Orchid Care Methods and Precautions in Spring

    Throughout the four seasons, the climate conditions such as temperature, light, rain and snow, humidity, and wind are never the same. Therefore, when growing orchids, different management measures must be adopted according to the different natural factors of each season to suit the growth characteristics of orchids. As the orchid-growing elders summarized the key points of four-season care: "In spring do not take them out, in summer do not expose to sun, in autumn do not let them dry, in winter do not keep them wet" and "In spring protect the buds, in summer protect the seedlings, in autumn strengthen the plants, in winter protect the flower buds," "In winter and spring nourish the roots, in summer and autumn nourish the leaves." "In spring fear waterlogging. In summer fear scorching sun. In autumn fear dry drought. In winter fear wind and frost," "In spring you must moisten the air, in summer let them breathe, in autumn preserve water, in winter wrap them frequently." "In spring block the cold wind, in summer shade from the heat, in autumn receive the morning dew, in winter be covered by warm sun." These are the elders' exquisite conclusions on orchid growing based on the different seasons, and they have extremely important guiding value for orchid cultivation. According to the orchid-growing experience of the elders, understanding and mastering the care knowledge and key points of different seasons to care for orchids is an important path to growing orchids well.

    Spring has bright sunshine, gradually rising temperatures, abundant rain, and rising humidity, which is a great time for orchids to sprout and grow. As the saying goes: the whole year's plan starts with spring. Spring is the vigorous growth period when a hundred flowers bloom, and also the golden period for orchids to flower, sprout, and grow. But at the same time, spring weather is very unstable and changes rapidly. Frost, snow, freezing cold, and cold winds can strike suddenly, which brings adverse effects on orchid growth. Therefore, how to care for orchids well by making the best of the advantages and avoiding the disadvantages according to the characteristics of spring climate is very important. If managed well this season, it lays a good foundation for the year's orchid growth. Likewise, improper care will affect the entire year's orchid growth. We should draw on the elders' orchid-growing principles such as "in spring do not take them out," "in spring protect the buds," "in winter and spring nourish the roots," "in spring fear waterlogging," "in spring you must moisten the air," and "in spring block the cold wind," and apply them to the actual practice of spring orchid care.

    The main measures for spring orchid care can be summarized as "seven care practices" and "four preventions." The seven care practices are watering, fertilizing, lighting, heat preservation, repotting, bud protection, and moving outdoors. The four preventions are protection against fertilizer damage, moisture damage, pests and diseases, and late spring cold. Do these seven care practices and four preventions conscientiously to ensure the orchids grow robustly.

    1. Watering orchids in spring. Watering orchids in spring is very important and must be done according to climate changes, the habits of different orchids, and their growth stages. In early spring the temperature is still very low, and some varieties are still in their dormant period. Water evaporates slowly and the water requirement is very small, so only water moderately when the growing medium is dry. For spring orchids (Cymbidium goeringii) about to bloom and cymbidiums that have already developed flower buds, watering should be more frequent; water less during the flowering period to prolong the blooming period, and after the flowers fade, stop watering for several days before watering again. But keep the medium moist as the standard. After that, when the spring wind begins to blow and the weather turns warm, it is exactly when new buds swell and emerge from the soil. At this time, because the water in the pot soil evaporates quickly, water should be given promptly. The frequency and amount of watering should increase accordingly, but the pot soil should not be too wet. Keep the air humidity between 40% and 50% to avoid root rot and bud rot. When orchids are planted in granular medium, they can be kept slightly wetter. When the temperature rises above 20 degrees or the weather is dry, you can sprinkle or spray water on the orchid plants to maintain moisture. For orchids in bloom, it is best not to spray water, and the pot soil should also be on the dry side to prevent the petals from stretching. This is also the elders' teaching of "in spring fear waterlogging" and "in spring you must moisten the air."

    When the weather turns warm and orchids are moved outdoors, water them thoroughly once to clear waste gases and waste matter from inside the plants and pots, maintain moisture, and help the orchids quickly recover their vitality. Likewise, spring rain is as precious as oil. Giving orchids a proper rain soaking can make them swell and emerge from the soil like bamboo shoots after rain.

    During the sprouting period, water more; after sprouting, water less. When flower buds appear, water more; during the flowering period, water less to prolong the blooming period; after the flowers fade, stop watering for several days to let them rest, then water again.  

