How to Minimize Tip Burn When Growing Orchids on a Balcony
Yunü Xiuzhen, native to the Wuyi Mountain area, also known as Wuyi Yunü Su, a famous Jianlan (Cymbidium ensifolium) variety prized for both its foliage and flowers. Semi-upright leaf type, leaves narrow and slender, leaf tips sharp, with an early-appearing white claw pattern (variegation), greenish-white pure solid-color flowers, flower size about 5 cm, 7-9 flowers per scape, flower form well-shaped, the three outer sepals tapering sharply at the tips into a distinctly needle-like point, about 1 mm,...
Author:Guanqi
The causes of orchid tip burn are very complex. Given my level of knowledge, it is impossible for me to understand them all comprehensively. These fragmentary thoughts may provide some reference and a way of thinking for fellow orchid growers, so at least my effort will not have been wasted.
First: Environmental and climatic reasons.
Air pollution in big cities is getting worse and worse. Car exhaust and coal burning produce SO2. On the one hand, SO2 forms acid rain, which harms orchids when it falls on them; on the other hand, SO2 in the air directly harms orchids.
In some cities, long periods of smoggy weather, high air humidity and a lot of dust make orchid leaves more prone to disease-causing organisms.
Rizhao is a small city, and its air quality is excellent most of the time, which provides the most basic environment for growing orchids well.
Second: Variety-related reasons.
Varieties with taller and larger plant form are more prone to tip burn. This may be related to the distance over which water is transported within the plant.
Traditional old varieties are more prone to tip burn. This may be related to long-term artificial cultivation and the accumulation of toxins in the plant. Newly collected wild varieties are generally not prone to tip burn.
New plain-color (solid-color) varieties are generally not prone to tip burn.
Third: Watering-related reasons.
For home orchid growing, tap water is generally used for watering. The water quality of a region is very important. Slightly acidic water more easily washes dust off orchid leaves and is beneficial to orchid growth.
The watering method also matters. Heavy spraying can, on the one hand, keep orchid leaves clean, and on the other hand, wash away excess nutrients in the potting medium. The watering process also allows orchid leaves to absorb sufficient water, making it easier for the leaf tips to stay intact.
When growing orchids in granular potting medium, it is better to keep them moist than dry. Once orchid leaves lose water due to dryness, it will cause irreversible tip burn.
Fourth: Fertilization-related reasons.
Orchids grown with plain water (no fertilizer) are more likely to keep their leaf tips intact. If fertilizer is too concentrated, once fertilizer burn occurs, it will inevitably damage the orchid leaves.
To grow orchids strong and produce many new shoots, while also growing them well without tip burn, is itself a contradiction. How to fertilize reasonably is very important. I will talk separately later about how I fertilize. In one sentence: apply dilute fertilizer frequently.
Fifth: Light-related reasons.
Orchids grown under strong light have thicker leaves, shorter leaves, and good leaf transpiration, making it easier to keep leaf tips intact. Some orchid growers may have different opinions on this point.
Growing in shade may more easily produce seedlings with completely intact leaf tips, but such seedlings will have much poorer stress resistance.
Sixth: Ventilation-related reasons.
Ventilation means air can convect. Strong wind blowing is actually not good. The role of an electric fan is only to let orchid leaves dry quickly after watering. This is a different matter from ventilation. The best approach is to let air convect naturally.
For home orchid growing, with north-south through ventilation, opening the windows is enough for ventilation.
Seventh: Temperature difference-related reasons.
With a large temperature difference, orchid leaves are thick and short, the pseudobulbs are large, and it is easier to keep leaf tips intact.
Eighth: Humidity-related reasons.
It is generally believed that high humidity is beneficial to orchid growth, but this is not entirely true. In greenhouse environments with high humidity, fungicides are generally used along with it.
For home orchid growing, I do not use fungicides. High humidity instead makes it easier for disease-causing organisms to breed. With natural ventilation, humidity is determined by the environment.
Ninth: Pest-related reasons.
The main pests that cause damage to orchid leaves in home orchid growing include red spider mites, thrips, and scale insects. These pests are highly contagious. Once the first two are discovered, they have already caused irreversible damage to the orchids.
In the season when buds open, it is necessary to apply Huakang insecticide once as a preventive measure.