Guoxiangju: The results of using Zhijinshi
The editor introduces you to the introduction of orchid plants, Guoxiangju: The results of using Zhijinshi, let's take a look together.
I started growing orchids with Zhijinshi in 2004, initially mixing Xiantu or Subei mountain soil 50% each in a ceramic pot. Since the soil from Subei mountain was not very good in all aspects, and Xiantu also underwent different quality changes during that era, the mixed use did not achieve the ideal effect.
In 2005, I started to think about the use of Zhijinshi and also paid attention to the results of other orchid friends using it. When I saw that Tian Tang兄 used pure Zhijinshi mixed with snake wood in a ceramic pot to grow robust roots, that feeling was really lovely. At this moment, I realized that when using hard materials, it is best to mix them with fibrous materials like snake wood to benefit the orchid roots to penetrate downward.
From 2005 to 2008, I constantly summarized the use of Zhijinshi, and I can say that I have gained a lot. The following are examples of some summaries and feelings from the past few years.
One, the use of Zhijinshi on old bulbs
Zhijinshi has a good effect on covering the obvious old bulbs of pseudobulbs. In 2006, I used pure Zhijinshi to cover the buds of Cymbidium goeringii old bulbs, and by December 5, 2006, when the pot was turned over, it showed one seedling with one old bulb. There was one bud point on the old bulb, two roots, and three leaves, 20 cm long and 0.5 cm wide.
On October 11, 2008, when the pot was turned over, the original old bulb had collapsed, the two leaves of the grass that grew in 2006 were damaged, the leaves of the back ridge were three, the front ridge had four leaves, 26 cm long, 0.5 cm wide, fully covered with a tip. The second-generation buds had emerged 3.5 cm, and there were 18 snow-white roots. Among them, the new roots of the second-generation buds were 1.7 cm long and 0.4 cm thick. The other roots were 0.3 cm in diameter and 11 cm long. After three growing seasons, the buds covered by the old bulbs had laid the foundation for strong seedlings.
The method of covering old bulbs with Zhijinshi has been explained in detail in my article "The Conversion of Growing Media for Covering Buds," which interested orchid friends might want to read.
Two, the use of Zhijinshi on weak plants
In April to May 2006, I planted five newly collected Hui orchids with 40% orchid bacteria soil mixed with 55% Zhijinshi and 5% snake wood. By August, none of the new flowers had any new buds emerge. In desperation, from the end of August to early September, I repotted the five Hui orchids with new growing media. Most of them showed no new roots or only 2-3 short roots, and the original roots turned black with slight carbonization. No. 90 and No. 95 had new buds, the others did not. Here is the information from No. 95 when it was divided: the tip of the new seedling was burnt, so the pot was turned over. The original mountain roots remained the same, but no new roots had grown, now divided into two blocks with two seedlings each. The strong one had two growth points, and the weak one had one. The roots were slightly trimmed and soaked in root-promoting solution for one hour, dried for two hours, and then potted. A medium-sized ceramic pot was used. 95% Zhijinshi and 5% snake wood were used without any base fertilizer. Plastic foam blocks were used as the base. The reason for dividing into two pots was to establish double insurance. The goal was to first take care of the roots and aim to grow 3-4 buds in 2007.
On October 23, 2006, the Zhijinshi on the surface of the pot was removed to a depth of 2-3 cm to check the performance of the new roots. It was found that the front ridge had three new roots 3-5 cm long and 0.6 cm thick, so base fertilizer was applied with 15 particles of Zhi Xiang, 25 particles of Mo Fei, and 10 particles of active soil. On November 19, 2006, the double ridge bud of block A emerged, and one fat bud emerged from block B, accompanied by the emergence of new root tips. The other pots also performed well.
Here is the entire management of No. 90 Green Hui Piao Men new flower:
No. 90 Green Hui Piao Men new flower was collected in April 2005, with two残草 and flowers due to the severely damaged roots, so it has always been planted with a mixture of Zhijinshi and snake wood, choosing a medium-sized ceramic pot. In the autumn of that year, a weak autumn bud emerged and grew into a 3-leaf weak plant in 2006.
On October 23, 2006, the Zhijinshi on the surface of the pot was removed to a depth of about 2 cm, and some new roots were seen on the new grass, so base fertilizer was applied with 10 particles of Zhi Xiang, 30 particles of Mo Fei, and a little bit of active soil. Zhijinshi mixed with a little snake wood was used to cover the pot surface again. Starting in 2007, I persisted in using orchid bacteria, unified water and fertilizer management, and by the autumn, I grew three medium to strong new plants, one of which had a flower bud on August 10, 2008. In 2008, five new plants were grown, with heights of 35-48 cm, leaf numbers of 6-7, and leaf widths of 1.1 cm. The mature grass that came to a flower bud was 59 cm tall, 0.9 cm wide, and had 7 leaves. Now there are 11 plants in total, including the ones from the mountain. Except for the autumn bud in 2005, which had a slightly burnt tip when it grew in 2006, the three plants in 2007 and the five plants in 2008 all have covered tips. From the trend of reviving, the new plants in 2008 are 0.2 cm wider in leaf width than those in 2007, and two more seedlings have been produced, and the plants from 2007 have successfully sprouted flower buds. From the accelerated situation of nutritional growth, it can be seen that reproductive growth has not been neglected, so that the relationship between nutritional growth and reproductive growth tends to be balanced.
