What are the key points for orchid cultivation?
Regarding the key points of orchid cultivation and a brief description of the knowledge about orchid growing techniques, the relevant content is as follows:
Orchids have a graceful posture, noble and elegant, placing them at home not only looks beautiful and generous but also adds a touch of cultural atmosphere. Therefore, many orchid enthusiasts like to keep several pots of orchids at home for appreciation.
Those who have grown orchids know that this plant has high environmental requirements, such as soil, temperature, and humidity, which is why many beginners struggle to grow them well. In fact, orchids are not as difficult to grow as people imagine. As long as you care for them according to their growth habits, you can usually keep them thriving. For新手 orchid growers, remember these four key points to ensure healthy growth and prevent root rot.
Cultivation material should be water-retaining and breathable
Growing orchids is different from other flowers. It has high requirements for the growing soil. In the wild, orchids often grow in soft and breathable humus soil. When growing them in pots at home, we should also try to provide soft and breathable materials to ensure that the orchid roots grow strong and avoid becoming hollow or rotting.
Why do many beginners find that their orchids at home always have rotting roots? It is mostly because the soil used is too sticky and has poor breathability, causing the soil to remain moist for too long after watering, leading to root rot. Therefore, the first step in growing orchids well is to prepare the right growing material.
There are many materials used to prepare orchid growing material, usually divided into hard and soft materials. Hard materials include volcanic rock, vermiculite, coal slag, and broken bricks, while soft materials include fermented pine needles, bark, peanut shells, and coconut bran. No matter which material is used, it should be loose and breathable, and also have some water retention, otherwise, the roots can easily dehydrate after watering, leading to more hollow roots.
How to water orchids properly?
It is often said that "to grow orchids, one must master the art of watering," meaning that watering orchids can be challenging. Everyone may have their own watering method, but the same watering technique may not suit all orchids. There are two reasons for this. First, different materials have different water evaporation rates. If the material is breathable but does not retain water, it dries quickly, and you can only water when it's dry.
Secondly, different seasons require different watering intervals. The evaporation rate of water in summer and winter is significantly different, so you cannot stick to one watering method and must adapt accordingly. Only by understanding the orchid you are growing can you find a suitable watering method, rather than following someone else's schedule.
Many orchid enthusiasts say, "Dry-grow orchids, wet-grow chrysanthemums." The so-called dry-grow orchids refer to the fear of excessive watering, which can keep the potting soil constantly moist and lead to root rot. However, it is not the drier the material, the better, as this can cause the plant to develop more hollow roots. In fact, orchids grow better in moist but not wet soil, and it is easier for them to sprout new buds.
Issues related to orchid fertilization
Any plant's growth depends on nutrients, and orchids are no exception. When the nutrients in the growing material are insufficient, especially for orchids grown in hard materials, if no fertilization is done for a long time, the plant will grow weak with yellow leaves and lack vitality.
Improper fertilization can also cause root burn and yellow leaves, especially for beginners who may fertilize incorrectly by adding unfermented organic fertilizer to the pot, leading to root rot.