This website introduces some experience in home butterfly orchid care, butterfly orchid family care skills. Next, the editor of this site will introduce them to everyone.
1. Cultivation Medium: The common cultivation medium for butterfly orchids mainly consists of aquatic plants and moss.
2. Temperature: The first thing to ensure when raising butterfly orchids at home is temperature. Butterfly orchids prefer a hot and humid environment, with a minimum temperature of 15°C during the growing period, and an optimal growth temperature of 16°C to 30°C. Attention should be paid to increasing the temperature during the autumn-winter and winter-spring transitions and in winter when temperatures are low. In rooms with heating equipment, it is not difficult to maintain this temperature, but care should be taken not to place the flowers directly on the radiators or too close to them. In summer, when temperatures are high, it is necessary to lower the temperature and pay attention to ventilation. If the temperature exceeds 32°C, butterfly orchids usually enter a semi-dormant state, and it is important to avoid prolonged high temperatures. Around the Spring Festival is the peak blooming period, and moderate temperature reduction can extend the viewing time. The night temperature during flowering should be kept between 13°C and 16°C, but should not be lower than 13°C.
3. Watering: Butterfly orchids are native to primeval forests with plenty of mist and high temperatures. Butterfly orchids do not have thick pseudobulbs to store nutrients, and if the air humidity is insufficient, the leaves will become wrinkled and weak. Therefore, butterfly orchids should be cultivated in a ventilated and humid environment. The optimal air humidity for the growth of butterfly orchids is 50% to 80%. More watering is required during the active root growth period, and less watering during the post-flowering dormant period. Water once around 5 pm in spring and autumn, twice a day at 9 am and 5 pm in summer, and once every other week in winter, preferably before 10 am. Do not water during cold spells, maintain dryness, and resume watering after the cold spell has passed. The principle of watering is to water when the surface of the cultivation medium is dry, and the water temperature should be close to the room temperature. When the indoor air is dry, use a sprayer to spray directly on the leaves, but avoid spraying water on the flowers during the blooming period. Tap water should be stored for more than 72 hours before watering.
4. Light: Although butterfly orchids prefer shade, they still need some light, especially before and after flowering, to promote blooming and make the flowers more vibrant and durable. They should be placed in a room with diffused light and should not be exposed to direct sunlight.
5. Ventilation: Normal growth of butterfly orchids requires fresh moving air, so good ventilation is essential, especially during the high humidity of summer, to prevent heat stroke and also to avoid pest infections.
6. Nutrition: Butterfly orchids should be fertilized throughout the year, unless the temperature is low for an extended period. Stopping fertilization during the flower bud differentiation period in winter can easily lead to no flowers or few flowers. During the growing season of spring and summer, apply a thin liquid fertilizer every 7 to 10 days, preferably organic fertilizer or a special butterfly orchid nutrient solution, but not when there are flower buds as it can cause early bud drop. After the flowering period, nitrogen and potassium fertilizers can be applied. During the flower stem growth period in autumn and winter, phosphorus fertilizers can be used, but they should be diluted and applied every 2 to 3 weeks. Fertilization should be done after afternoon watering, and after several fertilizations, flush the pot and plant with a large amount of water to avoid harm to the roots from residual salts.
7. Post-Flowering Management: The blooming period is usually around the Spring Festival, with a viewing period of 2 to 3 months. When the flowers wither, they should be cut off as soon as possible to reduce nutrient consumption. If the flower stem is cut off at the 4th to 5th node from the base, it can bloom again in 2 to 3 months. However, this consumes too much plant energy and is not conducive to the following year's growth. If you want to bloom beautiful flowers again next year, it's best to cut the flower stem from the base. When the medium ages, it should be replaced in time, otherwise, the aeration will deteriorate, causing root rot and weakening or even death of the plant. It is best to repot in May when new leaves grow.
Four Reasons for Failure in Home Cultivation
1. Overwatering: Friends who grow butterfly orchids are always worried about the lack of water, watering every day regardless of whether the cultivation medium is dry, which can cause severe root rot.
2. Low Temperature: The time when butterfly orchid flowering plants are usually sold is mostly in early spring, and after buying them home, they are usually placed in living rooms and other places for appreciation. Although the daytime temperature in these places is sufficient, the night temperature is relatively low. Moreover, professional cultivation of orchids is mostly done in well-equipped greenhouses, making the temperature and humidity at home somewhat insufficient, which can lead to weakened plant growth. Therefore, sometimes, despite good care, orchids may still not bloom.
3. Over-fertilization: Fertilize whenever possible, without paying attention to the concentration, thinking that applying fertilizer will make the plant grow faster. Remember, butterfly orchids should be fertilized with thin fertilizer and applied in small amounts multiple times. Over-fertilization can be counterproductive.
4. Planting Small Plants in Large Pots: Some people think that using a large pot can provide a spacious environment and sufficient materials for the butterfly orchid. However, after using a large pot, the water grass does not dry easily, and butterfly orchids prefer good ventilation.
The above[] introduces the detailed content of butterfly orchid family care skills, hoping to bring you help!