Detailed Explanation of Orchid Planting Methods and Precautions
SummaryEnvironment: Orchids are generally placed outdoors in spring, summer and autumn (in a shaded spot outdoors in summer), and indoors in winter (with sufficient light). Light: Avoid direct sunlight in summer and avoid excessive dryness in autumn. Fertilizing: During the growing season, apply once every half month decomposed soybean cake water, water from horse-hoof bean paste residue, potassium dihydrogen phosphate, etc.; do not fertilize in summer, and frequently spray and wash the leaf surface with clean water. Watering: During winter dormancy the water requirement is not high, and the potting soil only needs to be slightly moist.
As people's quality of life improves, their requirements for the living environment also keep rising. They like to keep some flowers, plants and the like at home, which is not only pleasing to the eye but also plays a key role in purifying the air. Below let us talk about how to plant orchids.
Orchid planting methods and precautions
Water is the source of life for orchids. First, water is an important component of the protoplasm of the orchid plant. The water content of orchid protoplasm is generally above 80%; if the water content decreases, life activities are affected. If the protoplasm loses too much water, it will cause the breakdown of the protoplasm and lead to the death of the plant. Second, water is a raw material in the metabolic process of the orchid plant. Assimilation and dissimilation within the orchid plant all require the participation of water molecules, such as photosynthesis, respiration, hydrolysis reactions, etc. Third, water is the medium of the metabolic process of the orchid plant. Nutrient elements in the growing medium can only be absorbed by the orchid root system after dissolving in water, and various metabolic products must also be transported with water to all parts of the orchid plant.
Water enables the orchid plant to maintain its inherent form. Only when the cells of the orchid plant contain a large amount of water can the cells expand, the plant stand upright, and light reception and gas exchange be facilitated; once the orchid plant loses water it will wilt. Water can regulate the body temperature of the orchid plant. Water has a very high heat of vaporization and specific heat, and also relatively high thermal conductivity, which helps the orchid plant maintain body temperature and dissipate heat. One of the important roles of watering orchids is to regulate the body temperature of the orchid plant. In short, water is the source of life for orchids and the foundation of orchid growth; appropriately meeting the water needs of the orchid plant is the most important condition for orchid growth.
What is an orchid?
Orchids, also called hujihua, are perennial herbaceous flowers with many different varieties, such as Cymbidium goeringii, Cymbidium faberi, Cymbidium ensifolium, Cymbidium kanran, Cymbidium sinense, Cymbidium tortisepalum, Cymbidium lianpan and so on. In fact, these are all varieties of Chinese orchids. Because orchids originated in China, we also collectively call these orchid varieties “Chinese orchids”. However, the orchids we usually speak of are generally, by definition, broadly referring to orchid family plants with ornamental value, usually divided into two categories: Chinese orchids and foreign orchids. But at present the common ones are Chinese orchids, so what we mainly introduce is also this category. Since ancient times, Chinese people have regarded orchids as a representative of elegance. Because they are endowed with the characteristics of purity and refined elegance, Chinese people past and present have rated them extremely highly, and we also usually liken them to the “gentleman among flowers”. The cultivation techniques of orchids are not complicated. Below the author explains the relatively common cultivation methods and main maintenance techniques of Cymbidium goeringii.
Orchid planting techniques
Site selection: The site where orchids are placed is very important, as it directly affects the growth and development of orchids. Orchids are generally placed outdoors in spring, summer and autumn (in a shaded spot outdoors in summer), and indoors in winter.
Outdoors it is best to have open space on all sides and moist air. Indoors there must be sufficient light, preferably facing south. In this way, orchid growth is favored. The orchid pot is best placed on a wooden stand or table, not on the ground.
Light conditions: There are four rules for growing orchids, namely “do not take them out in spring, do not expose them to the sun in summer, do not let them dry out in autumn, do not keep them wet in winter”. In spring the temperature is not very stable, and taking them out of the room too early makes them susceptible to wind-cold. Moving them out in early April is relatively safe. In summer, place the orchids under a shade shed, avoid direct sunlight, and cultivate them with diffused light. Autumn is the period when orchids sprout and send up flower spikes; the potting soil should maintain corresponding humidity and avoid excessive dryness.
Fertilizing method: During the growing season of orchids, apply decomposed soybean cake water and water from horse-hoof bean paste residue once every half month. If an appropriate amount of potassium dihydrogen phosphate is added, the effect is even better. Do not fertilize in hot summer. When the temperature is too high, besides daily watering, spray water several more times, and slightly acidic water is preferable. Frequently spray and wash the leaf surface with clean water; this not only improves the growing environment but also keeps the leaves clean and reduces the chance of pest and disease infection.
Watering method: Orchid roots are fleshy. During winter dormancy the water requirement is not high, and the potting soil only needs to be slightly moist; do not water too much, so as to avoid sprouting root and leaf diseases. A flower proverb says: “dry orchids, wet chrysanthemums”, and there is a certain truth to this. Generally speaking, for orchids eight parts dry and two parts wet is best. In June-July, when the orchid leaf buds have extended to about 1.5 cm, apply 1-2 times dilute decomposed liquid fertilizer; chemical fertilizer is not suitable here.
However, do not fertilize in high-temperature seasons. In August-September apply 1-2 more times of decomposed dilute liquid fertilizer. For orchids of the pure-color type, apply 1-2 times of plant ash extract, and the effect is very good. Fertilizing in the evening is best, and the next morning water once more with clean water. The flowers of Cymbidium goeringii bloom for about half a month, after which the flowers need to be cut off. For the flowers of summer orchids, cut off the inflorescence one week after the last flower on the inflorescence has opened.
Precautions for watering orchids
1. First, pay attention to water temperature. In winter do not water with cold water; the water temperature should be close to room temperature, preferably 8—10°c. In summer do not water with hot water. If water is stored in a water tower, guard against water temperature being too high and harming the orchid plant and orchid roots; the water temperature must not exceed 25—28°c, and do not suddenly water with cold water either, so as to avoid harming the orchid plant.
2. Second, pay attention to humidity. When air humidity is too high, reaching 90--100 degrees, by no means water or spray; in daytime humidity of 70--90 is suitable. Too high humidity will weaken the role of the roots in absorbing water, affect the number of roots formed, and make the orchid plant lose its driving force.
3. Third, pay attention to protecting new buds. During the period when new buds split, it is preferable to water at the roots and to sprinkle and spray water as little as possible; otherwise water poured into the leaf heart causes waterlogging and rot, resulting in losses.
4. Pay attention not to give half-way water. Some people mistakenly think orchids cannot be watered much, and therefore dare not water, often giving half-way water, so that the potting medium is long-term wet on top and dry below, causing the roots to dry up and wither from lack of water.
5. Pay attention to giving less standing water. If water is stored in a water tower and left standing too long, the water molecules become chain-like; the longer the time, the harder they are to break apart, making it difficult for them to participate in metabolic activities and unfavorable for absorption by the orchid plant. Sixth, pay attention to watering with “revival water”. After fertilizing in the evening, through a night of absorption the orchid plant can effectively absorb most of the nutrients; at this time it most needs water, just as people need to drink tea after a meal, so the next morning it needs to be watered with “revival water”.
As stated above, although orchids are relatively tenacious in vitality, they still need careful tending and cannot be treated carelessly, since after all plants are relatively fragile. Growing orchids has a very good effect on air purification, and orchids are one of China's top ten famous flowers, especially pleasing to the eye.