    In short, spring is the golden time for orchids to sprout and grow. Watering management for orchids in spring should grasp the word "thorough" and highlight the word "moist," so that orchids quickly recover their vitality, new buds grow robustly, and flowers bloom beautifully.

    2. Fertilizing orchids in spring. Spring is the season for orchids to sprout and grow, and fertilizer supplementation is needed for better seedling emergence and growth. Spring orchid fertilization should grasp three aspects:

    First, pay attention to comprehensiveness. In the early stage, apply dilute nitrogen fertilizer once or twice; in the later stage, apply dilute "phosphorus and potassium" fertilizer multiple times. Nitrogen fertilizer has a bud-promoting effect on orchids, and after sprouting, "phosphorus and potassium" fertilizer has a root-promoting effect! It also provides nutritional supplementation for orchids after flowering, and can prompt early flower bud differentiation in Four Seasons Orchids (Cymbidium ensifolium) and other orchids that bloom in summer.

    Second, pay attention to the word "dilute." Adhere to the principle of "thin fertilizer applied frequently." Because during the period of sprouting and leaf unfolding, it is also the time when new roots are activating and extending. If concentrated fertilizer is applied, it easily damages buds and roots; in mild cases it affects normal plant growth, and in severe cases it causes plant death.

    Third, pay attention to temperature. In early spring when the temperature is below 15°C, it is generally not suitable to fertilize. When the temperature rises to 15-20°C, you can fertilize comprehensively, mainly with nitrogen fertilizer, combined with phosphorus and potassium, generally once every half month. You can also use 0.1%-0.2% monopotassium phosphate for foliar spraying to promote roots and buds and cultivate strong plants.

    3. Lighting for orchids in spring. In spring, orchid seedlings have already entered the sprouting and growing period. Good light can help orchid seedlings effectively accumulate energy, nourish the pseudobulbs, and strengthen new buds. It is very necessary. Whether orchids are grown indoors or outdoors, the pots should be moved to a sunny place as much as possible. On clear and warm days, the pots can also be moved outdoors to a wind-sheltered, sunny spot to receive sunlight, which both enables photosynthesis and warms the orchid plants. But the time must be between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Take special care not to leave orchid pots outdoors overnight, where they may be attacked by frost and cold wind. Variegated-leaf orchids can only receive short periods of light to prevent the variegation from fading. In spring, orchids generally do not need shading (no shading needed when the temperature is below 28°C), unless the late spring temperature is too high. When the temperature reaches around 30°C, appropriate shading is needed at noon to prevent high temperatures from scorching the seedlings. In addition, when light in the orchid room is insufficient on cloudy and rainy days, it is best to use plant lights or incandescent lamps for supplemental lighting.

    4. Heat preservation for orchids in spring. According to the elders' saying "in spring keep warm, in autumn keep cool" and the changeable characteristics of spring climate, orchids must also be properly kept warm to ensure their survival and growth. Spring warmth lets orchids first adapt to the coming summer heat, and can also allow orchids to enter the vegetative growth period ahead of time, sprouting new buds earlier, thereby increasing the year's seedling survival rate. The optimal temperature for orchid vegetative growth is in the range of 15°C-25°C. In spring, attention should also be paid to widening the day-night temperature difference for orchids. When the daytime temperature is below 20°C, heat should be supplemented. The nighttime temperature can be regulated within the range of 5°C-15°C. Low nighttime temperatures reduce nutrient consumption in orchids, which helps the nutrients produced during the day to be stored and accumulated, promoting more sprouts and good seedlings. If there is occasional wind and snow, cloudy rain, or a cold snap, doors and windows must be tightly closed to prevent the invasion of cold wind and chill. If freezing occurs outdoors and the room temperature drops below 5°C, measures must be taken to raise the temperature and keep it above 0°C. For orchid plants overwintering outdoors or already moved outside, double-layer plastic film is needed for coverage on rainy and snowy days and at night to prevent frost damage.

    5. Repotting orchids in spring. Generally, the traditional repotting season should be at the spring equinox or autumn equinox. In the north, it should be after the spring equinox or before the autumn equinox. In the first half of the year, it is best from the spring equinox to Grain Rain. At this time the flowering period has ended, leaf buds have not yet sprouted, and frost damage is unlikely, making it the best time for dividing and repotting orchids. Mastering the suitable timing for repotting and planting orchids is an important part of repotting well and growing orchids well.

