Guides for Planting

LECA, lightweight expanded clay pebbles used in semi-hydroponic growing

LECA vs Soil for Succulents: Which Wins (And Why)

A comparison of LECA semi-hydroponics vs. gritty soil mix for succulent growing. Pros, cons, and when each is the right choice.

LECA vs Soil for Succulents: Which Wins (And Why)

A comparison of LECA semi-hydroponics vs. gritty soil mix for succulent growing. Pros, cons, and when each is the right choice.

Coarse pine bark, the substrate epiphytic orchid roots actually grow in

Soilless Orchid Growing: Why Bark Beats Soil

Why orchids evolved without soil, what soilless mix is, and how Molly's Orchid Mix compares to LECA, sphagnum, and other alternatives.

Soilless Orchid Growing: Why Bark Beats Soil

Why orchids evolved without soil, what soilless mix is, and how Molly's Orchid Mix compares to LECA, sphagnum, and other alternatives.

Scooping fresh bark mix while repotting an orchid

How to Repot an Orchid Without Killing It (Step...

A 4-step guide to repotting an orchid with the right mix, including the post-repot watering routine that prevents rot.

How to Repot an Orchid Without Killing It (Step...

A 4-step guide to repotting an orchid with the right mix, including the post-repot watering routine that prevents rot.

Molly's mixes and their ingredients on a potting bench

Orchid Care 101: Light, Water, Soil, and Food

The four things that actually matter for orchid care, plus diagnoses for the most common orchid problems.

Orchid Care 101: Light, Water, Soil, and Food

The four things that actually matter for orchid care, plus diagnoses for the most common orchid problems.

Molly's Orchid Mix, suited to twelve of the fifteen common orchid types

15 Types of Orchids Every Houseplant Lover Shou...

A visual guide to the 15 most common houseplant orchids: light needs, soil needs, care difficulty, and which mix works for each.

15 Types of Orchids Every Houseplant Lover Shou...

A visual guide to the 15 most common houseplant orchids: light needs, soil needs, care difficulty, and which mix works for each.

Phalaenopsis orchid roots resting in bark-based potting medium, showing why orchids are epiphytes that do not grow in soil

Do Orchids Need Soil? Quick Answer

Quick answer No, orchids do not need soil. Most indoor orchids — Phalaenopsis, Cattleya, Oncidium and Vanda among them — are epiphytes. In the wild they grow on tree branches...

Do Orchids Need Soil? Quick Answer

Quick answer No, orchids do not need soil. Most indoor orchids — Phalaenopsis, Cattleya, Oncidium and Vanda among them — are epiphytes. In the wild they grow on tree branches...