The Five Elements and Three Keys to Raising Good Orchids
The editor introduces you to the experience of raising orchids, the five elements and three keys to raising good orchids. Next, the editor will provide detailed answers for you.
Orchids are both easy and difficult to raise. To raise good orchids, you need to understand their natural growth attributes and their growth patterns, plant according to these patterns, learn from others' experiences, consider your own circumstances, think more, summarize frequently, adapt measures to local conditions, and explore a set of cultivation methods that suit you to achieve success. Based on years of experience in raising orchids, the author believes that five elements must be grasped and three keys must be captured to raise good orchids.
Element One: The environment must be suitable. In a good environment, raising and managing orchids is extremely easy and can achieve the best results. The environmental conditions required for orchid growth are similar to those for humans, such as cool in summer and warm in winter. To raise good orchids, it is necessary to understand the natural environment and growth habits of orchids in the wild, and create a good cultivation environment based on these habits. The cultivation environment should fully consider factors such as ventilation, lighting, and temperature and humidity control. Creating a good growth environment for orchids is a fundamental and most important condition for raising good orchids.
Element Two: Temperature must be appropriate. Orchid growth is greatly affected by temperature, with orchids particularly liking higher temperatures during the day and lower temperatures at night. The reproductive growth of most orchids adapts to temperatures between 18-28°C. If temperatures exceed 30 degrees, measures should be taken to cool down, and if temperatures are below 10 degrees, insulation is needed. A daily temperature difference of 8-10 degrees is particularly beneficial for orchid growth. Therefore, the location of the orchid garden must have appropriate temperature control and adjustment.
Element Three: Humidity must be moderate. Humidity is one of the five key elements for orchid growth. High air humidity is beneficial for orchid growth, with 60-80% being the best. Increasing humidity does not just refer to the amount of water in the pot but also includes the humidity of the air in the orchid garden and the humidity of the potting soil. Orchids like higher humidity in the air because their roots, stems, and leaves all absorb moisture from the air, so measures should be taken to increase the humidity of the orchid garden to over 60%.
Element Four: Lighting must be suitable. Orchid growth requires sufficient but not excessive lighting. Light is essential for the growth of all things, especially sunlight, which is necessary for the production of organic matter in green plants. Without sunlight, green plants cannot grow. However, orchids need to grow in an environment with better lighting. In general, the principle of orchid lighting should be sufficient but not excessive, and human intervention is needed to achieve this. Methods such as shading can be used: shade when hot, expose to sun when cool, shade at noon, expose to morning sun, shade more in summer, less in autumn, and no shading in winter, shade more on sunny days, and no shading on rainy days.
Element Five: Ventilation must be good. Good ventilation is key to raising orchids and effectively preventing diseases and pests. Good air circulation promotes the metabolism of orchid cell tissues, increases nutrient production, reduces air humidity and temperature, reduces the harm caused by diseases and pests, and promotes healthy orchid growth. It is best to use natural winds for ventilation, such as having southwest winds in summer and blocking cold northwest winds in winter. If natural ventilation is not possible, artificial methods must be used to control air circulation.
Key One: Choose the right planting material and pot. The planting material is the living space of the orchid plant, and the potting soil plays a key role in the growth of orchids. It is difficult to answer which planting material can achieve the best results in orchid cultivation. As China is vast, different regions and individuals use different materials. However, no matter what material is used, the basic requirements are the same based on orchid growth habits: the material must be safe, easy to use, inexpensive, and of appropriate coarseness and fineness, with the principles being loose, breathable, sterile, draining, fertilizing, and slightly acidic. On this basis, it is important to learn from others' experiences and combine them with your own situation to find an effective mixing method. The selection of pots should be based on the number of orchid plants, with medium-sized pots being proven effective, and plastic pots can also be used to grow orchids.
Key Two: Watering and fertilizing must be done correctly. Plants cannot grow without water, and orchids are no exception. The best water for watering is natural rainwater, unpolluted spring water, and river water can also be used, as well as tap water. Some orchid enthusiasts often ask: "How often should I water?" Many publications also make watering seem complex. The author believes that as long as the planting material is good, it does not matter whether you water more or less, as long as it is not too dry or too wet. Specifically, this depends on the season, climate, coarseness of the material, size and breathability of the pot, and the number of orchid seedlings, among other factors, and should be determined based on your own environment and cultivation methods. The principles are: keep the pot moist in dry seasons, not too much in rainy seasons, water when dry in winter, control moisture in summer, water sufficiently in spring, enough in summer, not dry in autumn, and not wet in winter. Also, water more on sunny days, less on cloudy days, and not on rainy days. Watering times should be in the early morning or evening when the temperature is lower in summer, and in the middle morning when the temperature rises in winter, which is beneficial for orchid growth. Fertilizing is also very important. Orchids are plants and cannot grow well without fertilizer. Orchids need sufficient nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in their growth. Selective fertilization at the appropriate time is a powerful measure to ensure rapid orchid growth. Generally, more fertilization is needed during the summer when orchids are vigorous, and none during the winter dormancy period. In spring and autumn, when new seedlings and flower buds appear, fertilization should be timely. The general principle is to keep the concentration low and apply fertilizers thinly and frequently.
Key Three: Disease and pest control. With the advancement of orchid garden construction and cultivation management levels, a good growth environment has been created for orchids, which also provides a suitable living space and habitat for pathogens and pests. Therefore, the prevention and treatment of orchid diseases in the orchid garden is another key aspect. Preventing and treating diseases and pests is an important measure in raising good orchids. It is based on the principles of prevention first, treating early, treating small, and treating completely. The potting soil should be treated for pests and sterilized to protect the orchid roots. Winter and early spring are the潜伏 periods for pests and pathogens, while summer and autumn are the peak seasons for pest outbreaks. Prevention should be the main focus, with treatment as a supplement, and pesticides and fungicides should be sprayed appropriately in all seasons. At the same time, scientific management methods should be used to strengthen the orchids and increase their resistance to diseases, which is the most fundamental preventive measure.
The above knowledge about the five elements and three keys to raising good orchids is hoped to bring you some help after reading this article!