How to Select and Plant Orchids? A Detailed Guide to Practical Methods
Some orchid enthusiasts ask: I buy orchids every spring and they die every year, what is the reason? As we know, orchids cultivated in the north are mostly seedlings transported from the various provinces south of the Yangtze River each spring. One reason they fail to survive is that the orchid seedlings suffer excessive root damage when lifted in their place of origin, and combined with long-distance transport and exposure to wind and sun, they are prone to cold and heat damage, causing their roots, stems and flowers to be injured to varying degrees, so the survival rate is not high. Another reason is improper care after planting, which causes the plants to wither and die.
Some orchid enthusiasts ask: I buy orchids every spring and they die every year, what is the reason? As we know, orchids cultivated in the north are mostly seedlings transported from the various provinces south of the Yangtze River each spring. One reason they fail to survive is that the orchid seedlings suffer excessive root damage when lifted in their place of origin, and combined with long-distance transport and exposure to wind and sun, they are prone to cold and heat damage, causing their roots, stems and flowers to be injured to varying degrees, so the survival rate is not high. Another reason is improper care after planting, which causes the plants to wither and die.
To improve the survival rate of orchids, the following measures should be taken in response to the above causes:
(1) Choose carefully when buying orchids. Select those with strong roots, complete or with little damage, and roots that are fresh and tender rather than blackened or hollow; those with a complete leaf cluster, fresh, deep green and with a symmetrical, well-proportioned plant shape; those with bright fresh green leaves, free of black spots or yellowing, with plump flower buds and clearly veined bracts. A plant with 4-5 leaf clusters is relatively ideal. Those whose roots are naturally joined into large clumps and which have numerous leaf clusters are easy to keep alive and are also likely to produce buds the following year. Any with too much leaf damage, excessively damaged or shrivelled roots, or scattered, loose plants are not worth taking. When buying, pay special attention to whether the roots have been frozen. Frozen roots have a semi-transparent, water-soaked appearance on the surface, while the surface of roots from vigorous growth is mostly chalky (e, white earth) or pale grey.
(2) Before planting, first wash them clean with water, cut away the blackened and hollow roots and dead leaves, and place them in a sunny spot indoors to dry before potting. If the roots have broken surfaces, leave them for a few days and plant only after the wounds have healed.
(3) For potting, choose clay pots and slightly acidic soil. After potting, carry out care according to the above methods for growing orchids through the four seasons. One point to stress here is that growing orchids, like caring for other southern plants, first requires understanding the ecological conditions of their place of origin and striving to create environmental conditions close to those of the place of origin, so that they can grow vigorously with abundant leaves and flowers.