    Repotting must be based on the condition of the orchids, with purpose and targeted action. Repot those that should be repotted, and try not to repot those that should not be. This can reduce the adverse factors brought by repotting and help orchids recover vigor and grow quickly.

    Repotting must be done scientifically. Repotting seems simple, but it also has its scientific aspects. Only by following the objective habits and requirements of orchid growth can you repot well and grow orchids well. If you do not follow their habits and requirements and operate arbitrarily, you will not repot well, and the orchids will suffer instead. Therefore, you must work hard on repotting and planting, adopt the guiding idea of "seven parts planting, three parts management," and repot and plant carefully. During operation, pay attention to the following matters:

    1. There are three preferences for repotting: ① Prefer moist: moist pots, moist soil;  ② Prefer loose: loose soil for aeration, loose roots for ventilation, remove dead leaves, divide seedlings more, which is the key to cultivating good orchids. ③ Prefer shade: pot on cloudy days, keep in shade for half a month before placing on the shelf, to ease the hardship of disrupted vitality.

    2. Repotting must be disinfected: tools, pot soil, orchid plants, and the environment must be strictly sterilized and disinfected. This is the key point of repotting work.

    3. Care after repotting new orchids and weak orchids: pay attention to clean cultivation, dry cultivation, shade cultivation, companion planting, and weak-air cultivation.

    4. Other precautions:

    ① The soil used for repotting should preferably be kept moist with the growing medium when potting. ② Do not apply root fertilizer after repotting. ③ Treatment of broken roots. Break the root but not the core (central column); rot the root but not the core. Simply peel off the rotten part. After peeling off the rotten part, check the core. If the core is black, cut it off; if the core is white, it still has the function of absorbing and transporting water and nutrients, so it can be kept. ④ Do not let medium containing base fertilizer come near the wound of the orchid plant, to prevent decay. ⑤ Placement by yin and yang positions: the placement of orchids should be handled according to their own habits. Generally speaking, plain-color orchids, lotus-petal orchids, narcissus-petal orchids, and variegated-flower orchids are better placed in shadier positions, while plum-petal orchids, rare-flower orchids, and cymbidiums are better placed in sunnier positions. When the petal form and strain are the same, wild-collected orchids are better placed in a sunnier position than traditional orchids; strong, multi-clump combined orchids are better placed in a sunnier position than weak, few-seedling orchids. Choose the placement position for orchids accordingly.

    In short, repotting orchids is an important and complex skill in caring for orchids well. You cannot casually repot at will. You must uphold the scientific nature of repotting. Only by understanding their nature, knowing the principles, repotting skillfully, and managing well can you bring vigorous vitality to orchids - "strong roots and lush leaves, flowers blooming beautifully."  

    6. Protecting buds in spring. New buds that sprout in early spring are the most capable of being cultivated into strong seedlings and are very important to orchid growth, so they should be well cared for. Newly sprouted orchid buds are very tender, and the leaf sheaths tightly wrap the center of the leaves. If fertilizer water or water vapor dripping from the shelving frame enters, it can easily cause bacterial rot and bud rot. At the same time, because the buds are tender, insects like to bite them, and they are susceptible to black spot disease. Therefore, care must be strengthened to protect the young buds. The care measures include:  

    1. For open-air orchid sites, prevent rain from soaking them; in orchid sheds and orchid rooms, pay attention to air convection, and do not let water vapor accumulate on the shed roof and drip back onto the orchid plants.

    2. The pot soil should not be too wet. Keep air humidity between 40% and 50% to avoid root rot and bud rot.

    3. When new buds grow to 3 cm tall, fill with growing medium, burying the bud base by half a cm, or fill the bud base with moss to facilitate root growth.

    4. Dry pots strengthen buds. Mr. Zheng Tongmei said in the chapter on dry soil in "Orchid Growing Experiments": "For all orchids, nothing is better than drying the pot soil once or twice (one time is to dry thoroughly before grass emerges, and new buds will certainly be thick; the other is after the moldy period for flowering, only drying the pot surface), with drying down to the root base as the standard... Orchids in the mountains naturally have times of drying year by year, but in pots they are constantly moist all year round, which seems unsuitable to their nature, hence the problem of thin and small leaves." ... To trace the source of drying pots, it is generally because when dry soil meets moisture it swells, and when dry roots meet moisture they bite into the soil, thus gaining strength to develop.

