How to care for black orchids best
Main content guide: Learn how to care for black orchids best and gain experience in the aspect of green plant maintenance to properly care for them. These are very useful tips worth collecting!
"Four points" to keep black orchids healthy for ten years without yellowing or drying leaves, and blooming annually
Black orchids are a relatively easy-to-care-for variety among orchids. They have wide leaves and deep color, and they are relatively simple to maintain. Xiao Qi started caring for orchids with black orchids because he knows an older brother who has been raising black orchids for many years. He had been raising a black orchid for more than 10 years without any dried or yellow leaves, and it bloomed every year. Today, let's talk about how to care for black orchids properly to keep them growing continuously, with better leaf growth, more new buds, and more flowers.
One, good soil mix is essential. In fact, black orchids are quite easy to care for. We can completely follow the soil mixing method for other orchids, using a breathable, water-permeable mix that also contains some nutrients. You can directly use granulated peat, peanut shells, and small ceramsite stones in a 1:1 ratio, and there won't be any problems growing black orchids this way.
Two, watering should be reasonable. Black orchids have thick roots, similar to other orchids, which are very white and fleshy. We must not let the potting soil dry out for too long when caring for black orchids. We can water them when the soil is almost dry, making sure the potting soil is thoroughly soaked with water. However, remember to water in a well-ventilated environment to prevent root rot, which is the most reliable method. The simplest method is to insert a long bamboo stick almost to the bottom of the pot and check it when you want to water. If the bottom of the bamboo stick is dry, water thoroughly. But make sure to water thoroughly, not just half or one side. When watering, try to rotate the pot and water several times. Remember not to water with both hot and cold water.
Three, fertilizing should be appropriate. To care for black orchids well, fertilizer supplements are essential. How should we choose fertilizers? Use multi-element fertilizers during the growing season for better root and leaf growth and faster sprouting. Their growing season usually starts after flowering and continues until summer. Therefore, multi-element fertilizers can be used during this season. But in summer, when they are growing slowly and forming flower buds, we should not fertilize or water frequently. Water only when the potting soil is completely dry. However, fertilization should be sufficient. How to fertilize? Choose phosphorus and potassium fertilizers, such as monopotassium phosphate, and apply once a month to prevent a deficiency of phosphorus and potassium, which is necessary for rapid flower bud differentiation. Continue using it until the flower buds emerge and grow tall, and stop using monopotassium phosphate when they are about to bloom.
How to care for black orchids best
Four, reasonable exposure to light. Black orchids are very shade-tolerant plants, unlike other orchids. They do not need to be placed in the strongest light. Keeping them in a bright area with 1-2 hours of scattered light is enough for normal growth. Avoid direct sunlight, as too much light can cause yellowing of the leaf edges and black spots, and easily lead to sunburn. In spring and winter, you can expose them to more light because these seasons have weaker sunlight, which is beneficial for rapid growth and bud differentiation, leading to taller growth and blooming.
Black orchids are very easy to care for. Mix the soil as you would for other orchids to ensure breathability and water permeability. Supplement fertilizers regularly, water thoroughly when the potting soil is almost dry, expose them to light reasonably, and never expose them to direct sunlight. Also, ensure good ventilation to prevent waterlogging and root rot. If you follow these steps and care for your black orchid for a few years, you won't have any problems because you are watering and fertilizing properly, allowing the roots and leaves to grow, and ensuring good ventilation, which prevents rotting leaves and roots. Choosing the right fertilizer, growing during the growing season, and blooming during the flowering season is the best way to care for black orchids. Beginners can learn and try this method, and I'm sure you'll be able to care for them well.
The above content about how to care for black orchids best and how to properly care for them is hoped to be helpful to green plant enthusiasts!