How to care for orchids so they grow vigorously

    1. This month has two solar terms, Minor Heat (the 7th or 8th) and Major Heat (the 23rd or 24th), entering the high-temperature period, with an average monthly temperature of around 30°C, making it the hottest month of the year, with more than two-thirds of the days being clear, unbearably hot days with the scorching sun overhead. Therefore, the most important work this month is to strengthen shading, using about 70% shade netting, and the curtain can only be drawn in when the sunlight no longer reaches the orchid leaves.

    2. Because the weather is extremely hot, ventilation and cooling work should be strengthened. In stuffy, hot weather, exhaust fans, miniature electric fans, etc. can be used to blow a gentle breeze to promote air circulation. At the same time, frequently sprinkle water on the ground to lower the temperature and prevent the severe heat from damaging the orchids. However, try not to spray water on the orchid plants, and be cautious about turning on the sprayer, so as not to create conditions for viruses and bacteria to multiply.

    3. If it is hot and dry with little rain, the potting soil can easily dry out all the way through. Pay attention to keeping the potting soil moist. When watering, water thoroughly and increase the frequency. Do not use the soaking method for watering, and spray or mist as little as possible, so as to avoid water getting into the leaf hearts and causing rot. However, the potting soil must not remain overly wet for a long time, to prevent root rot, stem rot, soft rot and rotten shoots. Water management is the key task this month.

    4. This month is hot, so root application of organic or inorganic fertilizers is prohibited. For fertilizing, foliar spraying is better. You can use one-thousandth urea plus one-thousandth monopotassium phosphate or biological bacterial fertilizer alternately to supplement nutrients, promote vigorous growth, and grow larger and stronger seedlings, laying the foundation for sprouting and blooming next year. Generally speaking, spray in the evening and rinse the leaves the next morning, to prevent fertilizer from accumulating on the leaf surface and, after high-temperature sun exposure, causing damage to the seedlings.

    5. This month is when various pests and diseases are most likely to occur, so insecticide and sterilization work cannot be relaxed. The best pesticide for treating scale insects is oxychlorine; the best for eliminating red spider mites is trichlorfenol. For sterilization and disease prevention, spray alternately once a week with agricultural streptomycin, thiophanate-methyl, and chlorothalonil, and also spray once with Bordeaux mixture or Kasumin to prevent bacterial and viral infections. Apply the pesticide on a cool evening, and do not make the solution too concentrated to prevent pesticide damage.

    6. For orchid plants that have just been potted not long ago, manage them well: first, do not fertilize the roots; second, do not expose them to the sun; third, do not place them in a hot, poorly ventilated place, so as to avoid losses.

    7. Typhoons already appear this month, so do a good job of typhoon prevention to prevent typhoons from overturning pots and bowls and breaking orchid leaves. Take rain-shelter measures to prevent damage caused by heavy rainstorms.

    8. "Raising orchids in July is difficult." Sun protection, high-temperature prevention, heavy-rain prevention, typhoon prevention, and disease and pest control are all key issues in the success or failure of orchid growing.

    9. Taboos: This month is hot, so never repot, change the soil, or divide the plants. Even if you need to introduce new plants, it is best to wait until around the Autumn Equinox.