How to cultivate orchids
This article introduces the knowledge of how to cultivate orchids and the related techniques of orchid cultivation and maintenance, as follows:
Orchids are perennial flowers of the Orchidaceae family, also known as Chinese orchid, spring orchid, orchid grass, orchid flower, fragrant orchid, mountain orchid, national fragrance, empty谷, etc. Orchids are one of the top ten famous flowers in China. Orchids are flowers with a unique style and high ornamental value. The flowers of orchids are elegant in color, with light green and yellow-green being the most common, but those with plain hearts are especially precious. The fragrance of orchids is clear and not muddy, and a pot in the room fills the air with fragrance. The posture of orchid flowers is dignified and graceful, some are dignified and noble, full of changes. The leaves of orchids are evergreen, with both firmness and flexibility, beautiful in appearance, and even when not in bloom, they look like a living work of art.
Orchids prefer warm and humid climates, rich in humus soil, and require a soil pH of 5-6. They require a semi-shaded environment during the growing season and plenty of sunlight in winter.
I. Methods of orchid propagation
1. Division propagation: Potted orchids grow slowly, and it usually takes three years to divide them. Generally, Cymbidium requires 4-5筒 leaves in spring and 6-9筒 leaves in summer to divide. The appropriate time for division is early spring for spring-flowering orchids and early spring for summer and autumn flowering orchids. The method is to take out the strong mother plant from the pot, then separate the connected parts of the orchid roots naturally with hands or a knife, cut off the rotting roots and withered leaves, wash with clean water, and place them in a well-ventilated and dry place for about 2 hours before potting.
2. Seed propagation: Generally, it can be carried out from spring to summer. Because orchid seeds are small and difficult to germinate, they must have symbiosis with orchid bacteria, so surface sowing on the mother plant pot is often used. After the seeds germinate, they can use the symbiosis of the mother plant. The method is to crush the soil and water it thoroughly, then sow the seeds on the surface of the pot soil, cover them with disinfected sphagnum moss, and place them in an environment with a room temperature of 20-25°C. After about half a year, they can germinate and grow into small seedlings, then transplant them into pots with a diameter of 15 centimeters.
II. Potting soil preparation: Pots have great limitations, and the pot in which orchids are cultivated is a special small environment. No single type of soil can meet the various needs of potted orchids. Therefore, it is necessary to prepare the required culture soil before potting. The potting soil for cultivating orchids should be rich in humus, loose, well-drained, slightly acidic, with a pH of 5.5-6. The best is the deciduous leaf soil, commonly known as orchid mud, which is formed by the accumulation and decomposition of dead branches and leaves over the years, with a soft and loose texture, good drainage, water retention, and air circulation. The potting soil can also be a mixture of 70% sandy loam and 30% humus soil as the cultivation soil. It is best to disinfect the soil at high temperatures before use or expose it to the sun to kill bacteria.
III. Potting: Before potting, cut off the broken, cracked, damaged, and overly long roots of the orchid plant. First, place broken tiles at the bottom of the pot, then fill in the culture soil, place the orchid plant in the center of the pot upright, the roots should be spread out, fill the soil to half the pot, gently lift and shake the orchid plant, compact the culture soil, and do not plant too deep. Keeping the rootstock level with the pot opening is fine. If it's too shallow, it affects survival; if it's too deep, it affects the growth of the orchid after transplanting. After planting, water thoroughly. After planting, keep it in a shaded environment for about a week, then move it to a sunny place for maintenance after the roots have recovered.
IV. Water and fertilizer management:
1. Watering: During the flowering period and the leaf bud growth period, watering should be less. During the plum rain season, it should be moved indoors or sheltered from the rain. In summer, water in the early morning or evening, not too much. In autumn, the amount of water can be increased. In dry seasons, spray water every evening. Spray upwards to make the mist fine and even, keeping the leaf surface moist and the ground humid to increase air humidity. Sometimes it is best to spray several times a day. Water from the edge of the pot, not from the top, and avoid watering at noon. In winter, although watering can be greatly reduced, it should not be stopped. Be careful not to let the potting soil dry out completely. In late winter and early spring, water the leaves and leaf sheaths along the wet, wait for them to dry before moving indoors to prevent rot.
2. Fertilization: The fertilization of orchids should be less frequent and not too concentrated, to prevent root rot. Those with poor growth should not be fertilized or fertilized less. Orchids newly dug from the mountains should not be fertilized because new roots have not yet emerged. It must be after 1-2 years when new roots emerge that fertilization can be applied. Generally, orchids do not fertilize during the winter dormancy period. In June and July, when the orchid leaf buds extend about 2 centimeters, a thin liquid fertilizer can be used several times. It should not be used during the high temperature season. After September, fertilization can be done 1-2 times. In autumn, apply the extract of wood ash. Fertilization should be done on sunny days, as it is prone to root rot on cloudy days and should be done in the evening, followed by watering with clean water the next morning. Chemical fertilizers are generally not used, and care should be taken not to get fertilizer on the leaves.
V. Maintenance management
Orchids dislike direct sunlight, so it is best to place them in a ventilated and shaded area. They also dislike coal smoke and should not be planted near factories or canteens. They can be kept outdoors in spring, summer, and autumn, and a shade棚 should be set up in summer. Orchids prefer dryness and dislike moisture, so watering should not be excessive. Generally, pots should be changed every 2-3 years to remove old roots and can be combined with division. During growth, pruning should be done regularly to remove withered old leaves to facilitate ventilation. From November to the following March or April, orchids should be placed in a greenhouse, maintaining a room temperature of 5-10°C, paying attention to cold protection and frost prevention.
The above introduction on how to cultivate orchids and the techniques of orchid cultivation and maintenance are provided for everyone to learn and understand!