What is the best way to cultivate orchids
The editor will answer the questions about the best way to cultivate orchids and the knowledge of green plants and flowers, such as the methods and precautions for potting orchid cultivation. Next, the editor of the website will introduce to the netizens.
Orchids come in many varieties, most of which are graceful, noble, and elegant. Placing several pots of orchids in the home can brighten the room, and when they bloom, the fragrance fills the air, making people feel vigorous and cheerful, offering high ornamental value. Everyone knows that although flowers are beautiful, it is difficult to cultivate orchids well. So, how can we cultivate elegant orchids at home? Let's introduce how to cultivate orchids at home.
Orchids in the wild often grow in warm, humid valleys, and the growth soil is mostly composed of decayed tree branches and leaves over the years, so their growth environment requirements are high, and when growing at home, it is necessary to provide a suitable 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 special orchid soil or prepare it yourself. Normally, you can use materials like peanut shells, bark, or sawdust, after fermentation and decomposition, 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. This not only helps to keep the soil loose and well-ventilated but also, after fermentation, these materials are rich in nutrients, which are very beneficial for the growth and development of orchids.
2. Potting and Planting
Before potting orchids, first, 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 it down with your hands, plant the orchid in the pot, adjust the orchid's roots to let them naturally spread out, the leaves should be spread outwards, then fill the soil while pressing it down to make the soil and roots tightly combined, and water thoroughly after that, placing it in a shady and well-ventilated environment to care for. Later, you can also place a layer of beautiful pebbles on the surface of the pot, which is both aesthetically pleasing and helps regulate moisture, and it's less likely to splash soil out of the pot when watering.
3. Fertilization Management
Usually, for new plants, no excessive fertilization is needed within a year, and a small amount of thin cake fertilizer solution can be applied occasionally. For older orchids during the growing period, more nitrogen fertilizer can be applied to promote the germination of new buds and accelerate plant growth. Before the differentiation of flower buds in autumn, 1-2 applications of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers should be applied in advance to promote flower bud differentiation. During the budding period, a thin solution of potassium dihydrogen phosphate can be applied to help the plant produce buds. After the flowers have fallen for half a month, two applications of thin compound fertilizer should be applied to help the plant recover. In winter, orchids enter a dormant period, and the plant's demand for nutrients decreases, so fertilization should be temporarily stopped. However, for orchids that bloom in winter, a small amount of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer should be supplemented appropriately 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.
What is the best way to cultivate orchids
4. Watering Requirements
Orchids prefer a humid environment, requiring sufficient water while avoiding excessive watering. If the potting soil is too wet for a long time or has standing water, it can cause root rot. Generally, keeping the potting soil slightly moist during the growing period is sufficient, and water should be added only after the surface of the soil dries. In spring, when the plant grows vigorously and the growth rate is fast, the demand for water increases, and watering can be slightly increased, with waterings every 2-3 days. In summer, high temperatures cause fast water evaporation, and orchids require more water, so in addition to ensuring sufficient water, you can spray the plant with water in the morning and evening to supplement the leaves. In winter, low temperatures cause the plant to enter a dormant state, and less water is required, generally keeping the potting soil slightly moist and slightly dry, as excessive watering can easily cause frostbite.
5. Light and Temperature Management
① Light Requirements
As everyone knows, orchids prefer a shaded, cool growing environment and are most afraid of direct sunlight. When caring for them, be careful to avoid strong light. Although orchids need to grow in a shaded environment most of the time, they cannot be completely without light. In autumn, winter, and spring, the potted plants can be placed in a place with scattered light to allow the plant to receive some light for photosynthesis, which is also beneficial for flower bud differentiation. If orchids are in a shaded environment without sunlight for a long time, it will affect flower bud differentiation, resulting in fewer or no flowers. Therefore, giving it some scattered light is also beneficial for the plant's growth and development.
② Temperature Requirements
Orchids prefer a warm environment, so they also have high temperature requirements, generally suitable for growth between 20°C and 30°C. Too high or too low temperatures are not conducive to normal growth. Especially in winter, insulation measures must be taken because many varieties of orchids are not cold-resistant. For example, the minimum temperature for black orchids and Cymbidiums should be above 5°C. If the temperature is too low, it can not only affect the development of flower buds but also cause frostbite. When the temperature exceeds 30°C in summer, the plant usually stops growing, so in addition to shading, it is also necessary to frequently sprinkle water on the plant to cool it down.