How to Cultivate Newly Purchased Orchid Seedlings Well
A detailed introduction about how to cultivate newly purchased orchid seedlings well and the experience of green plant maintenance regarding the planting method of newly bought orchids. Let's take a look together.
Spring is a good time to buy orchids. On one hand, many orchids are in bloom, so it's not easy to buy fake ones. On the other hand, the temperature and humidity are both rising in spring, making it easy for orchids to survive after potting, and they might even sprout a few new buds. However, some orchid enthusiasts can't keep their orchids alive after purchasing them, and the leaves turn yellow and the roots rot after a while. What's the reason? By doing four things well, the survival rate of newly purchased orchids can reach 100%.
Plant with Coarse Growing Medium
For newly acquired orchids, it is recommended to plant them with coarse growing medium, which is more conducive to survival. There are two reasons for this: one is that many orchids grown in nurseries are planted with coarse growing medium, and fertilization mainly relies on foliar feeding. This prevents root rot, keeps the roots beautiful, and is beneficial for sale. The orchid roots have adapted to the coarse growing medium environment, and switching to fine growing medium can easily cause root rot and wither. The other reason is that orchid roots inherently require a significant amount of oxygen, and new orchids have low resistance. If fine growing medium is used for planting, improper maintenance can cause the roots to rot and the entire plant to wither. Plant with coarse growing medium first to ensure the survival of the plant. If you want to switch to fine growing medium next year, it won't be too late.
Avoid Frequent Watering
Before the roots of newly planted orchids resume growth, the potting soil should be kept slightly moist. Too much watering can cause the roots to rot and result in issues like dry leaf tips, yellow leaves, and the entire plant withering. The reason for less watering is that orchids have not started growing yet and do not require much water. Moreover, slightly drier growing medium ensures sufficient oxygen supply to the roots, which stimulates the growth of new roots. As long as new roots grow and the old roots start working, it means the plant has started to grow. Therefore, when maintaining newly acquired orchids, it's important to control the urge to water and only water when the soil is dry. Never water too frequently, as this can increase the chance of plant death.
Keep High Air Humidity
When maintaining newly acquired orchids, although it's important to water less and keep the growing medium slightly dry, air humidity must be high, as this is crucial for whether the orchid can adapt and how long it takes. Basically, all orchids we see prefer a humid growing environment, with air humidity above 50%, even up to 80% or more, to grow vigorously. New orchids are grown in a high-humidity environment in nurseries, and when they come to our homes, their roots cannot immediately resume functioning and absorb water. If the air humidity is low, they will dehydrate and gradually wither. Maintaining high air humidity can help the plant survive and grow even if the roots can't absorb water normally, as the leaves can supplement moisture. Therefore, when the air humidity is low, we should spray more around and on the ground to increase the air humidity.
Don't Fertilize Too Soon
When newly acquired orchids will adapt to the pot depends on many factors. Some may adapt and start growing within a month, while others may not adapt even after two or three months. Therefore, when maintaining newly acquired orchids, do not fertilize in a hurry. Fertilizing before the plant has adapted can significantly reduce the survival rate and may cause the entire pot to wither. Some orchid enthusiasts buy new orchids with new buds that have not yet emerged from the soil. After a few days, they see the new buds emerge and mistakenly think the plant has survived, so they fertilize immediately. However, this is not the case. The pseudobulbs of orchids are like small warehouses, storing water and nutrients. When the roots cannot function normally, the pseudobulbs can still provide nutrients and water to nourish the new buds. Therefore, the growth of new buds does not necessarily mean the plant has survived. It is generally recommended not to fertilize newly acquired orchids for three months. Only after three months, if the growth is normal, should you start fertilizing.
Some orchid enthusiasts fail to keep their new orchids alive, mainly due to issues with watering and the growing medium. After a while, the roots rot, and even the pseudobulbs rot. If you have also bought new orchids, it is recommended to focus on these two aspects. The survival rate of orchids in spring is relatively high, and with proper maintenance, a 100% survival rate is not a problem.
Do you understand the detailed introduction of how to cultivate newly purchased orchid seedlings and the planting method of newly bought orchids provided above?