The Three-Character Classic of Orchid Care: Easily Master Orchid Growing Skills
By the way, not all "butterflies" are beautiful. This kind of "butterfly" I personally dislike very much. I wonder what those who like it think is beautiful about it? Or is it just because it is a "butterfly"!
Xu Tongji (Vice President of the Shandong Provincial Orchid Association)
I. Overview
Orchids among flowers, national treasures, growing in the south, rare in the north. Ancestor of fragrance, leaves most elegant, gentleman's demeanor, noble character
Content with no fame, living as a small grass, dwelling beneath the forest, not striving to be tall. Loves cleanliness, hates filth, only its pure fragrance, known to passersby
Ancient sages, revered it as a treasure, orchid culture, history long and distant. Confucius, Qu Yuan's Li Sao, Su Dongpo, Zheng Banqiao
Poems in praise, leaving behind calligraphic treasures. Look at today, the situation is good, orchid-growing trend, surging new tide. New planting media, growing techniques
Pots, fertilizers, pesticides, gradually matched. New varieties, increasing greatly. Orchid shows, better each time. Orchid's subtle fragrance, drifting across the land
Note: Qu Li Sao -- Qu Yuan of the State of Chu and his work Li Sao
II. Selecting Orchids
Choosing good orchids, is very important, first hurdle, in growing orchids. Roots must be fresh, leaves must be luxuriant, no disease or pests, not soaked in water
Multiple connected plants, large clumps are good. Variegated-leaf orchids, depend on light. Bright variegation orientation, look at the lines. Yellow-white leaves, need to have "caps"
Ghost grass, must not be taken. Dwarf orchids, carefully select. With dragon roots, many seedlings are good. Flower-type varieties, must see the flower
A single strange bloom, easily reverts. Identify carefully, guard against fakes
Note: Need to have "caps" -- green color between the leaves
Ghost grass -- leaves without chlorophyll, which will quickly die after exposure to light
With dragon roots -- roots of seedling-grown plants, curved, with nodes, surface not smooth
Many seedlings are good -- a single seedling may be a mature small plant, hard to determine if it is truly a dwarf variety
Easily reverts -- only one flower is strange, difficult to stabilize
III. Using Pots
Planting orchids, clay pots are good. Pots should be tall, mouth slightly small. Drainage holes, larger is better. Newly fired pots, soak in water
Porcelain pots, need modification. Willow bark, stand a layer around. Plastic pots, newly made, not easily broken, light in weight
Easy to place, easy to care for. Padding the pot bottom, is very important. Broken tile pieces, stack firmly. Low around the edges, high in the middle
Facilitates drainage, mud does not escape
Note: Stand a layer around -- place a layer of willow bark along the pot wall, for separation and aeration
IV. Planting Media
Growing orchids well, depends on planting media. To plant orchids, look nearby. Humus soil, rotted wood shavings, pond mud chunks, treated by fire
Peat soil, sorted by size. Permeable stone, broken and crushed. Orchid mud, a portable treasure. After screening, granules small
Larch, leaf texture fine. Mixed with crushed brick, even more suitable. Both drains water, and allows air. New roots grow, white and flawless
New methods, soilless culture. Use fern roots, or crushed brick. Nutrient solution, fed regularly. Among planting media, which is good
Through testing, you will know. Before use, sterilize. Sun exposure, or spray with medicine. No insect eggs, no harmful fungi
Planting orchid plants, they will thrive on their own
Note: Sorted by size -- sorted by granule size for inspection and standby
Granules small -- keep only the granules for standby
V. Potting
Potting orchids, is the key. Good season, spring and autumn. Before repotting, must be slightly dry. Prevent root breakage, gently turn
Wash with water, air-dry until dry. To divide the plant, is also not difficult. Find the "horse road", divide into two halves. Remove rotten roots, cut off withered leaves
Wild-collected orchids, carefully select. Before potting, trim first. When planting orchids, heart must be focused. Roots must extend, leaves must spread
Buds facing outward, plant shallowly. Coarse material first, fine on top. Shake while adding. Low around the edges, pointed in the middle
Water thoroughly, place in shade. After several days, routine care
Note: Good season -- spring orchids should be potted at the spring equinox, autumn orchids at the autumn equinox
Find the "horse road" -- the connecting part between two orchid plants, commonly called the "horse road"
Coarse material first -- pot in order of planting media granule size
Routine care -- after potting, place in a windy spot without sun for seven to ten days, then transfer to normal care
VI. Habits
Orchid habits, must be understood clearly. Blindly growing, hard to succeed. Likes sunlight, avoids scorching sun. Likes nutrients, avoids heavy fertilizer
Likes moisture, avoids waterlogging. Likes airiness, avoids strong wind. Likes and dislikes, hard to master. Grow with care, you can figure it out
Various orchids, not all the same. Origins differ, individuals differ. Many varieties, great differences. With perseverance, you can learn thoroughly
VII. Location
