How to Grow the General Orchid: Fertilizing Tips During the Flowering Period

SummarySoil: You can choose leaf mold or mountain forest humus for cultivation. Light: Provide appropriate light when the sunlight is weak. Watering: The amount of water can be determined according to the climate; generally, in spring and autumn, water once every 2 days. Fertilizing: During the growth period, urea fertilizer and monopotassium phosphate fertilizer can be applied. Temperature: During the growth period, the temperature should be kept at 16°C-24°C. Pest and disease control: Soap powder plus 500 times clean water can be used to kill insects.

1. Choosing Soil

1. The General Orchid likes soil that is weakly acidic and mainly humus, and it can mainly be grown in leaf mold or mountain forest humus.

2. In the south, local humus can be used, or vermiculite, perlite, and leaf mold, etc. can be used to make a loose and airy growing medium, with a formula of 50% leaf mold plus 50% perlite. For the leaf mold, fallen dead leaves can be used, then the same amount of perlite added.

2. Appropriate Light

1. The General Orchid likes a cool and shady environment and is afraid of direct sunlight. In spring, summer, and autumn, it can be shaded from 9 a.m. to before 6 p.m., and the curtains can be opened in the morning and after 6 p.m. to appropriately enjoy scattered sunlight.

2. In winter, it can be moved indoors to a place with weak light, but direct sunlight should be avoided.

3. Watering Principles

1. The General Orchid likes moisture and avoids dryness. The number of waterings can be decided according to its growth condition and the local climate, following the principle of not dry in autumn and not wet in winter.

2. In spring and autumn, water once every 2 days; in summer during the vigorous growth period, water 1-2 times a day; and in winter when the temperature is low and the General Orchid is in a dormant state, water once every 7 days to promote the growth and development of the General Orchid. When watering, avoid splashing water droplets onto the leaves, as this will cause black spots on the leaves and affect its ornamental effect.

4. Timely Fertilizing

1. The General Orchid should first be given base fertilizer during cultivation, and then topdressing during the growth period, generally using liquid fertilizer and foliar fertilizer, with a concentration lighter than that for other flowers.

2. The General Orchid should have its growing medium changed once a year. During the growth period, it can be appropriately topdressed with fully decomposed 15% dilute cake fertilizer water, or 0.1% urea fertilizer water plus 0.2% monopotassium phosphate fertilizer water, applied once every 18 days or so.

3. During the flowering period, 0.2% monopotassium phosphate fertilizer water can be sprayed on the leaves 2-3 times, thereby promoting the development of the General Orchid.

4. The General Orchid has fleshy roots, so undecomposed fertilizer must not be applied, as it easily causes root rot.

5. Suitable Temperature

1. The suitable growth temperature for the General Orchid is 16-24°C. When potted in the north, it should be before Frost's Descent and when the temperature drops to 5°C.

2. Keep it indoors for cultivation, and open the windows often for ventilation during this period. The indoor temperature should preferably be kept at around 10°C, and it should be moved outdoors for care during Grain Rain.

3. In winter, the indoor temperature will be relatively low. Generally, it is suitable to keep it at 10-12°C during the day and 5-10°C at night. Neither temperature nor humidity should be too high. In summer, the temperature must not exceed 30°C.

6. Pest and Disease Control

1. Common pests of the General Orchid include aphids and scale insects. If scale insects appear, they can generally be removed by hand or with tweezers. Aphids are relatively small, so 500 times water with soap powder added can be used to kill the insects. After spraying, wait 12 hours and then spray clean water once more, and it needs to be sprayed continuously for 5 days.

2. The General Orchid likes soil that is dry but not parched, so overly wet soil will cause root oxygen deficiency. When oxygen is insufficient, a lot of alcohol will be produced and cause root rot. To avoid the occurrence of root rot disease, the soil should be turned frequently so that the oxygen in the soil is sufficient, and when watering, it is best to water a small amount at a time and do so multiple times.