How to grow orchids? A detailed guide to cultivation methods for beginners

Newcomers to orchid growing, the "orchid friends", naturally have great enthusiasm for growing orchids. But enthusiasm alone is not enough; it is also necessary to master some basic knowledge of orchid cultivation -

(1) First, sort out the site and environment for planting orchids

Orchid planting can be divided into courtyard planting and large-scale field planting. Generally, for home orchid growing, you can choose a balcony or rooftop, or build a small shelter on a windowsill. If conditions permit, a glass greenhouse can be built. However, for the growing site, whether on a balcony, rooftop or windowsill, appropriate shade netting should be installed to block sunlight and wind heat, there should be good ventilation conditions, and appropriate humidity should be maintained. When it is too hot in summer, a movable layer of shade netting should also be added on top of the shelter to control light flexibly.

(2) Choose good potting medium and pots

Orchid pots: Orchid pots are the living space of orchids and have a relatively large impact on orchid growth. In the past, traditional orchid growing used large clay pots; now most high-grade orchids are grown in small flared pots. There are also ceramic pots and plastic pots, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Which pot is good to use depends on individual habits and the varieties being cultivated. However, within one orchid shed it is best to use the same type of orchid pot in different sizes, so that unified management is easier later.

Potting medium: For orchid growing, the potting medium (base material) used to be mostly pond mud; now for growing fine varieties, media such as pond stone, floating stone, weathered stone, water-absorbing stone and ceramic granules are used instead. For field growing of domestic orchids, most people use soft media such as sawdust, rice husks, medicinal residues, coal cinders, sea sand and peanut shells, with foam plastic used as a bottom layer, etc. Mixed use is relatively common. Using these media each has advantages and disadvantages. As to which medium is better to use, it also depends on individual habits, the cultivated varieties and the pots used (pots and media must work together).

(3) Continuously sum up experience in practice

To grow orchids well, you must also master the management of watering, fertilizing and the prevention and control of diseases and insect pests. The principle for fertilizing is generally to choose a sunny day to apply it; the fertilizing principle is light application, frequent application, and no application during the winter dormancy period. It is suggested to take part in more orchid-growing practice, usually read more books, visit more places, ask more questions, ask when you do not understand, and continuously explore and sum up experience and lessons in practice, so that the technical level of orchid planting can be continuously improved.