PARS TERRAE MIX
Pars Terrae ~ "Piece of the earth"
Available exclusively at
PA Orchid Exchange
&
approved retailers
When we began our journey to find the best possible potting media for our plants we learned that despite the many options available, it was difficult to find one with only the essential ingredients our plants needed to thrive.
Our mission became clear, to create a mix that included only the best ingredients and to source them from the most reputable places. We wanted a clean, dust free media that was high in organic, bio-available nutrients and allowed the airflow necessary to support a healthy culture of the beneficial bacteria plants need to survive. In addition to the functionality we craved, we also wanted to create something beautiful, something that adds to the ascetic of having plants in our homes. We wanted to give our plants their own little piece of earth.
After experimenting with a number of different soil amendments and ratios we finally arrived at our goal and the results spoke for themselves.
Not only have we brought together the best ingredients, we understand the ratio needed to optimize the benefits of each one. We began to see plants with larger foliage and brighter colors that grew up to 30% faster than the ones planted in other media blends. We discovered that the plants planted in Pars Terrae Mix are more resistant to disease and pests. We also learned that chemical fertilizers are no longer necessary to nourish our plants. The most exciting part is that all of this was accomplished with zero filler ingredients. This means that when you by our mix, you can be confident you are only buying what your plant needs and no bulky fillers.
Pars Terrae is naturally dust free and readily accepts moisture.
We hand blend our mix in small batches to insure you are receiving the freshest possible product. Our media is bagged moist and ready to use, no need to pre-moisten or mix.
To read more about the benefits of each ingredient in Pars Terrae, please scroll to the information below. Please remember that all plants purchased are shipped pre-potted in our media. If you are transferring to a bigger planter or are topping off your current planter, please use the link below to purchase individual bags. We sell in a variety of sizes and are always happy to accommodate custom orders. If you prefer to have your plant shipped bare root, please specify in the notes section of the checkout page. Pars Terrae never contains chemical fertilizers or pesticides and it always provides excellent drainage. We have several customers that have had fantastic results using our media in terrariums & vivariums, cactus & succulents, and tropical house plants. Hoya and African violates particularly love this mix as well.
If you are shopping Pars Terrae Mix from another website or in a retail store and you want to check our list of approved distributors to verify authenticity, please visit our Verified Distributor List.
THOUGHTFUL INGREDIENTS
PREMIUM GRADE CLAY PARTICLE
Moisture
Premium Grade Clay Particle has 74% internal pore space, which helps control the amount of moisture in the soil. It absorbs water better than vermiculite but has a lower evaporation rate. It is one of the most stable growing medias on the market today rated at a 3.5% breakdown rate over a ten-year period.
BLACK LAVA
AGGREGATE
Temperature
Volcanic Rock has a high capacity for absorbing and retaining heat during daytime hours which is then released as the sun goes down. This helps to create a micro-climate in the growing media which stays at an optimal growing temperature for as many hours of the day as possible without human intervention.
PINE CHIP
MULCH
Aeration
Pine Chip Mulch is used to reduce soil impaction by creating air cavities due to its size and non-uniform texture. This is vital for beneficial bacteria growth and the overall health of a plants root system as it allows for proper nutrient uptake. Pine is naturally high in a compound called lignin. With proper airflow, this compound can help encourage the development of beneficial bacteria.
SPHAGNUM
MOSS
Root Anchorage
Sphagnum Moss creates the underground web necessary for proper root anchorage.
Creating an ideal environment for root growth requires a media that is balanced, stable and encourages lateral growth as is commonly found in the natural environment of most terrestrial orchids. This creates a softer cushion between the otherwise rough media for the roots to naturally follow.
ORGANIC
WORM CASTINGS
Nutrition
Worm Castings are the end result of the breakdown of organic matter collected from certain species of earthworms. Also known as vermicompost, it naturally produces some of the most bio-available nutrients present in any organic growing media. Used as a substitute for chemical fertilizer, it releases the major and minor nutrients slowly over time with a significant reduction in the carbon/nitrogen ratio, synchronizing with the requirements of terrestrial orchids.
EXPANDED
PERLITE
Integrity and Drainage
Expanded Perlite has a course, cavernous texture and is extremely lightweight. It typically won't hold much more than 1% moisture. When mixed with other growing media, perlite ensures good drainage while significantly reducing run-off of smaller components within the mixture.