10 Precautions for Planting Orchids

PlantingOrchids10 Precautions
 
1. Disinfect wounds first: When repotting or dividing, if there are wounds on the stems, leaves, or roots, apply a fungicide to the wounds first to prevent pathogens from entering. After planting, waiting 2 to 3 days before watering is even safer.

2. Disinfect old pots: In principle, new pots should always be used for planting orchids, but when growingin large quantitiesit is a shame to use pots only once, so you can disinfect old pots with a disinfectant and use them again.

3. Do not use too large a pot: Planting a small plant in a large pot means using more growing medium, which easily leads to poor aeration, and the moisture from watering is not easily distributed evenly. If watered more, too much water is absorbed, the medium does not dry easily, bacteria can easily invade, and the roots rot.

4. Plant the orchid shallowly: Orchids must not be planted deep, because if the base is deep, long-term moisture will cause it to rot. When planting, fill the growing medium around the roots, and the base or pseudobulbs must be exposed and must not be buried in the medium.

5. Place the new shoot in the center: When planting an orchid, do not place the whole plant in the center of the pot. Instead, place the new shoot in the center of the pot. It may look tilted to one side for the time being, but when the new shoot grows and blooms in the future, it will be in the center of the pot.

6. Spread the roots out: When planting an orchid, the roots should be spread evenly in all directions and must not be squeezed into a ball. Only then can each root contact the growing medium and have good aeration; otherwise, the roots rot easily.

7. Secure the plant: Orchids cannot be planted deep, so they often appear unsteady and about to topple. Therefore, a support stake, tying wire, or a hanging hook used as a support must be used to secure it so that it does not move and damage the base.

8. Press the growing medium slightly firm: Orchid growing medium must provide good aeration and drainage, but the medium should also be pressed slightly firm; otherwise, if the space at the base is too large, root growth will be poor. The correct method is to press firm from both sides, not to press heavily from above.

9. Do not water for several days: Newly planted orchids may have injured roots. After the wounds are coated with fungicide, do not water for 3 to 5 days so that the fungicide can take effect and also promote the growth of new shoots and new roots. This is where orchids differ from ordinary woody and herbaceous flowers.

10. Avoid strong light: Newly planted orchids must all avoid direct strong light to prevent excessive dehydration. They should be placed in a warm and shaded location, and misting can be used to raise air humidity until the orchid plant returns to normal growth.