THE BENEFITS OF STEINMIX:

HOW STEINMIX WORKS:

The small water-absorbent and water-repellent fiberised granules are mixed to produce the STEINMIX Orchid Medium. The water-absorbent granules hold the moisture between the fibres so it’s available to plant roots all the time. When saturated, these fiberised granules will hold water to between 60% and 70% of their volume. The water-repellent granules repel water to leave an air-holding dry granule. The air held in these fibres is not locked into a cellular structure (the case with most alternative aeration additives) but is freely available to the roots, resulting in a water-vapour saturated air space, giving a root environment with 100% humidity. The result is a medium with a higher air-filled porosity (AFP) suitable for orchid growing. A plant pot of loosely packed STEINMIX constitutes nothing more than 5% inert and permanent fiberised granules with a water-holding capacity of about 30% of the pot volume and an air-holding capacity of 65%.

HOW TO POT UP:

Use plastic pots that will not restrict plant growth and which have drainage holes at the base. If the plant has been growing in a medium that was not clean and inert, all of that medium as well as dead roots must be removed from the root system to prevent disease infection. Fill about one third of the pot with STEINMIX and position the plant centrally just below the rim of the pot thus allowing developing growths maximum surface area. Pour STEINMIX around the plant but ensure no force is exerted. The least amount of compaction needed, is the optimum situation.

Cover the surface with grit or pebbles. This stops light falling on the nutrient-filled surface area of the medium. If light does fall on the surface, algae will form, followed by moss. Algae formation has not been proved detrimental, other than when its growth rate is faster than that of tiny seedlings, but its eventual breakdown and decay ends the medium’s inert qualities and allows bacteria to spread through the pot. Algae also promote the formation of a surface crust, which can dry, become hard and prevent water from penetrating.  

HOW TO TRANSFER YOUR ORCHIDS:

The timing of this move is irrelevant to the phase of plant growth, as an abundance of nutrient water is available at once. Occasionally a plant shows an initial shock at being moved, which could last for two or three weeks. This can possibly be overcome by gradually applying water over the first two or three weeks until the STEINMIX is saturated. Traditionally, orchids should be repotted just before the current season’s growth commences. Orchids going into STEIMIX Orchid Medium from another medium show excellent growth, as the whole root area is continually in contact with nutrient solution and is well aerated. New roots grow because of the 100% humid air rising from the pot. With many other media, repotting was impossible once the current year’s roots had begun growing because damage to sensitive new tips was unavoidable. The soft texture of the STEINMIX combined with careful treatment, means you can now repot without injuring roots.  

HOW TO POT EPIPHYTES:

NB: Pot epiphyte species very loosely. Place some loose STEINMIX at the pot base. Position the plant and drop in more STEINMIX, making certain it penetrates any root ball the plant has. When the pot is full of STEINMIX, water with a spray nozzle. As it’s wetted, the STEINMIX settles. This is all the compression needed. The more lightly most epiphytes are potted, the faster they grow. Light potting is most essential for little seedlings, but NEVER compress the STEINMIX unless it is specifically instructed for a particular orchid type.

HOW TO POT TERRESTRIALS:

True terrestrials require firmer potting. The result of compression is a dramatic change in the root environment. Water content at saturation point can be doubled to occupy more than half the pot volume. Fibre content for a given volume is doubled, air content halved. Even so, adequate air exists for terrestrial plants. In fact, enough air remains to keep the contents of the pot at maximum saturation all the time when the plant is in full growth.

HOW TO WATER:

Some epiphytic and many terrestrial orchids grow well with the STEINMIX kept at maximum saturation point when the plant is in full growth. Standard top watering procedure at intervals (to suit the weather) is sufficient. Intervals vary between two and ten days, dependent on plant type, pot size and environment. Whichever way you water, make sure you water well during active growth. If you water, water till it drains through the pot base.

YOUR ORCHIDS’ NUTRITION:

There are no plant nutrients in STEINMIX, which is totally inert and contains nothing helpful or harmful to the plant. Therefore it is essential that commercially available fertilizers containing all essential nutrients be used. This allows a grower to control the nutrition of his/her plants according to exact requirements. Your orchids are completely dependent on the nutrients in the water you supply and directions for use should be strictly adhered to.

An occasional wash-through with plain water ensures any unused salts in the pot are washed away, so there is no harmful build-up of any nutrient. Some orchids thrive on minute traces of fertilizer. Never overfeed. Underfeeding can be corrected the following year. Overfeeding can be fatal.

Fertilizer availability will not benefit a resting orchid, whether kept dry or wet at the root area. At the start of the rest period, wash the pot through with plain water, or water with plain water in the month preceding the maturity of new growth. For orchids that need a dry rest or allow the old root system to die back during winter, this is irrelevant. Others need a damp medium during their rest. Do not let STEINMIX dry unless you mean to.

For the scientific orchid grower, much time and research may be needed before the perfect cultural procedures for all orchids are known. For the pot plant enthusiast with a few orchids, the established procedures are well published and produce excellent plants with little effort.

WATERING:

STEINMIX’s pH is about pH7 to pH8 (neutral to slightly alkaline). The pH of the first watering may change, however, the medium takes on the pH value of the nutrient solution or water by the second watering. It may be advisable therefore to water the STEINMIX with the desired pH solution before planting. Some orchid growers avoid tap water because of the additives it may contain. One can determine the pH of supplied water and reduce this to a neutral or acid state through adding acids (eg: nitric acid). The addition of nutrients may result in the required pH solution. Where nutrient solutions are used, the pH of the water should always be tested and adjusted where necessary.

Many prefer rainwater, but it can be contaminated during collection and could need chemical additives to remove bacteria, which multiply during storage.

In deciding which to use, practicality is paramount. If you can collect rainwater, store it well or use it fresh, it is the obvious choice as it can be of more benefit to your plants. But tap water has always been found adequate in tests, and unless authorities in your area add something, which is known to be detrimental to orchids, use it without anxiety.