Preparation method of pine needle nutrient soil (how to ferment fallen pine needles to prepare nutrient soil)

Generally speaking, when cultivating fleshy-root flower plants such as orchids and Clivia, pine needles from coniferous pine trees are selected, which are fully fermented and decomposed and then mixed with other granular planting materials .

The planting material is prepared to be loose, breathable, water-retaining and well-drained, and is used to grow perennial flowers such as orchids and Clivia, with better results .

In fact, the pine needles that have just fallen from the pine tree are not fully decomposed. Moreover, the cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin contained in the needles cannot be used to prepare nutrient soil before they are fully fermented and decomposed.

If these fallen pine needles are mixed into the soil without being fermented and decomposed, they will undergo secondary fermentation after encountering high temperature and moisture, which will generate a large amount of heat energy in a short period of time, causing root burn in the pot due to the continuous fermentation and heat generation .

In particular, the lignin contained in pine needles is the most difficult to decompose and rot. If mixed into nutrient soil, it will undergo secondary fermentation after high temperature and watering, and generate heat to burn the fibrous roots or fleshy roots of flowers and trees .

Based on my experience in growing flowers, I choose larch needles, pile them up and ferment them for about 2 to 3 months , and only after they are completely decomposed can they be mixed into nutrient soil for growing flowers and trees.

Fermentation method of pine needle nutrient soil

  Pick up some pine needles that have fallen from pine trees in mountain forests, city parks, green spaces, etc.

After packing and taking it home, dig a hole in the yard for high-temperature aerobic pile fermentation, or use the "sandwich-style" fermentation method in a container to ferment and compost.

That is: put a layer of pine needles, cover with a layer of leaf humus, then pour rice washing water or manure water, and cover with plastic film or humus. Generally, after 2 to 3 months of fermentation in summer, it can be fully decomposed.

Pine Needle Soil Mix

When growing potted herbaceous and woody flower plants, mix leaf mold, pine needle soil, garden soil, perlite, etc. in a ratio of 5:2:2:1 to make nutrient soil.

When cultivating perennial flowers such as orchids and Clivia, a mixture of pine bark, pine leaves, pine needles and coarse particles is used, which has the effects of loosening, ventilation, fertilizer retention and drainage.