Molly's Orchid Mix - Premium Soilless Orchid Potting Mix

$27.99 CAD

Sale Sold out

Shipping calculated at checkout.

Size 3.3 Liters (1-2 Plants) 5.5 Liters: (4+ Plants) 11 Liters: (8+ Plants) (Best Value)

Sold-out sizes are restocking soon.

Every order placed on this site plants one tree. See our tree-planting impact

Save $ and shop local

Save on shipping when you buy in store. Contact the retailer for current prices and availability.

Free standard shipping on eligible CA$100–CA$600 orders. Eligibility confirmed at checkout.
30-day refund policy.
Soil-free formula. No fillers, no surprises.

Benefits

Water management: coarse bark and mineral grit drain freely and resist compaction, so water moves through rather than pooling around the roots. The coco chips hold some moisture between waterings.

Made without soil: it doesn't bring garden soil into your pots, and there's no added fertilizer.

Slow to break down: the mineral grit doesn't decompose and the coarse bark breaks down slowly, so the mix stays open between repottings.

Ingredients

Ingredients: coarse pine bark and coco chips in roughly equal parts, with mineral grit (pumice, hyuga, akadama, red lava and black lava) and a little biochar.

Peat: contains no peat.

Description

Quick answer: what is Molly's Orchid Mix?

For: Phalaenopsis (moth orchids), Cattleya, Oncidium, Dendrobium, Vanda and other epiphytic orchids.
What's in it: coarse pine bark, coco chips, biochar and mineral grit (akadama, pumice, hyuga, red lava and black lava). No peat.
Why it works: most cultivated orchids grow on trees in the wild, with their roots in open air. Coarse bark and grit drain fast and let air reach the roots, and the coco chips hold some moisture between waterings.
Not for: terrestrial orchids such as Paphiopedilum and some Cymbidium, which prefer a finer, moister mix.

More guidance: Do orchids need soil?, Best potting mix for orchids.

Orchids aren't soil plants. Most orchids grown as houseplants are epiphytes: in nature they grow on tree bark, with their roots exposed to air, rain and humidity. In a pot they need a chunky, fast-draining mix that lets air reach the roots.

Molly's Orchid Mix is roughly equal parts coarse pine bark and coco chips, with about 30% mineral grit and a little biochar. The bark and grit keep the structure open; the coco chips hold enough moisture that the roots don't dry out between waterings.

What's in the bag

Coarse pine bark: the main structural ingredient.
Coco chips: about as much as the bark. They hold moisture between waterings.
Mineral grit: pumice, hyuga, akadama, and red and black lava rock. Hard grit that keeps the structure open.
Biochar: a small amount.

No peat and no garden soil.

Orchids this is for

Phalaenopsis (moth orchids): the most common houseplant orchid and the main use case.
Cattleya, Oncidium, Dendrobium, Vanda: bark-growing epiphytes.
Brassavola, Encyclia, Miltonia: same care.

Not for: terrestrial orchids (some Cymbidium, Paphiopedilum lady slippers, Bletilla), which prefer a finer, moister mix. Contact us for a recommendation.

Watering: soak and drain

Take the orchid to a sink and pour room-temperature water through the pot until it runs out of the drainage holes.
Let it drain completely, 5 to 10 minutes.
Put it back in its spot.
Repeat when the mix feels dry about an inch down, typically every 7 to 10 days for Phalaenopsis indoors.

Never leave the pot standing in a saucer of water.

When to repot

Every 1 to 2 years, ideally after flowering. Repot sooner if the bark has broken down and feels mushy, the mix smells sour, or roots are climbing out of the pot. Avoid repotting while the plant is in spike or in bloom, and use fresh mix each time. Orchids prefer a snug pot: leave about 1 cm of space around the root mass.

Sizing and coverage

One 5 dry quart bag fills about 10 four-inch pots, 6 five-inch pots, 4 six-inch pots, or 2 to 3 eight-inch pots. Most supermarket Phalaenopsis come in 5 or 6 inch pots.

Packaged in a heat-sealed resealable bag.

View full details

Review

🌿

Less Work, More Growth

Our mixes are designed to make indoor plant care simpler. They lower the risk of overwatering and hold a steady level of moisture between waterings, so you spend less time troubleshooting.

🌱

Healthier Roots, Happier Plants

Our soil-free blends are built around the root zone. Better airflow, faster drainage and a structure that resists compaction give roots the air and water they need.

🌿

Why Choose VeryPlants?

Each Molly's mix is formulated for a different plant group. See this product's ingredient list and care guidance to choose the right blend for your plants.
Built for containers, not gardens. Outdoor soil works because rain, wind, and earthworms refresh it constantly. Indoor pots get none of that. Our mixes are engineered for the way plants actually grow inside your home: chunky, fast-draining, slow to compact.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best orchid potting mix?

A chunky, bark-based, fast-draining mix, not soil. Molly's Orchid Mix combines coarse pine bark and coco chips in roughly equal parts with mineral grit and a little biochar, so it drains in seconds while holding the moisture epiphytic roots need.

What types of orchids is Molly's Orchid Mix for?

The epiphytic orchids that make up most houseplant orchids: Phalaenopsis, Cattleya, Oncidium, Dendrobium, Vanda and most intergeneric hybrids. It isn't recommended for terrestrial orchids such as Cymbidium and Paphiopedilum, which prefer a finer mix that holds more moisture.

Is orchid mix the same as orchid pot mixture?

Yes. Orchid mix, orchid pot mixture and orchid potting mix all describe the same thing: a coarse, bark-based growing medium for orchids in pots. It isn't soil.

What's in Molly's Orchid Mix?

Coarse pine bark and coco chips in roughly equal parts, with mineral grit (akadama, pumice, hyuga, red lava and black lava) and a little biochar. It contains no peat and no garden soil.

Is this the same as orchid bark?

Bark is one ingredient. The coco chips and grit change how it behaves: pure bark dries out quickly for most home growers, and the coco chips hold some moisture between waterings.

How is Molly's Orchid Mix different from sphagnum moss or LECA?

Sphagnum moss holds much more water than bark and suits very young plants or species that need constant moisture. LECA is inert and reusable but needs a semi-hydroponic setup with regular flushing. Molly's Orchid Mix sits in between: enough moisture for normal home humidity, fast enough drainage that roots aren't left sitting in water, and no special technique.

Is the mix already fertilized?

No. There's no added fertilizer in the mix. Feed 3 to 4 times a year at the dose on your fertilizer's label. You can skip midwinter and feed in spring, summer and fall.

How do I water orchids in Molly's Orchid Mix?

Soak the mix thoroughly, let it drain, then let it dry almost completely before the next watering. For Phalaenopsis indoors that's roughly every 7 to 10 days. Check by feeling the mix an inch or two down, or by the weight of the pot, rather than watering on a schedule.

How often should I repot orchids in Molly's Orchid Mix?

Every 1 to 2 years, in spring after flowering. Repot sooner if water runs straight through or the bark has broken down into a finer texture. Don't reuse old mix.

Can I use Molly's Orchid Mix for other epiphytes?

Yes, for true epiphytes such as Tillandsia mounted on bark, Hoya in baskets, staghorn ferns and bromeliads. For Monstera and Philodendron use Molly's Aroid Mix; for succulents and cacti use Molly's Succulent Mix.

How many pots will a bag fill?

One 5 dry quart bag fills about 10 four-inch pots, 6 five-inch pots, 4 six-inch pots, or 2 to 3 eight-inch pots. Most supermarket Phalaenopsis come in 5 or 6 inch pots.