    5. Sterilize and disinfect, and maintain environmental sanitation at the orchid site. Spray fungicide once a week; every ten days, choose agricultural streptomycin or dimethomorph to spray new buds and the pot surface to prevent bud rot.

    In short, caring well for spring buds is the prerequisite for ensuring robust orchid growth and must be taken seriously. If spring buds rot and die, it will seriously affect the entire pot's growth, reproduction, and flowering that year. As the saying goes: spring buds flourish, summer buds are weak, autumn buds do not count. If spring buds rot and die, you will not get vigorous new seedlings that year.

    7. Moving orchids outdoors in spring.

    1. Time: The suitable time for moving orchids outdoors should be determined by the local climate. Because the temperature difference between northern and southern regions of China is relatively large, the time for moving outdoors cannot be generalized. Usually the south moves them out first, and the north later. The orchid-growing proverb "in spring do not take them out" refers to the climate characteristics of the north. Specifically, it is more suitable to move them outdoors when the temperature stabilizes above 20°C, or between Clear and Bright and Grain Rain. Too early makes them susceptible to frost damage, and too late affects growth.

    2. Adaptation: One or two days before moving outdoors, first open the doors and windows of the orchid shed and orchid room to let in ventilation and fresh air, so they gradually adapt to the outdoor climate environment. Do not rush. Only about half a month after orchids are moved outdoors can fertilizer be applied to strengthen the seedlings.

    3. Cold protection: After orchids are moved outdoors, attention should still be paid to cold protection and warmth. Because spring weather is sometimes clear and sometimes rainy, and temperatures rise and fall unpredictably.

    4. Disinfection: When moving outdoors, carry out a comprehensive sterilization and disinfection to reduce pests and diseases to the lowest point.

    While watching orchids flourish and bloom, you must also pay attention to another aspect, namely the "four preventions":

    First, prevent fertilizer damage. When orchids sprout and emerge in spring, fertilizer must be used correctly and not too frequently. At the beginning of fertilization, it should be dilute rather than concentrated, and fertilization should be based on the orchid's own growth condition. Large seedlings and strong seedlings should be fertilized frequently; weak orchids and diseased orchids should be fertilized less (spraying thin foliar fertilizer) or not at all. Chemical fertilizers and organic fertilizers should be used alternately, with the principle of being light and dilute. Apply on cloudy days or in the evening. When fertilizing, keep some distance from the orchids and do not harm them.

    Second, prevent moisture damage. First, do not water too much; second, increase ventilation; third, let them see more sunlight. This prevents moisture damage. Being too wet is harmful to root development and seedling growth, and especially more harmful to new root growth.

    Third, prevent pests and diseases. After winter dormancy, orchids have consumed a large amount of energy and their resistance has greatly declined. When spring winds rise and the temperature gradually increases, combined with poor ventilation in the orchid room, all kinds of fungi become active. Before the orchids have revived, they are most susceptible to disease. This is a high-incidence period for orchid diseases. Leaf fungi are easy to notice and not difficult to control; root fungi are hard to detect, and treatment is too late! Therefore, adhere to the principle of prevention first, combining prevention and treatment. Do the insecticidal and sterilizing work for the orchid room and orchids well. Generally, in early March, carry out a comprehensive insecticidal and sterilizing operation for the orchid room. Especially in the plum rain season, it is even more necessary to frequently apply fungicides and antiviral drugs. At the same time, when using a single medication, apply one drug continuously three times, then switch to another drug after three times, to prevent bacteria and viruses from developing resistance! It is best to mix two or more different drugs for application, for a broader spectrum of efficacy.

    Fourth, prevent late spring cold. Spring weather changes rapidly, with occasional wind and snow, cloudy rain, cold snaps, and frost. The weather is changeable and the temperature is erratic. A sudden late spring cold strikes like a sharp blade. If not strictly prevented, it is extremely harmful to orchids. Pay close attention to weather forecasts. Once it strikes, take timely warmth and cold protection measures to protect the orchids.

    Spring is both a vigorous growing season for orchids and an important time for caring for them well. It relates to the prosperity or decline of the orchids' growth throughout the year. It must be taken seriously and cared for meticulously, to lay a good foundation for the orchids' growth for the whole year.