Using 95% Zhijinshi and 5% snake wood without any base fertilizer, and using plastic foam blocks as the base, the later management of the five pots of Hui orchids from the mountain was the same as that of No. 90 Piao Men, with strong pot plants and white roots full of the pot. On October 11, 2008, when the pot of No. 95 new Hui was turned over, the root growth was extremely good, the full pot of fresh roots made the pot wall tight, and the root tips had penetrated through the filter cover holes. It took some effort to remove the pot. No. 95 new Hui pot also performed extremely well, with three flower buds in strong plant growth. The block that was turned over could not be planted back in the original pot and had to be planted in a large plastic pot with a deep bottom.
Through the reasonable management of many pots of experiments, the results show that the combination of 95% Zhijinshi and 5% snake wood is quite good for root and grass growth, and after the grass revives, reproductive growth is also good.
Three, the significance of simple culture management and seedling preservation with Zhijinshi
Through the successful experiments of several simple culture seedling preservation methods mentioned above, it can be shown that the effect is obvious and the significance is profound. When covering old bulbs or weak plants with simple culture to induce new buds and new roots, more careful observation is needed to master the management plan in time. When the number of new roots is 2-3, and the length is 3-5 cm, thin fertilizer water can be given. In deep autumn, when the new roots reach about 7 and the length is more than 7 cm, organic or inorganic slow-release granular fertilizers can be applied as base fertilizer, and the water and fertilizer management will gradually increase the following year. In general, the water and fertilizer management should be adjusted according to the seedling condition. Since Zhijinshi itself does not contain any fertilizer, organic fertilizer should be used as the main source, with inorganic fertilizer as a supplement. The key substance that helps to extend the use time of Zhijinshi and manages water and fertilizer is the orchid bacteria, which is essential. In water and fertilizer management, mixing 300-500 times of orchid bacteria solution can prevent the accumulation of inorganic salts in the pores of Zhijinshi, which can produce toxic substances that cause the new root tips to turn black and lead to root rot, while also maintaining its fast moisture absorption and good moisture retention characteristics. It can also achieve the aim of no harmful bacteria hidden inside, thus achieving the purpose of using Zhijinshi continuously for 3-5 years without replacement and still growing good orchids. When using pure Zhijinshi, it is necessary to mix about 5% plant fibers, which are thin and long and not easy to rot. Now, snake wood is commonly used, which can achieve the purpose of fast water flow and easy penetration of new root tips along the thin fibrous material to benefit strong roots. Under the action of orchid bacteria, the thin fibrous material mixed with Zhijinshi will not rot and acidify, thus achieving the safe use of old Zhijinshi.
Four, the mixed planting management of Zhijinshi and its significance
The mixed use of Zhijinshi and organic granular growing media is most common, often used in ceramic pots, sweating pots, purple sand pots, and plastic pots. The mixed use of Zhijinshi and organic granular growing media can complement each other's advantages, ensuring good permeability and moisture retention while achieving the diversification of trace elements. In ensuring good root growth, it can make new buds strong, plants robust, flower quality better, and花香 more fragrant. The mixed use of Zhijinshi and organic granular growing media is better for plants of medium quality or above, making better-quality plants more useful. In the case of organic granular growing media mixed with no more than 50%, I apply slow-release base fertilizer to achieve the complementarity of base fertilizer and top dressing. Top dressing is based on the principle of being thin, with organic fertilizer as the main source and inorganic fertilizer as a supplement. The配合 of 300-500 times orchid bacteria solution in water and fertilizer management can prevent the powdering and caking of organic granular growing media, and when turning over the pot, the dust is removed and reused, achieving the maximum utilization of the growing media.
Conclusion:
In the use of Zhijinshi, through various experiments in five growing seasons, from not understanding the mechanism of Zhijinshi to effectively mastering its use, it can be said to be a leap from practice to understanding. All things are the same in principle. When we understand and master it through practice, it is inseparable from hard work, careful observation, and good summarization. When I spent several years practicing and skillfully mastered its use, I did not feel sorry for the precious time that had passed. I remember a sentence given to me by a schoolmate in middle school: "There is always a loss." I have kept it to this day, and I will not be discouraged by failure or complacent about success every day. Because my悟心 is poor, I have to spend more time exploring, and I think it's worth the time spent.
I hope the above humble contributions can be of reference to new orchid friends. I apologize for any mistakes and appreciate the corrections of experts!
The above is a comprehensive method for the use of Guoxiangju: Zhijinshi, hoping to solve your green plant problems and serve as a brick to attract jade.