Orchid growing site, air comes first. Near water sources, by the forest edge. Cool in summer, warm in winter. Likes morning sun, avoids cooking fumes
Growing on a balcony, is also not difficult. Good ventilation, full light. Has drawbacks, hard to keep moist. Sand on the bottom, lay sponge
Frequent misting, adds humidity. Strong sunlight, hang bamboo blinds. If conditions allow, can renovate. Enclosed style, relatively safer
Note: Enclosed style -- enclosed style must properly handle the relationship between ventilation, moisture retention and heat preservation
VIII. Watering
Watering orchids, carefully choose. Rainwater, is the first choice. River water, if unpolluted. Tap water, sun for several days
Rice-washing water, let sit for several days. Used for orchids, fertilizer with acid. When watering, must wait until dry. Water thoroughly once, do not under-water
Watering frequency, depends on the weather. Water generally, with key exceptions. Focus on finding water, do not be routine. Water cool in summer, warm in winter
Summer and autumn, do not let pots dry. If acid rain, flush with clean water. If rain not thorough, add watering
Note: First choice -- rain and snow water are number one
Unpolluted -- should choose clean, unpolluted river water
Watering frequency -- that is, the interval between waterings
Depends on the weather -- should be based on season and weather changes
Key exceptions -- shallow pots and pots with many seedlings growing especially vigorously
Focus on finding water -- increase the frequency of watering
Water warm in winter -- water when the temperature is high in winter, water when the temperature is low in summer
Add watering -- in summer after rain, if the pot soil is not thoroughly wet, water thoroughly
IX. Fertilizing
Fertilizing orchids, frequent but dilute. Compound fertilizer, good effect. Organic fertilizer, cannot be omitted. Most effective, Orchid Treasure
Spring and autumn, good time to fertilize. Cold and hot days, fertilizer should be less. Foliar spray, in-pot watering. Key orchids, find the frequency
Before fertilizing, reduce water. Fertilize in the evening, water the next morning
Note: Frequent but dilute -- in suitable seasons, apply dilute fertilizer frequently
Orchid Treasure -- a specially made high-efficiency complete-element orchid-specific fertilizer
Less frequent -- appropriately increase the frequency of fertilizing
Reduce water -- should fertilize when the pot soil is slightly dry
Water the next morning -- fertilize one day, water thoroughly the next day, commonly called "passing fertilizer"
X. Prevention and Control
Prevention first, detect quickly. Prepare medicines, guard against the unexpected. Good ventilation, fewer diseases. Buying orchids, do not skimp on money
Choose good orchids, do not carry fungi. Scale insects, a major pest. Newly laid eggs, without shells. Spray medicine
Quick effect. Black spot disease, ventilate first. Sun exposure. Targeted medicine, do not wait. Diseased orchids
Must be isolated. Diseased leaves, do not keep. Bairas, the cancer of orchids. Great harm, no cure
Burn with fire, or bury deep. Common fungi, not a disaster. After disinfection, can replant
Note: Do not skimp on money -- do not buy diseased orchids to save money
Quick effect -- scale insect newly laid eggs are easy to kill
Must be isolated -- diseased orchids should be isolated, cut diseased leaves should be burned
XI. Management
Three parts planting, seven parts management. Heart must be meticulous, will must be focused. Talk efficiency, value research. Water, fertilizer, soil
Carefully choose. Observe frequently, study carefully. Yellow and withered leaves, cut in time. Should divide less, more side seedlings
Orchid growing site, complete equipment. Prevent scorching sun, shade with blinds in summer. Frequent ventilation, prevent spots. Both retain moisture
And prevent cold. Environment humid, pot slightly dry. Spray medicine and fertilizer, test first. According to requirements, should be slightly dilute
Read orchid books, should pay attention. Think more, analyze frequently. North dry, south humid. Jiangsu and Zhejiang warm
Shandong and Qilu differ. Good experience, adapt to local conditions. Guard against dogma, value practice
XII. Orchid Virtue
Orchid growers, grow orchids, learn orchid virtue, should put first. Dwelling in deep valleys, content with solitude. Accompanied by weeds
Can be tolerant. With peach and plum, does not compete in beauty. With no one to admire, fragrance self-contained. Does not claim credit, is not complacent
Nature indifferent, lets things be natural. Flowers dignified, leaves graceful. True gentleman, character transcendent. Not coquettish
Does not flatter. Tolerates thorns, broad-minded. Making orchid friends, must be sincere. No pretense, no deception
Buying and selling orchids, must be fair. Do not bid up prices, do not cheat money. Encountering diseased orchids, do not spread. Burn with fire
Prevent contagion. Near ink one becomes black, near cinnabar one becomes red. A room with orchids, one is influenced. Orchid's virtue, endless to tell
Talking is easy, practicing is hard. With orchid virtue complete, one treats others well. May orchid friends, strive together. Orchid friends
Meet often, discuss growing techniques, learn experience. Rare varieties, exchange with each other. Spread widely, promote development
Gentleman's demeanor, passed down through generations. Benefits society, prolongs life