How to grow orchids lush
You may not know how to grow orchids lush and the knowledge of orchid maintenance tips and plant care. It will definitely help you, let's learn about it together!
Orchids come in many varieties, most of which are graceful, noble, and elegant. Placing several pots of orchids at home can enliven the indoor space. When they bloom, the fragrance fills the air, making people feel vigorous and comfortable, and they have high ornamental value. Everyone knows that although flowers are beautiful, it is difficult to grow orchids well. So how can we grow elegant orchids at home? Let's introduce how to grow orchids well at home.
Orchids often grow in warm, humid valleys in the wild, and the growing soil is mostly decomposed leaves and branches of trees over the years, so their growth environment requirements are relatively high, and it is necessary to provide a suitable growing environment for them when raising them at home.
1. Soil preparation
Orchids are strict about the growing soil, requiring loose, fertile, and well-ventilated soil. You can buy some special orchid soil or prepare it yourself. Usually, you can use some peanut shells, bark, or sawdust, after fermentation and decomposition, to prepare the orchid nutrient soil. For example, you can use decomposed leaf soil, mountain soil, and add some well-fermented peanut shells or sawdust, which not only helps to keep the soil loose and breathable but also contains rich nutrients after fermentation, which is very beneficial for orchid growth and development.
2. Potting
Before potting orchids, first, place a layer of coal slag or broken tiles at the bottom of the pot as a drainage layer to facilitate drainage and ventilation. Then add about 3 centimeters of growing soil on top, press the soil with your hands, plant the orchid in the pot, adjust the roots of the orchid, let them naturally spread out, the leaves should be spread outwards, and then fill the soil while pressing the growing soil to make the soil and roots tightly combined, water thoroughly after that, and place it in a shady and well-ventilated environment for maintenance. You can also place a layer of nice pebbles on the surface of the pot, which is both aesthetic and helps regulate moisture and prevent soil splashing out of the pot when watering.
3. Fertilizing management
Generally, new plants do not need to be fertilized too much within a year, and a small amount of thin cake fertilizer solution can be applied occasionally. For orchids that have been growing for many years, more nitrogen fertilizer can be applied during the growing period to promote the germination of new buds and accelerate plant growth. Before the differentiation of flower buds in autumn, 1-2 times of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer should be applied in advance to promote flower bud differentiation. During the bud formation period, a thin solution of potassium dihydrogen phosphate can be watered to facilitate bud formation. After the flowers fade for half a month, two applications of thin compound fertilizer should be applied to help the plant recover. In winter, orchids enter a dormant period, and the plant's demand for nutrients decreases, so fertilization should be temporarily stopped. However, for Moorchid that blooms, a small amount of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer should be supplemented appropriately to ensure sufficient nutrients and maintain bloom. When fertilizing, be careful not to splash fertilizer solution on the leaves and leaf hearts to avoid contamination.
How to grow orchids lush
4. Watering requirements
Orchids like a humid environment, requiring sufficient water while avoiding excessive watering. If the potting soil is too wet for a long time or has standing water, it can cause root rot. Generally, keeping the potting soil slightly moist during the growing period is sufficient, watering only when the surface of the soil is dry. Spring is the peak growing season for the plant, and the growth rate is fast, so the demand for water increases, and watering can be increased appropriately, with waterings every 2-3 days. In summer, with high temperatures and fast water evaporation, orchids require more water, and in addition to ensuring sufficient water, the leaves can be supplemented with water by spraying in the morning and evening. In winter, with low temperatures and the plant entering a dormant state, the demand for water is relatively low, and it is sufficient to keep the potting soil slightly moist to slightly dry, as excessive watering can easily cause frostbite.
5. Light and temperature management
① Light requirements
Everyone knows that orchids prefer a shaded, cool growing environment and are most afraid of direct sunlight. When maintaining them, avoid strong light. Although orchids need to grow in a shaded environment most of the time, they cannot be completely without light. In autumn, winter, and spring, the potted plants can be placed in a place with scattered light to allow the plants to receive some light for photosynthesis, which is also beneficial for flower bud differentiation. If orchids are in a shaded environment without sunlight for a long time, it will affect flower bud differentiation, resulting in fewer or no flowers. Therefore, giving them some scattered light is also beneficial for plant growth and development.
② Temperature requirements
Orchids like a warm environment, so the temperature requirements are also high. The general suitable growing temperature is between 20°C and 30°C. High or low temperatures are not conducive to normal growth. Especially in winter, insulation measures must be taken because many varieties of orchids are not cold-resistant. For example, the minimum temperature for Moorchid and Jianorchid is above 5°C. If the temperature is too low, it can not only affect the development of flower buds but also cause frostbite. When the temperature exceeds 30°C in summer, the plant usually stops growing, so in addition to shading, it is also necessary to sprinkle water on the plant to cool it down.