Orchids as Houseplants: Fertilizing, Repotting Seasons, Care Tips, and Symbolic Meaning

Nowadays many people like to buy all kinds of potted plants and place them on the balcony or grow them indoors. This not only decorates the room but also freshens the air. Today we will introduce to you: what fertilizer is best for home-grown potted orchids? Which season is suitable for repotting? What should be noted in care? What do they symbolize?

1. What fertilizer is best for home-grown potted orchids?

Fertilizer, simply and plainly put, is nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium + trace elements. According to personal preference and the growing environment, potting mix formulas also vary widely, with soft, hard, coarse, and fine materials in different proportions. What is discussed here is a formula with a soft-to-hard ratio of 2:1 and granules of about 1cm: peanut shells + pine bark (coconut husk) + river stones (crushed stone). This formula is one of the more commonly used formulas for raising orchids in batches. There are also 1:1 formulas, or ones made entirely of soft materials such as bark, peanut shells, and coconut husk, or even entirely of stones. The common point of these formulas is that they are light and bland, and can be said to have no fertilizer effect. Therefore, the use of fertilizer is relatively controllable and the effect is intuitive.

2. Which season is suitable for repotting orchids?

Different orchids have somewhat different growth habits, so the repotting time is also different. In some production orchid nurseries, because environmental conditions can be manually regulated, repotting can be done all year round. In addition, repotting some orchids is often carried out together with division. After orchids are planted and grow for two or three years, the orchid plants have then filled the whole pot, and at this time they need to be repotted to avoid affecting plant growth. ① The best time to repot orchids is when the dormancy period is just about to end and new shoots have not yet sprouted; generally, repotting is done once every 2-3 years. Most Chinese orchids are repotted in spring and autumn. In spring, early spring from February to April is the suitable period, and in autumn, September to November is the suitable period.

3. What should be noted in care?

(1) Orchids are mainly distributed in the southeast and southwest regions. They mostly grow wild in shaded places under sparse forests in moist valleys and beside rocks, so they like a warm, humid climate, prefer shade and moisture, require 70%-90% shade, and are averse to high temperatures, dryness, and strong light.

(2) During orchid cultivation, withered yellow old leaves and diseased or pest-damaged leaves should be continuously cut off to facilitate ventilation. After flower buds emerge from the soil, one strong flower bud should be kept per plant and the rest cut off, so as to avoid excessive consumption of nutrients and affecting flowering the next year. After the flowers fade, the flower stalks should be cut off.

(3) In winter, attention should be paid to cold protection. Terrestrial orchids have strong cold resistance, while tropical orchid types require a higher overwintering temperature and should be moved indoors early or protected from cold with a plastic shed to avoid freezing damage. The room temperature is best kept at 10-15°C, and indoor care should pay attention to ventilation. As the climate gradually warms in spring, the orchids can gradually be moved to the courtyard or balcony.

(4) For home cultivation of orchids, natural rainwater, stream water, well water, and river water are best. If tap water is used, it should first be stored in a vat and exposed to the sun to remove bleaching powder before use. If tap water is used to water flowers for a long time, the growing medium will gradually become alkaline. Ferrous sulfate can be applied once every so often to increase soil acidity. In addition, watering orchids with fermented rice-washing water can also keep the soil in a slightly acidic state.

4. What do orchids symbolize?

Since ancient times, the Chinese people have loved orchids, grown orchids, praised orchids in poetry, and painted orchids. The ancients once exclaimed in admiration that “viewing the leaves is better than viewing the flowers.” People admire even more the orchid's firm and unyielding character: keeping company with grasses and trees, not competing in beauty with the many flowers, fearing no bullying by frost and snow, and being persistent and steadfast: “The zhilan grows in a deep valley, and does not cease to be fragrant because no one is there.” Orchids have always been regarded by people as a symbol of nobility and elegance, and together with plum blossoms, bamboo, and chrysanthemums they are called the “Four Gentlemen.” Orchids are generally used to describe a gentleman, and are often used to describe a woman as an orchid in a secluded valley.