Detailed Guide to Winter Light Management for Orchids

In the process of winter care for orchids, light is a very important element. All things grow by the sun, and orchids are no exception. Whether orchid shoots sprout strong or not, winter light is very important. In the Central Plains region, deep autumn arrives around November each year. In this season, most plants have stopped growing and entered dormancy, and orchids are no exception.

In fact, orchid buds have already formed each autumn, and after being nurtured through a whole winter, they break through the soil in spring.

When winter arrives, on the surface the orchids have stopped growing and entered dormancy, but in fact, inside the orchid pot, subtle changes are constantly taking place. The bud points and pseudobulbs are continuously swelling, and the orchid roots are also growing slowly. At this time, not only should the orchid leaves receive full light, but the orchid pot should also receive direct sunlight. Only in this way can the temperature inside the pot be raised, photosynthesis be promoted, and the orchid buds and pseudobulbs accumulate more nutrients and become more robust.

After being nurtured through a winter in this way, the orchid buds are fully prepared to emerge in spring. Once spring arrives, with rich accumulation and thin release, they will be as unstoppable as splitting bamboo. Not only will they sprout early, but they will also more easily produce strong seedlings.

Under natural conditions in the Central Plains region, producing two generations of strong seedlings a year is no problem. Because on the south side of my orchid house there is a wall more than 2 m high, when winter arrives, due to the slanting sunlight, some orchids near the south side cannot see sunlight. So from November each year to April of the following year, I change the orchid racks on the north side into a stepped shape. In this way, the orchid pots can fully receive direct sunlight. I once did a test: during the day, the temperature inside the pots that received light and those that did not differed by 3 to 5 degrees. Because it is a glass house, once sunlight enters, the temperature inside rises very quickly. So whether day or night, as long as the lowest temperature is not lower than 0°C, I open a small part of the window. This not only maintains ventilation, but also controls the daytime temperature from rising too high. The nighttime temperature can drop, widening the temperature difference.

After sufficient vernalization and sufficient direct sunlight in this way, the orchids have laid a good foundation for the next year's growth.

In short, I think whether orchids can survive depends on summer management, and whether they are grown strong depends on winter management. What nature gives us, we should make full use of.