How to Cultivate and Take Care of Phalaenopsis Orchids
For most women, it's important to understand the methods and precautions for cultivating Phalaenopsis orchids. Let's take a look together.
How to Cultivate and Take Care of Phalaenopsis Orchids
Phalaenopsis orchids prefer shade, humidity, and warmth, and dislike severe cold, dryness, and strong light. They require shade and rain protection, with an ideal growing temperature of 15°C-25°C. When planting Phalaenopsis orchids, use rich humus, loose, and non-sticky soil as potting soil; water more during the growing season or flowering season, and less during the dormant period; apply nitrogen fertilizer for vigorous plant growth, phosphorus fertilizer for root development, and potassium fertilizer for leaf and flower bud growth. It's also necessary to prune them at the right time, removing old and yellow leaves to promote air circulation.
Growth Habits of Phalaenopsis Orchids
Phalaenopsis orchids thrive in environments at altitudes of 300-2000 meters, such as under forests, in shrubbery, or near streams with moist but well-drained shaded areas. They prefer shade and warmth, and dislike strong light and dryness. The ideal growing temperature is 15°C-25°C, requiring abundant rainfall, deep, loose, well-water-retaining, humus-rich soil with a slightly acidic pH of 5.5-6.5. Phalaenopsis orchids do not require much light, as they prefer shade and cannot tolerate strong light. The ideal growing temperature is 15°C-25°C, with a relative humidity of 70-80% throughout the year.Methods for Cultivating Phalaenopsis Orchids
1. Cultivation medium: The original soil from the forest floor where the orchids grow, known as "orchid soil," is rich in humus, loose, and non-sticky, often slightly acidic, making it an excellent potting soil for orchids. In the north, orchid growers usually make their own potting mix, combining 5 parts of decomposed leaf soil with 1 part of sandy loam. Some also use a mix of 4 parts humus, 2 parts peat, 2 parts slag, and 2 parts river sand. 2. Dividing and disinfecting: When dividing, first grasp the base of the orchid plant, invert the pot, and gently tap the sides to separate the pot from the soil. Remove the pot and carefully tap the soil ball loose, shake off the dirt, and gently hold the pseudobulbs to clean the roots, removing decayed, broken, and withered parts. Then rinse with clean water and immerse the roots in a 1000x solution of Toubuzin or an 800x solution of potassium permanganate to disinfect and kill bacteria around the wounds. 3. Potting: After selecting the pot, place large pieces of broken tiles over the drainage hole at the bottom and cover with window screen, then add coarse mountain soil before placing the orchid plant. Ensure the roots are evenly distributed and not touching the pot walls. Fill the pot with cultivation medium until it reaches the base of the pseudobulb leaves, and cover the soil surface with白石子 or green moss for aesthetics and to retain moisture, preventing water from washing away the soil. This completes the planting. Then, saturate the soil with water from the bottom and remove the pot, rinse the leaves clean, and place in a shaded area to recover. After a week, transition to normal care. 4. Management: Phalaenopsis orchids are semi-shaded plants that require a warm, humid, diffused light, and well-ventilated environment. The growing conditions depend entirely on care and management. The cultivation location should be well-ventilated with shade facilities and proper lighting. Watering and fertilizing requirements depend on temperature, light intensity, and plant growth.Watering Phalaenopsis orchids: Water more during the growing season or flowering season, and less during the dormant period. If the pot is large and the plant is small, water less; if the pot is small and the plant is large, water more. During hot and dry weather, water more; during cool and humid weather, water less.Fertilizing Phalaenopsis orchids: All plants need nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizers, and Phalaenopsis orchids are no exception. Nitrogen promotes stem and leaf growth, phosphorus aids root development, and potassium strengthens the plant and helps resist diseases.Pruning Phalaenopsis orchids: Proper pruning is essential for healthy growth, removing old and yellow leaves to promote air circulation and immediately clearing any diseased leaves to prevent the spread of infections.Propagation of Phalaenopsis orchids: Cutting is one method of propagation. Choose healthy plants, cut at the junction of pseudobulbs, ensuring each cluster has 3-5 pseudobulbs with芽眼, then place them horizontally in the soil with nodes to encourage new growth. After germination, care for them diligently.Precautions for Phalaenopsis Orchid Care
1. Shading: Phalaenopsis orchids are mostly semi-shaded plants and many species are sensitive to direct sunlight, requiring appropriate shading.兰花 can be exposed to more sunlight in April to promote growth. From late April onwards, shading is necessary. From June to September, start shading early in the day, using dense or double layers of thin shade cloth. After October, as the weather cools and sunlight is weaker, shading can be delayed, but care should still be taken during the middle of the day.Rain protection: Phalaenopsis orchids can tolerate light rain but should avoid moldy rain, showers, or continuous rain. During the moldy season, special care should be taken to prevent rain. From late June to mid-September, there are often showers. If the rain is short and the amount is small, water more in the evening to release heat from the pot, otherwise, the orchids may be damaged or even rot and die. If it rains and then the sun comes out, shade should be provided promptly to prevent heat from rising and affecting the orchids.Watering: Generally, it's best to keep the orchids slightly dry, with 80% dry and 20% wet. Excessive moisture can cause root rot. The principle of watering is: water when dry, stop when wet, slightly偏向 dry. During the growing season, water more; during leaf bud formation and flowering, water less; in winter, water even less or not at all.The above information on how to cultivate and take care of Phalaenopsis orchids is shared for your comprehensive understanding and reference.