What fertilizer is best for Dendrobium officinale? A detailed guide to fertilizing methods
Dendrobium officinale is a precious variety of Dendrobium, and it is currently very popular with consumers on the market in our country. Its price is also higher than that of other Dendrobium species. So some people want to grow it through artificial means. But if you want it to grow well, applying fertilizer properly is the key.
What fertilizer is best for Dendrobium officinale
For the cultivation site of Dendrobium officinale, a semi-shaded and semi-sunny environment should be chosen. During the growing season, attention should be paid to topdressing. You can use decomposed peanut dregs, rapeseed cake, superphosphate, etc., mixed with river mud and other mixtures and spread around the roots. In addition, 0.05—0.1% potassium dihydrogen phosphate can be used for foliar topdressing. At the same time, spray Xinguo lipid film to increase the utilization rate of effective nutrient components, and spray Zhuangjingling at the appropriate time during the growing period to make the plant stems thick and strong and the plants lush.
Fertilizers prohibited for Dendrobium officinale
For fertilizing Dendrobium officinale, it is prohibited to use chemical fertilizers or biological fertilizers that have not been registered by national or provincial agricultural departments, and it is prohibited to use undecomposed organic fertilizers. It is strictly prohibited to apply urban waste, industrial waste, hospital waste, and feces. Dendrobium officinale has very strict requirements for the substrate and fertilizer. Before planting, the substrate must be disinfected before use, and the strict requirements for fertilizer are one of the important conditions for ensuring the yield, quality, and income of Dendrobium officinale. Applying organic fertilizer ensures that Dendrobium officinale has no pesticide residues and no heavy metal residues, laying a good foundation for bringing safe Dendrobium to the market.
Fertilizing techniques for Dendrobium officinale
1. The nutrition of the aerial roots of Dendrobium officinale mainly depends on the orchid mycorrhiza of the root system fixing free nitrogen in the air, but applying appropriate fertilizer can promote stem enlargement and make the leaves plump and strong. After new roots sprout, liquid fertilizer can be sprayed, such as potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution, or potassium dihydrogen phosphate plus urea solution, etc. The concentration is generally about 0.1%, and it is generally sprayed once every 10 days or so. After 1 to 2 months, when the transplanted seedlings have gradually adapted to the new environment and the new roots have grown to about lO cm, slow-release granular fertilizer can be applied to help them grow strong and healthy.
2. For tissue-cultured seedlings, applying 1/2 strength nutrient solution 15 days after transplanting is best. Bai Meifa and others studied the effect of applying nutrient solution (mainly composed of potassium nitrate, ammonium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, ferric sulfate, and potassium dihydrogen phosphate, with a concentration of 0.2%) on the yield of Dendrobium officinale. The results showed that watering with an appropriate concentration of nutrient solution can greatly increase the yield of Dendrobium officinale. The commonly used fertilizer for Dendrobium officinale is foliar fertilizer. Spraying foliar fertilizer (N:P205:K20=25:13:13, with total N, P, and K content of 51%, and total trace element content of B, Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, and Mo of l%) can promote the elongation and growth of stems and leaves of Dendrobium officinale, lengthen and thicken the stem nodes and diameter, and the average fresh weight per plant is significantly higher than that of the control.
Precautions for fertilizing Dendrobium officinale
1. Carefully grasp the concentration of fertilizer.
2. For the timing of fertilization, you must choose the time well and avoid fertilizing during high temperature and sufficient light periods. It is generally best to fertilize before 10 a.m., but the fertilization time should be adjusted according to changes in season, weather, and climate.
3. Under normal circumstances, fertilize once every half month. When fertilizing, it should be covered fully and evenly in place.
4. Dendrobium officinale is generally fertilized in two seasons per year. One season is March to April, which can promote rooting and sprouting of Dendrobium. The second season is in November, when winter fertilizer is applied once. The fertilizer can be fermented sheep manure or rapeseed cake (special fertilizer for Dendrobium is also acceptable). Foliar fertilizer should be sprayed 1 to 2 times per month, mixed according to the proportion. Do not use too much fertilizer to prevent fertilizer damage.
5. For later fertilization management, foliar fertilizer is generally enough, 2 times a month. The amount of foliar fertilizer used is very small. Generally, 1 gram can be mixed with 3 jin of water. Spraying foliar fertilizer can promote the elongation and growth of stems and leaves of Dendrobium officinale, lengthen and thicken the stem nodes and diameter, and the average fresh weight per plant is significantly higher than that of the control.
Dendrobium officinale should generally be fertilized in strict accordance with the requirements of traditional Chinese medicine. Do not casually use some industrial waste. The fertilizing site should be prepared in advance, and later additional fertilization and foliar fertilization are also relatively important. When fertilizing, you also need to pay attention to the temperature and time of the day. Only by doing these well can you ensure the growth of Dendrobium officinale.