Potted Orchid Growing Medium Water Control Experiment Record

Some people say:Growing orchidsGrowing orchids, the more you grow them, the harder it gets. I say:Growing orchidsis not hard; water control is the key. The topic of this article is: methods for testing and controlling the moisture content in orchid pot growing medium. It clearly points out: when should an orchid pot be watered? How much water should be given? Only then canorchidshave lush leaves. Regarding the principles of watering orchid pots, summarized from many orchid-growing books, it comes down to this:Orchidsprefer moisture but not soggy conditions, and prefer dryness but not wetness. Therefore, when the pot surface looks dry, water it; if you water, water thoroughly. Keep the moisture content of the pot soil at 4O%-50% as appropriate. There are many ways to judge this, but no matter which one, for a beginner growingorchids, it is relatively difficult. Through exploration, I found a method for controlling water in orchid pot growing medium (culture soil). These are: the stick-insertion method, the soil-picking method, and the weighing method. Over the past year, the orchids I grew using this method all bloomed, with no cases of whole-pot root rot or dead seedlings, and they grew well. The methods are briefly described below; please correct me, orchid-growing seniors, and let beginners use this as a reference. I have three methods for controlling and testing the moisture content of orchid pot growing medium (culture soil): (1) Stick-insertion measurement method: insert a bamboo chopstick into the orchid pot, and after a certain time, pull the bamboo chopstick out and touch the middle part of the chopstick with your finger. If your finger feels that the chopstick is very cool (cold) and has water marks, its moisture content must be between >50%-70%; if your finger feels that the bamboo stick is not very cool and has no water marks, then the moisture content at this time should be between greater than or equal to 35%-50%; if the bamboo stick does not feel cool, the moisture content is already less than or equal to 35%. I summarize this passage as (Table 1). (2) Soil-picking moisture-check method: in the orchid pot, pick out pot soil from 3cm-4cm below the surface soil along the edge (preferably from three or four points), in a size like a fingertip, and knead it between the thumb and index finger, observing its state. If it forms lumps (pieces), its moisture content is greater than or equal to 35%-60%. If it becomes powder, its moisture content is already below 35%. I summarize this passage as (Table 2). A moisture content of 45%-55% is easy to control; my experimental water control rate was 87.5%. (3) Weighing measurement method: this method is the most accurate way to measure moisture content. In the past year, I did 20 trials. After using the predicted values from methods (1) and (2) above, I then checked them with the weighing method, and its accuracy rate was 70%-75%. That is to say, using any one of methods (1), (2), or (3) is acceptable. The data from my experiment with this method: empty pot 5% orchid plant 5% dry pot and growing medium 414g, the three together total 5149, then the formula for the moisture content of the orchid pot growing medium (culture soil) is as follows: (1150-154)/414 X 100%＝153.60% From the above formula it is not hard to see that the total weight after soaking (watering) the orchid pot (115%) minus the sum of the empty pot,orchid plantand dry culture soil and filler (514g), is the weight of the water soaked into the orchid pot (636g). Divide by the weight of the dry culture soil, etc. (414g) and multiply by 100%; the result is 153.6%, which is the moisture content of that orchid pot growing medium (culture soil). Below I introduce my orchid-growing situation and related data after doing the water control experiment. The orchids I grew areCymbidium goeringiiDuoxiang, 6 small seedlings (two clumps), planted together in one plastic pot. The pot is 15cm in diameter and 12cm high. The growing medium used was a mixed culture soil. These were humus soil, peat soil, and rotted wood, each about one third. My experimental orchid pot was often placed in a hall facing south and facing north, with sufficient lightall four seasonsof the year, and good ventilation. The orchid I grew (experimental orchid) produced 5 shoots in spring and summer last year, and bloomed one fragrant flower. Three of the seedlings were especially robust. Various data are briefly listed as (Table 3). From the two statistical tables above on the highest and lowest moisture content of orchid pot growing medium, it can be seen that the best state of orchid pot moisture content is: high at 90%, low at 70%. What must be specially pointed out here is: the lowest moisture content range for orchid pots is 335%-50%; after maintaining this for a period of time, the orchid pot should be watered (soaked). Summary: From the above, it is not hard to see that my experimental conclusion is: when the moisture content of the orchid pot drops to greater than or equal to 35%-50%, the orchid pot should be watered (soaked). I believe that in this way, the first step has been taken for growing orchids well. According to relevant orchid-growing books (materials), if the water in the orchid pot is well controlled, there is already a 70% chance of growing orchids well. I agree with this statement. But to grow orchids well, a series of management tasks must also be done well, such as temperature (light), humidity, pest removal, and fertilizing. Thenorchid plantswill have both flowers and leaves thriving, to repay the owner's "care." Note: Liu Qingyong, "Chinese and Foreign Orchids," 48P Yang Yun, "Yunnan Orchid Miscellany," 106p Yunnan, Ouyang Hui Address: Provincial Shooting Training Base, Beijiaochang, Kunming City, Yunnan Ouyang Tiemei forwarding to Ouyang Hui Postal code: 650223 Telephone: 3165040