How to grow orchids at home
Let me tell you about how to grow orchids at home and the correct cultivation methods for orchids. Let's learn about them together.
There are many varieties of orchids, most of which have elegant and noble postures. Placing several pots of orchids at home can enliven the room. When they bloom, the fragrance fills the air, making people feel vigorous and happy, which gives them 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 me introduce to you how to grow orchids at home.
Orchids grow wild in warm, humid valleys, and their growing soil is mostly made up of decomposed tree branches and leaves that have been accumulating for many years. Therefore, their growth environment requires higher standards, and when growing them at home, it is necessary to provide a suitable growing environment for them.
1. Soil preparation
Orchids have strict requirements for the growing soil, which should be loose, fertile, and well-ventilated. You can buy some special orchid soil or prepare it yourself. Normally, you can use some peanut shells, bark, or sawdust that has been fermented and composted to prepare the orchid's 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 the growth and development of orchids.
2. Potting and planting
Before potting and planting orchids, 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, and the leaves should be spread outwards. While filling the soil, press it down to make the soil and roots bond closely, then water thoroughly and place it in a shaded and ventilated environment for maintenance. Later, you can also place a layer of beautiful small stones on the pot surface, which is aesthetically pleasing and helps regulate moisture, preventing the soil from splashing out of the pot when watering.
3. Fertilization management
Usually, for new plants, no excessive fertilization is needed within a year. You can apply some dilute cake fertilizer solution occasionally. For older orchids during the growing period, you can apply more nitrogenous fertilizer to promote the germination of new buds and accelerate plant growth. Before the differentiation of flower buds in autumn, apply 1 to 2 times of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer to promote the differentiation of flower buds. During the budding period, you can water with a dilute solution of potassium dihydrogen phosphate, which is beneficial for the plant to bud and bloom. After the flowers have fallen for half a month, apply two dilute compound fertilizers to help the plant recover. In winter, when orchids enter a dormant period, the plant's demand for nutrients decreases, and fertilization should be temporarily stopped. However, for Moorchids that are blooming, a small amount of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer should be supplemented to ensure sufficient nutrients and maintain the blooming of flowers. When fertilizing, be careful not to let the fertilizer solution splash on the leaves and leaf hearts to avoid contamination.
How to grow orchids at home
4. Watering requirements
Orchids prefer a humid environment, requiring sufficient water while avoiding excessive watering. If the potting soil is too wet or has standing water for a long time, it can cause root rot. Generally, keeping the potting soil slightly moist during the growing period is sufficient, watering only when the topsoil is dry. Spring is the vigorous growth period for the plants, and as the growth rate increases, the demand for water also increases. At this time, watering can be slightly increased, with watering every 2 to 3 days. In summer, with high temperatures and rapid water evaporation, orchids require more water. In addition to ensuring sufficient water, you can spray the plant with water in the morning and evening to supplement the leaves. In winter, with lower temperatures, the plants enter a dormant state and require less water. Generally, it is sufficient to keep the potting soil slightly moist and 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 orchids, avoid strong light. Although orchids need to grow in a shaded environment most of the time, they cannot be completely in the dark. During spring, autumn, and winter, you can place the potted plants in a place with scattered light to allow the plants to receive some sunlight for photosynthesis, which is also beneficial for flower bud differentiation. If orchids are in a shaded environment for a long time without sunlight, it will affect flower bud differentiation and may result in fewer or no blooms. Therefore, giving them some scattered light is also beneficial for the growth and development of the plants.
② Temperature requirements
Orchids prefer a warm environment, so the temperature requirements are also high. The general suitable growth temperature is between 20°C and 30°C. Temperatures that are too high or too low are not conducive to normal growth. Especially in winter, you must take good insulation measures because many varieties of orchids are not cold-tolerant. For example, the minimum temperature for Moorchids and Jianorchids should be above 5°C. If the temperature is too low, it can not only affect the development of flower buds but also cause frost damage. When the temperature exceeds 30°C in summer, the plant generally stops growing, so in addition to providing shade, it is also necessary to frequently sprinkle water on the plants to cool them down.