Summary of Experience in Vernalization and Flowering Period Management of Northern Spring and Huilan Orchids
fengrenyu The best vernalization time is the 2-month period from Minor Snow to Major Cold (between November 22 and January 22 each year), with the key focus on the latter month, namely Winter Solstice to Major Cold (December 22 to January 22). Select those Spring and Huilan orchids whose flower buds have emerged 3-4CM and are slightly rounded and plump for vernalization. Some orchids bloom...
Author: fengrenyu
The best vernalization time is the 2-month period from Minor Snow to Major Cold (between November 22 and January 22 each year), with the key focus on the latter month, namely Winter Solstice to Major Cold (December 22 to January 22). Select those Spring and Huilan orchids whose flower buds have emerged 3-4CM and are slightly rounded and plump for vernalization. Some orchids bloom later, so vernalization can be appropriately postponed. The best vernalization temperature is between 0-10 degrees. During vernalization, pay attention to water control at the roots, extend the watering interval, and also pay attention to maintaining moisture on the pot surface. You can place some semi-dry and semi-moist sphagnum moss near the flower buds (it should be appropriate when no water can be wrung out by hand). You can cover the flower buds with appropriately sized aluminum foil, which can increase the humidity around the flower buds, reduce watering, and lower the humidity inside the pot. During routine watering, be careful not to let water enter the bud sheaths, especially if water enters the bud sheaths, do not let direct sunlight hit them, so as to avoid rot or leaving water-soaked marks on the petals.
During vernalization, reduce lighting, but it is not that light is completely unnecessary; preferably morning light should be visible. I place them on a northeast-facing windowsill, where at least one hour of light can be seen in the morning.
After vernalization ends, there is a three-to-four-day temperature transition period. Try to let the temperature rise gradually and avoid sharp rises and drops. After that, normal management temperatures can be used (around 10-19 degrees). During the flower stalk elongation period, attention should be paid to maintaining environmental humidity; high humidity is beneficial for the flower stalk to grow taller. At the same time, pay attention to avoiding strong light. During the flowering period, a temperature difference of about 5-7 degrees is best. Due to the limitations of my environment, I cannot create such conditions, and there is only a temperature difference of two or three degrees. Because the earlier work was done relatively well, the flower stalks still grew very tall.