White Bletilla Cultivation Methods
As a representative species of the Orchidaceae family, White Bletilla is favored by gardening enthusiasts for its unique purple-red inflorescence and medicinal value. This perennial herb can be both ornamental and medicinal in home potted plants, making it crucial to master its growth habits and maintenance techniques.
Regulating White Bletilla Growth Environment
Temperature and Humidity Balance Management
The optimal growth temperature should be maintained between 18-25°C, and it is necessary to keep the wintering environment above 10°C. In spring and summer, the air humidity should be controlled between 60-70%, which can be adjusted using a misting humidifier or a tray water stone method to avoid leaf edge scorching.
Light Cycle Control
Receive 4-6 hours of scattered light daily, and use a sunshade net to filter 50% of direct sunlight during the midsummer. Extend to 8 hours of soft light before and after the blooming period to promote bud differentiation and even coloring.
Cultivation Substrate and Nutrition Management
White Bletilla Cultivation Methods
Use a mixed substrate of peat soil: perlite: decomposed leaf soil in a ratio of 3:1:2, and add bone meal as a base fertilizer when repotting every 2 years. During the growth season, apply a diluted 200x orchid special liquid fertilizer every half month, and add phosphorus-potassium fertilizer solution during the bud formation stage.
Key Points of Corm Propagation Technique
Divide the plants before the spring sprouting, choosing healthy corms with 3-5 buds. Apply wood ash to the cut surface for disinfection, plant shallowly with the bud points facing up 2cm from the soil surface, and keep the substrate slightly moist until new roots sprout.
Solutions to Common Problems
Physiological Yellow Leaf Treatment
High temperatures in summer can cause leaf edge scorching, and it should be promptly moved to a shady place and sprayed with a 0.1% ferrous sulfate solution. For winter low-temperature yellowing, raise the environmental temperature to above 15°C.