How to cultivate orchids
This article provides a detailed explanation of how to cultivate orchids and the cultivation and management techniques of orchids, let's follow the editor to see the specific content!
Orchid cultivation and management techniques
_Lin Mingbo
Orchids have high ornamental value and serve as a "flavoring agent" in the adjustment of agricultural industrial structure. They play a significant role in promoting the economic benefits of agriculture. To fully utilize the economic value of orchids, it is necessary to focus on improving the quality of orchids.
1 Orchid habits and types
1.1 Orchid habits
Orchids prefer a warm and humid climate, and a high temperature and dry environment is not suitable for their growth. The summer temperature should be between 25-28°C, which is ideal for orchid growth. In natural conditions, orchids often grow in ravines, characterized by moist soil and usually more than 1000 mL of precipitation. The soil pH for orchid cultivation should be between 5.5-6.5, and it needs to have both drainage and water retention.
1.2 Orchid types
Orchids come in various types, with distinct growth habits and forms. The main categories include terrestrial orchids, epiphytic orchids, and saprophytic orchids. Terrestrial orchids have small and thin leaves, commonly found in areas south of Dabie Mountain and Qinling; epiphytic orchids have wider and thicker leaves, commonly found in tropical regions, such as Cattleya and Phalaenopsis; saprophytic orchids are characterized by the absence of chlorophyll in the plant, with a relatively narrow distribution range and fewer in number.
2 Key points of orchid cultivation techniques
2.1 Preparation of high-quality soil
According to the growth habits of orchids, the soil needs to meet the basic requirements of drainage and water permeability, with a stable pH of 5.5-6.5. When preparing cultivation soil, various substrates can be selected and mixed thoroughly. There are mainly three types of substrates.
2.1.1 Decomposed leaf soil substrate Artificially prepared decomposed leaf soil substrate requires collecting an appropriate amount of fallen leaves, stacking them together, mixing them with fertilizer and mud, sealing them, and after the decomposition and screening process, decomposed leaf soil with good fertility can be obtained.
2.1.2 Bamboo root soil substrate Bamboo root soil substrate comes from the roots of perennial main clumps, which contain a wealth of bamboo roots, bamboo canes, and bamboo leaves, decomposing to provide abundant nutrition, and the soil does not compact, making it loose and suitable for orchid growth.
2.1.3 Mountain mud substrate Mountain mud substrate contains rich decomposed plant leaves, is breathable and loose, but cannot be used directly. It needs to be sterilized and disinfected to improve soil quality and reduce the probability of diseases and pests.
2.2 Selection of orchid pots and seedlings
Orchid pots come in various forms and need to be selected according to actual needs. Glazed pots have beautiful shapes and meticulous details, matching the "temperament" of orchids themselves, but have poor breathability; plastic pots are lightweight and cost-effective but also have poor breathability; tile pots have better breathability, effectively meeting the growth needs of orchids.
Buy high-quality orchids. When taking orchids, the temperature of the soil should be between 20-28°C, avoiding wet leaves; after removal, appropriate pruning should be done, cleaning up decayed roots, broken roots, and枯萎 leaves; disinfect the orchid roots, soak in 50% methyltobuzin 1000 times solution for 10-15 minutes; finally, transfer to a well-ventilated area to dry.
2.3 Pot treatment
Select a pot of the appropriate type and size, cover the drainage hole at the bottom of the pot with tiles, fill the pot with 1/3-1/2 of slag or other loose materials, and then cover a layer of high-quality nutrient soil on top.
2.4 Transplanting
When transplanting, the orchid roots should not touch the inner wall of the container, the roots should be in a natural and relaxed state, slowly fill in an appropriate amount of soil near the roots, then gently lift the orchid to make the roots naturally relax. Do not lift too much during this process, usually with the plant slightly higher than the pot surface, as too high can easily affect the stability of the roots.
3 Water and fertilizer management
3.1 Water
Place an appropriate amount of moss on the surface of the soil to enhance beauty and regulate moisture. The first watering after planting must be thorough, and the leaves should also have enough water. Afterward, place the planted orchid in a basin of water and soak it, during which you can use a spray bottle to sprinkle water on the leaves according to the actual growth state of the orchid to meet its requirements for a humid environment.
When watering orchids, choose a reasonable water source, with rainwater being the most suitable, followed by river water, and if tap water is used, it must be exposed to sunlight for 2-3 days. After watering, create a moist soil environment for orchid growth, but accumulated water can restrict orchid growth.
3.2 Fertilization
Fertilization with organic fertilizers is preferred, with commonly used products including bird droppings and fermented soybean cakes. When fertilizing, pay attention to the following points: newly planted orchids should not be fertilized within 6 months, allowing natural growth; fertilization is not suitable during severe cold or hot weather; fertilize after 17:00 according to the growth characteristics of orchids, as this is when they absorb nutrients best, and water thoroughly the next day to promote fertilizer absorption.
4 Prevention of diseases and pests
Before cultivating orchids, it is necessary to choose high-quality soil and disinfect it. The pots used should be breathable, and the orchid plants should not carry diseases and pests such as anthracnose, black spot, patterned桔病, scale insects, and nematode diseases. You can use 1000 times solution of carbendazim to spray on the orchid leaves when the ventilation conditions are good, spray once every 20-30 days to prevent diseases and pests, avoiding their occurrence and reducing their impact on orchid plant growth.
5 Summary
Orchids are deeply loved by people for their rich fragrance and elegant temperament, with a high market demand. In actual cultivation and maintenance management, it is necessary to consider various aspects such as variety selection, planting techniques, water and fertilizer management, and disease and pest prevention, operating with scientific methods to improve the quality of orchids and enhance their market value.
The above is the related content on how to cultivate orchids and the cultivation management techniques of orchids, for the reference of green plant enthusiasts, hoping to solve your problems in green plant and flower management.