How to Make Orchid Leaves Brighter and Greener
Today's tip on how to keep orchid leaves brighter and greener, along with some clever tricks for orchid care in the field of green plants, will be introduced by the editor of this site for netizens.
As March approaches, many orchids are either in bloom or past their blooming period. After the orchids finish blooming, they take a brief rest before entering the stage of sprouting new buds and growing, quickly branching out and expanding their leaves. This means that for the next half of the year, we will only be able to see the orchid leaves. Therefore, it is urgent to take good care of orchid leaves. Otherwise, looking at a pot of orchids with yellowing, lackluster leaves for a long time can lead to aesthetic fatigue. Now is the perfect time to care for orchid leaves. Pay attention to three small details, and the leaves will be浓绿, glossy, and visually appealing, not inferior to when they are in bloom.
Reasons for Yellowing and Dull Orchid Leaves
The lack of vibrant green and glossiness in orchid leaves is related to many factors. Different orchid varieties have different leaf colors. However, if there is a noticeable change in the leaf color of the same variety of orchid, it is due to the care provided. Generally speaking, the main issues that cause orchid leaves to turn yellow and lose their luster are fertilization, lighting, and air humidity. To determine the exact cause, it is necessary to analyze the actual growing conditions. Since the yellowing and dullness of orchid leaves are likely caused by fertilization, lighting, and air humidity, we should focus on these three issues during the care process.
Methods to Make Orchid Leaves Dark Green and Glossy
1. Apply a nitrogen-rich fertilizer appropriatelyWhich fertilizers have a higher nitrogen content? Fertilizers specifically designed for ornamental leafy plants such as pothos, money trees, and hanging orchids contain higher levels of nitrogen. Additionally, well-rotted soybean cake fertilizer (including some homemade soybean fertilizers) is also a compound fertilizer with a high nitrogen content. Urea is a pure nitrogen fertilizer and is generally not recommended for direct use on orchids, as it is a fast-acting fertilizer that can easily burn the seedlings if the timing and amount are not properly managed. However, if your orchid leaves are yellowish and the new seedlings are weak, a small amount of urea can be used infrequently. For example, every twenty days or so, you can bury 5-10 urea granules shallowly around the pot or dissolve them and apply them to the orchid's roots or spray them on the leaves (the concentration for both root and leaf application should be strictly controlled above 1200 times).
How to Make Orchid Leaves Brighter and Greener
2. Provide reasonable lightingThe glossiness and dark green color of orchid leaves are greatly related to lighting. Leaves that are kept in insufficient light for a long time become dark green and lackluster, with poor leaf texture and a somewhat soft feeling. Leaves that are kept in excessive light turn yellow, become rough, and lose their shine, significantly reducing their ornamental value. Therefore, when exposing orchids to sunlight in spring, it should be done moderately, neither too much nor too little.
How to grasp the timing of exposing orchids to sunlight in spring? It depends on the light intensity and orchid variety. When the temperature is below 18 degrees, all orchids can be exposed to more sunlight to enhance photosynthesis, promote the quick sprouting of new buds, and make the leaves become bright green and glossy. When the temperature exceeds 18 degrees, some orchid varieties should be considered for shaded care, while others can still be exposed to more sunlight. For example, Mo Orchid and Spring Orchid are not tolerant to direct sunlight and should be shaded appropriately when temperatures are high to prevent leaf yellowing (the amount of shading is related to the temperature; less shading when it's low and more when it's high). Hui Orchid and Jian Orchid have better resistance to sunlight, and more exposure in spring is good for sprouting new seedlings.
3. Maintain higher air humiditySpring is the peak growing season for orchids, and it is best to keep the air humidity above 50%, which is beneficial for the sprouting of new seedlings and improving leaf color. However, in many places, the wind is strong in spring, and it is often difficult to increase air humidity. Under such conditions, the leaves of orchids will become dull and lackluster, and the growth of new seedlings will slow down. In such cases, we should spray the surroundings and ground to increase humidity, creating good conditions for orchid growth.
For example, where I am now, the air humidity is only about 20%-50%, and it's very windy and dry. The luster of the orchid leaves is not as good as in the summer and autumn seasons, and the new seedlings grow relatively slowly. Therefore, I spray the orchids in the morning and evening and place them on the watered grass during the day, which improves the situation. Otherwise, with no rain for a long time, it's hard to say what will happen.
The above-sharing on how to make orchid leaves brighter and greener and teaching you some clever tricks for orchid care is hoped to bring a little help to your life!