What Are the Growth Habits of Orchids? A Detailed Guide

I. Requirements forcultivationsubstrate
Wildorchidsgrow on shady, well-ventilated mountain slopes where water does not accumulate, so the cultivation substrate must be airy, loose, well-draining and slightly acidic. The most commonly used substrate for outdoor cultivation is mud flower soil.
Orchid mud refers to the soil found in the crevices of rocks on mountains, formed from plant leaves that have rotted through wind, rain and sun exposure; the soil is loose, airy and slightly acidic. In the Jiangnan region of China, it is customary to dig orchid mud from places such as Kuaiji Mountain in Shaoxing, Yanwo Ridge in Yuyao, Shiniu Mountain in Fuyang, Bao Mountain in Hangzhou, Tongguan Mountain in Yixing, Jun Mountain in Nantong and Yushan in Changshu. Before liberation there was a saying, "one load of flower mud for one load of rice."
Weathered mountain rock gravel soil can also be used as a cultivation base. Farmers in Cangyan Town, Shengzhou, use the gravel soil of the local Cangyan Mountain as a cultivation substrate; "Cangyan Su" has been cultivated with this soil for more than a hundred years. Recently, some people have used red soil brick gravel and red soil mountain mud as a cultivation base, and others have used soil with clumps of weeds that has been roasted into crushed roasted soil as a substrate. Both of the above conform to the characteristics of being airy, permeable and slightly acidic, and are rich in phosphorus and potassium fertilizer, so they can be used as orchid cultivation substrates, but nitrogen fertilizer should be supplemented appropriately. In recent years, with the introduction of orchid growing from Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, China and abroad, indoororchid growinghas been greatly promoted, so the use of sphagnum moss, perlite, volcanic ejecta rock, granular bricks, granular Xiantu soil and granular peat has become an ideal substrate. Their greatest advantage is that they make water management easy.orchid growinghas been greatly promoted, so the use of sphagnum moss, perlite, volcanic ejecta rock, granular bricks, granular Xiantu soil and granular peat has become an ideal substrate. Their greatest advantage is that they make water management easy.

II. Requirements for temperature and humidity
The optimal growth temperature for orchids in Jiangsu and Zhejiang is 18--30°C; below 5°C and above 35°C growth is slow, and the reproductive growth period is 5--18°C.
Orchids grow well when the relative air humidity is 60--70%; too dry or too wet can easily trigger orchid diseases. Therefore, outdoor cultivation should create a gradual humidity microclimate suitable for orchid growth, and indoors a sprayer and hygrometer should be installed.

III. Requirements for sunlight exposure
Wild orchids grow beneath dense forests and tall bamboo, where the jungle blocks intense sunlight. This makes orchids prefer shade and fear the sun. Sunlight is indispensable for plant photosynthesis and is the energy source for producing nutrients. Orchids like morning sunlight. When the morning sun first rises, the sunlight angle is low, so the orchid receives light over a large area. Also, because morning sunlight is blocked by morning mist, the light is relatively soft, and direct exposure will not scorch orchid leaves. After accumulating nutrients overnight, orchids have their strongest photosynthetic capacity in the morning. Therefore, in summer, before seven o'clock, orchid leaves can be exposed to direct sunlight; after seven o'clock, use a 50%--90% shade net to block the sunlight. Around "Qingming," orchids can be given more sun to promote root development and produce more leaf buds; after "Bailu," when the weather turns cool and most new plants have grown, they can also receive more sunlight to promote plump flower buds and allow the orchid plants to store more nutrients for growth the following year. The length of sunlight exposure directly affects orchid growth. With more sunlight, orchid leaves are more yellow, orchid roots are well developed, and flowers are robust. Conversely, orchid leaves are dark green, the root system is poorly developed, and flowering is not easy. Petals are thick in texture with long sunlight exposure, and thin in texture otherwise. However, if exposed to sunlight excessively, orchid leaves may be scorched, or even lose water and die.

IV. Requirements for water
Controlling water is the most fundamental condition for growing orchidswell.Orchid leaves are relatively thick, with a cuticle on the surface for protection, so orchid leaves do not consume large amounts of water. Orchid pseudobulbs and fleshy roots can store certain nutrients and water, so they are relatively drought-tolerant. Apart from the root-generating and sprouting stages, when the rapid growth period requires more water, at other times they consume less water. If there is too much water, causing waterlogging in the soil and blocking root respiration, root rot easily occurs. Too much water also causes orchid leaf cell walls to fill with water, opening the stomata on the leaf surface, resulting in weak nutrient content, and further causing weak tissues, poor growth and disease. Orchids "like rain but fear waterlogging, like moisture but fear dampness." Because air humidity differs in spring, summer, autumn and winter, and orchid growth rates differ, water requirements also differ. Accordingly, there is a saying that "whether you can grow orchids mainly depends on whether you can water them."

V. Requirements for air
Orchids like circulating, unpolluted air. Orchid-growing sites should be far from coal gas and oil fumes, and far from places with flying dust. Oil fumes and dust attached to the leaf surface will block leaf respiration and affect photosynthesis. When air does not circulate, bacteria and viruses will attach to the leaf surface, harming orchid growth.

VI. Requirements for fertilizer
Orchids like a light diet, so fertilizer should be applied sparingly rather than heavily. Like other plants, nitrogen can promote vigorous growth of stems and leaves. Phosphorus can promote well-developed orchid roots, promote robust development of reproductive organs, and spread out stems and leaves. Magnesium, sulfur, iron and other trace elements can make leaves green and flowers robust.
During the peak growth period, orchids should be fertilized more; during the dormant period or weak growth period, no fertilizer is needed. If fertilizer is applied excessively, it will burn roots and leaves, causing irreparable loss.