
Other types of organic matter

It should be noted that, usually, you won’t need to make any changes to the compost.

After you have added the compost, it’s important to observe the way that the plants react. Look at the way they are growing. This can often tell you about the nutrient mix in the soil. For example, if you notice yellow leaves or darker green foliage, it might be a sign that there is too much nitrogen in the soil.

You can then use additives to try and balance out the nutrient load in the soil, so the plants will be able to grow strongly. In most cases, though, you won’t need to worry about this problem, as most tropical species that will thrive in orchid compost will be fairly hardy.

Using Orchid Compost With Houseplants

One of the most common questions is whether you will be able to use this type of compost when working with houseplants. Usually, this won’t have any large negative impacts on the houseplants. But that doesn’t mean that it will be ideal. There are a few drawbacks that you will need to consider, including:

Nutrient load. The nutrient load in orchid compost is high. Because of this, you only need to apply a small amount to houseplants. You don’t want to risk nutrient burnout.
Lack of water retention. This form of compost is known for its poor water retention. For plants that have denser roots, this can be a problem. You can try to add some straw to solve this.
Amount of air pockets. Because of their denser root system, houseplants will struggle with the number of air pockets in the soil.

You might be able to solve some of these problems by combining orchid compost with potting mix. This will create a denser mix, which will retain moisture more readily. But remember to use orchid compost sparingly. As we mentioned, it’s good to look at the plant’s reaction to the compost mixture and adjust accordingly.

But if you have another way of using the compost, you should try that first. Only put it on houseplants if the compost would go to waste otherwise. Furthermore, it’s best to avoid using this type of compost for things like vegetables or fruits like tomatoes. With such high nitrogen levels, there is a risk that it will burn the plants.

Final Thoughts

Orchid compost mix is usually specialized, with several qualities that orchids need. If you apply it to species with similar requirements, including epiphytic and bromeliads, you shouldn’t have any problems. At other times, you will need to be more careful. Mix it with potting mix and add some organic material, like straw. But you usually won’t have any problems applying a small amount of orchid compost.

Sources

Was this article helpful?

YesNo