Reasons Why Spring Orchids Have No Fragrance and How to Fix It
Cymbidium goeringii (spring orchid) is a fairly good variety among orchids. Its plants grow relatively short and compact, its leaves are fairly lush, and when it blooms each spring, the fragrance of its flowers is also very pleasant. Most varieties of Cymbidium goeringii bloom quite well and all have a certain fragrance, but the fragrance of orchids is not to say that it is very strong or very intense. When you lean in close to smell it, you may not be able to detect it. If a gentle breeze blows over, and we are sitting fairly far away, the waves of fragrance are extremely pleasant, and this is a characteristic that the fragrance of blooming orchids has in itself.
Many flower lovers grow Cymbidium goeringii at home. Generally, when they buy one with flowers, the fragrance they smell is very rich, but after bringing it home and growing it themselves for a year, when it blooms again the fragrance becomes much fainter. Is it really a problem with their own care, or is it a problem with the variety? What is causing it? Today the editor will explain it to everyone.
One main reason Cymbidium goeringii does not smell fragrant when it blooms is light. When Cymbidium goeringii is blooming, when it is producing flower spikes, light must be sufficient, because its flowering period is generally in the winter and spring seasons. In these two seasons, as long as it is placed under the sun, its leaves will not be sunburned, but the prerequisite is that water must absolutely not be lacking. Therefore, if Cymbidium goeringii is to bloom well and have a full fragrance, it must receive sufficient light. If there are consecutive overcast days, if light is insufficient, its fragrance will basically become much fainter, and there may even be a situation with no fragrance at all.
The second reason is caused by improper fertilizer. Many orchids like organic matter. If we often use chemical fertilizers at home, chemical fertilizers are relatively single in composition. For example, the compound fertilizer we use only contains the three elements nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, and does not contain other trace elements.
For example, the monopotassium phosphate we use only contains phosphorus and potassium, and can only play a role in promoting flowering. It also does not contain other elements, such as nitrogen and trace elements, none of which it contains. If we use chemical fertilizers to fertilize orchids for a long time, it will cause them to bloom normally and grow normally, but later their growth will be weak, and the fragrance of the flowers they produce will also become much fainter.
Because in the first year a plant blooms, trace elements are relatively sufficient. After we grow it in a pot for a year, the potting soil basically no longer contains trace elements, which will cause it to bloom normally, but the flowering period of the flowers produced will be short, the flowers may also be a little lighter in color, and the fragrance may even disappear completely. Therefore, when we use fertilizer to grow orchids, as much as possible we should ferment organic fertilizer ourselves. When it is blooming, we can use phosphorus-potassium fertilizer that we fermented ourselves from things like fish scales and fish bones, which can effectively promote flowering.
When it is growing, we can use fertilizer that we fermented ourselves from things like soybean cake and peanut cake, which are high in nitrogen, and this can let it quickly grow branches and leaves. In organic fertilizer we ferment ourselves, besides being high in a single nutrient, it also contains other trace elements, which is best for growing orchids, and organic fertilizer does not burn roots and can be absorbed quickly, so its effect is absolutely very great.
If you dislike the smell of fermenting fertilizer yourself, we can also buy a special nutrient solution specifically for orchids, which also contains these things. Otherwise, we must regularly, every 1~2 months, appropriately supplement it with trace element fertilizer, such as calcium-magnesium fertilizer, or silicon-calcium-magnesium fertilizer. These all contain many trace elements and can play a role in making the flowers bloom larger and the fragrance fuller.
When orchids bloom without fragrance, generally only these two reasons cause it. If we grow them at home, as much as possible we should increase the ventilation indoors so that the indoor air has a certain flow. When we sit farther away, the faint floral fragrance can drift over. If the indoor air does not circulate at all, the fragrance's reach is greatly reduced, and in the end, only when we are far away, or only when we lean in close, can we smell the faint delicate fragrance.
If you want to grow orchids well, fertilizer and light are indispensable. During the care process, you must operate reasonably, choose to fertilize according to the growth and flowering seasons, choose to give it light, then ensure the breathability and water permeability of the growing medium, and do not let it lack water. Then we can grow orchids well, letting them bloom every year and grow without interruption, no problem at all.