How to Revitalize Weak and Sick Orchids
This article introduces you to the common knowledge of orchid cultivation, specifically on how to revitalize weak and sick orchids. Details are as follows:
In the process of orchid cultivation, it is common for seedlings to grow slowly due to diseases, pests, excessive division, improper cultivation, and plant aging, showing symptoms such as yellowing leaves, rotting roots, and rotting buds. If timely rescue measures are not taken, these weak and sick orchids will lose their ornamental value and eventually die, especially for some rare varieties, which become difficult to find once they perish. Rescuing weak and sick orchids is indeed an issue that deserves attention for orchid lovers. Here are some successful experiences for reference by all orchid enthusiasts.
I. Strict Disinfection
Remove the orchid seedlings from the original pot, discard the original soil, and carefully wash the roots. Use a sterilized scissor to cut off the residual, dried, and rotten roots, then soak in a 0.5% methyl thiophanate or potassium permanganate solution for 5-10 minutes, drain and dry in the shade. Repeat this process two to three times to thoroughly kill the pathogens. Note that when soaking the roots for disinfection, the water should just cover the pseudobulbs, and do not let water accumulate in the leaf hearts. At the same time, the above solution can be diluted 5 times and used to spray the leaves for disinfection.
II. Change Pots
For cultivating weak and sick orchids, ceramic and purple sand pots are the preferred choices. It is best to use new pots that have not been used before, as old pots may contain fungi and bacteria that cause orchid diseases. If using old pots, they should be cleaned and exposed to sunlight for several days or scalded with boiling water before use for safety. Use pot pads at the bottom to ensure good drainage and ventilation. You can purchase special water drainage covers or use natural materials such as peach kernels or walnut shells. The height of the pot pads should be 1/3 to 1/2 of the pot height, and the volume of the pot should be small rather than large. The roots of weak and sick orchids are fragile, and a large pot can easily cause waterlogging, leading to root rot. Using a small pot can avoid this issue.
III. Select Substrate
The adaptability of weak and sick orchid seedlings is poor. It is best to use a granular substrate with moderate fertility, low fat content, and good ventilation and breathability, such as ceramsite, expanded stone, coarse sand, broken brick particles, Emei Xian soil, and碎石. You can also wrap the roots and pseudobulbs of the orchid in sphagnum moss before planting them in a pot with the above substrate, which also works well. All substrates must be disinfected before use. It is not suitable to use humus soil to plant weak and sick orchid seedlings. Firstly, humus soil collected from the forest contains many bacteria that are difficult to thoroughly sterilize. Secondly, humus soil tends to compact after use, which has poor permeability and is not conducive to the growth of orchid roots.
IV. Control Temperature and Humidity
Plant the weak and sick orchid seedlings slightly deeper to protect the pseudobulbs and keep them moist. The substrate in the pot should be kept moist, as too much or too little water is not conducive to the revitalization of the orchid seedlings. During the dormancy period, you can add some substrate to cover the pseudobulbs to keep them moist and prevent frost. In the following spring, when the temperature is higher than 15°C, promptly remove the additional substrate added during the previous winter to facilitate the germination of new buds. The temperature should be maintained between 18-28°C. The orchid seedlings should be placed in a location with scattered light and avoid direct sunlight. You can place some water containers or trays around the orchid pots to increase environmental humidity.
The comprehensive methods for revitalizing weak and sick orchids provided above, I hope they can serve as a starting point to solve your problems with green plants.