Care and Reblooming Techniques for Cattleya Orchids
You may not be familiar with the experience of caring for Cattleya orchids during their flowering period. Here is a comprehensive introduction.
Cattleya orchids are very popular as seasonal flowers. Many flower enthusiasts buy them every year and throw them away every year. However, it is not difficult to rebloom Cattleya orchids. You just need to do the following points, and Cattleya orchids can rebloom every year with a string of flowers.
1. Caring for Cattleya Orchids during Flowering Period
Every autumn and winter, Cattleya orchids are widely available in the market. The closer to the Spring Festival, the more expensive Cattleya orchids become. The current prices are relatively affordable, so flower enthusiasts who like Cattleya orchids might as well buy early.
In autumn and winter, Cattleya orchids in the market basically come with flower buds or are in bloom. After buying them home, the following points should be noted in maintenance.
1. Do Not Repot
Cattleya orchids with flower buds or flowers should not be repotted in a hurry. After receiving them, you can first put them in a pot that you think looks good. Because repotting during the bud stage can easily lead to bud drop and flower drop.
2. Indoor Care
Cattleya orchids with flower buds or blooming can be cared for and observed indoors first. There is no need to put them outdoors in the sun. Placing them in a bright area with diffused light indoors is sufficient. Direct sunlight and strong light can cause the flowers to fade提前. Caring for them in a soft diffused light is more beneficial for maintaining the flowering period.
3. Only Water, No Fertilization
Cattleya orchids with flower buds generally do not need to be fertilized before the flowers fade, as the nutrients they carry are enough to support flowering. Unless the flower buds are very small, you can supplement some fertilizer to promote the growth of flower buds.
However, for novice flower enthusiasts, it is recommended not to apply water-soluble fertilizers. You can sprinkle a little slow-release fertilizer around the pot. Because Cattleya orchids are not very resistant to fertilizers, improper fertilization can easily burn the seedlings. Novice flower enthusiasts should wait for the flowers to bloom and fade before starting to fertilize.
Watering should be done when the surface of the potting mixture becomes dry. If it is difficult to judge, you can lift the pot to feel its weight. If it feels light, you can water it. Watering should be done slowly to allow the potting mixture to absorb enough water, and ventilation should be enhanced after watering.
4. Keep Warm
Cattleya orchids have a certain cold resistance. The temperature in winter should not be lower than -5 degrees Celsius, otherwise, they are prone to frost damage. If the indoor temperature is relatively low in winter, it is also not conducive to flowering. It is best to keep the room temperature above 5 degrees.
If you can do the above four points, the flowering period will be fine. To make Cattleya orchids rebloom, you need to start with the following post-flowering care.
Care and Reblooming Techniques for Cattleya Orchids after Flowering
2. Care and Reblooming Techniques for Cattleya Orchids after Flowering
If you want Cattleya orchids to rebloom, post-flowering management is very important. It is recommended to do the following management after Cattleya orchids finish flowering.
1. Repot in Time
Cattleya orchids should be repotted and the potting mixture changed after flowering, whether it's the original pot or a planted one. It is recommended to repot and change the soil after the flowers fade.
When planting Cattleya orchids, it is advisable to choose a pot with good breathability, such as a special orchid pot, or to put a special orchid drain cover in your own pot to increase water permeability and aeration, reducing root rot.
In addition, the choice of planting material is also very important. Fine soil or sticky soil should not be used. It is recommended to use large-particle pine bark or coconut husk blocks, and add about 20% of peat or decomposed leaf soil and about 10% of small-particle soil such as volcanic rock or red jade soil. In general, the large-particle soil should account for more than 60% of the soil for planting Cattleya orchids to ensure good breathability and prevent root rot. After planting, water should be poured slowly and repeatedly to thoroughly wet the potting mixture.
2. Increase Light Appropriately
After Cattleya orchids finish flowering, they should be exposed to some light. When the sun feels comfortably warm on your body, you can expose the Cattleya orchids to the sun. If the sun feels hot and burning, you need to shade the Cattleya orchids. The intensity of light should be adjusted according to the season. When the light is strong, shading should be provided, or they can be cared for in a bright area with diffused light.
Especially in summer, direct sunlight should be avoided. After entering autumn, you can gradually increase some light. Sufficient light is very beneficial for Cattleya orchids to grow flower buds.
3. Fertilize in Time
Cattleya orchids consume a lot of nutrients during flowering, so fertilizers should be supplemented after flowering. In addition to adding slow-release fertilizers around the pot when repotting, it is also recommended to add a dilute water-soluble fertilizer when watering. Cattleya orchids are not very resistant to fertilizers, so the concentration of water-soluble fertilizers should be diluted 1.5 to 2 times the recommended concentration. For example, if the recommended concentration is 1000 times, it is advisable to use a concentration of 1500-2000 times for Cattleya orchids. The use of water-soluble fertilizers should be stopped during high temperatures in summer.
After entering autumn, Cattleya orchids begin to differentiate flower buds. Therefore, it is recommended to apply more phosphorus and potassium fertilizers after entering autumn. Phosphorus and potassium fertilizers can be used, and the roots can be watered every 5-7 days to promote flower bud differentiation. If you can do the above points, Cattleya orchids can rebloom every year.
The above is a comprehensive introduction to the care of Cattleya orchids during flowering and post-flowering care and reblooming techniques introduced by Green Enthusiast Network [www.lvzhimi.com]. I hope it brings some knowledge of green plants to green enthusiasts.