Introduction to the Basic Conditions of the Agricultural Production Environment and Facilities

Environment and facilities include the site, the trellis frame, and the greenhouse, and are the necessary conditions for keepingorchidscomfortably settled. The Site An old saying goes: to cultivateorchids, first consider the growing site; the choice of site is of the utmost importance. If you groworchidsin a courtyard garden, it is best to have the southeast wall low and the northwest wall high, because a high northwest wall can block the scorching afternoon sun and the cold winter wind, while a low southeast wall allows the welcome of the rising sun. Orchids grow in secluded valleys and by nature avoid the sun; a site that lets in warming yang energy and welcomes rain and dew is the one that best keepsorchidsvigorous. As for the ground of the site, earth is better than stone paving, because stone paving easily cuts off the earth's energy. A ground covered with small pebbles is even better than earth: not only does it not interrupt the earth's energy, but it also dries easily after rain. In ancient times, when growing orchids, there was a poem about the site: "Bamboo planted to the southwest blocks the midday sun, a low wall to the southeast welcomes the morning sun; do not spread stone slabs over the ground, but use an earthen courtyard as the growing site." This shows that the choice of a site for growingorchidswas emphasized long ago. If the site is not earthen ground, a layer of sandy soil can be spread over it. If hot air presses in from all around, then around the site you should set up some bamboo-woven fencing, or plant some climbing crops such as honeysuckle; depending on how the vines grow, keep a certain distance from the orchid pots and prune them from time to time, so that the orchids seem to grow in a shaded, secluded valley and obtain a comfortable environment. The Trellis Frame Once the site is chosen, the trellis frame is indispensable. The flower stand is for placing orchid pots so that they are raised in the air and ventilated, easy to manage, and convenient to view; its height should be about 1 m above the ground, and it should be convenient to work with. The flower canopy is for shading the orchids from sunlight and protecting them from rain; its height and width can be determined by the size of the site. If the site is wide, the canopy should be low, about 1 m above the flower stand; if the site is narrow and the surrounding walls are high, then the canopy must rise above the eaves so that it can provide ventilation and air movement. The flower canopy is divided into two layers, with a curtain on the upper layer. Curtains come in two kinds, loose and dense; the loose ones are used in the first fu period, and the dense ones in the third fu period. The length and width of the curtain are the same as the flower canopy frame. For materials, use coir rope as the warp and reed stems as the weft, and tie bamboo poles of equal length on both sides, so that their weight can press down against the wind, and the pull ropes make them supple and easy to spread out. Nowadays, using this shade net instead of the curtain can also block 50-70% of sunlight. For the lower layer of the trellis frame, prepare a tightly woven tarpaulin, sewing a thin bamboo pole along each edge, like a scroll of a painting; when there is a heavy rainstorm or long-lasting rain, the cloth canopy can be used as cover. If during the plum rain season the sunlight is strong and the rain does not stop, then pull the reed stems together over the tarpaulin to avoid steaming heat. In short, orchids fear stuffy heat most of all, and two layers of shading curtain can ensure that the orchids stay ventilated and cool and do not develop problems. Orchids dread smoke and coal fumes above all, so the site and trellis frame should be far from the family kitchen and factory chimneys. If there is water below the flower stand to separate it, then it can both prevent heat and prevent ants. Especially in hot summer weather, if a pool filled with cool water blocks the heat, then the heat cannot press in and ants find it hard to enter the pots, achieving two benefits at once, which is of course even better. The Greenhouse Growing orchids in pots is different from growing them in nature. In mountain fields and corners, orchids grow without fear of wind, frost, rain, or snow, because they are connected to the earth's energy; their root systems are interconnected, and even if they suffer cold, although the flowers and leaves may be affected, the root system is undamaged, and the next year they still sprout and put out leaves, and may even bloom. Potted orchids are not like this: they have been cut off from the earth's energy, and once frozen, the fleshy root system will freeze and die. Therefore, after the beginning of winter, you must always be on guard and prepare a greenhouse for overwintering. The so-called greenhouse also depends on how many flowers there are and the quality of the conditions. If ready-made facilities are available, that is of course better. If conditions do not allow, you can choose a place facing south with its back to the north, even under the eaves; with the front low and the back high, cover it with plastic, open a few windows, and open and close them from time to time according to whether the weather is cold or warm. If the weather is especially hot, you can open all the windows, or move the plants outside the door, water them and let air circulate, to prevent stuffy heat causing root rot and steamed leaves; if the weather is especially cold, after closing the windows, you still need to surround them with rice straw and cotton wadding, and absolutely must not let the bottoms of the pots freeze. The above are all the traditional requirements for growing orchids with regard to the site, trellis frame, and greenhouse. But at that time,orchid growerswere mostly officials and wealthy households, with large sites, many rooms for placing orchids, and little environmental pollution. Now, the general public's standard of living has risen, and more and more people love orchids and grow them, but the space is not as large as before, and the environment is not as good as before. As for how to make the present environment suit newly collected orchids from the mountains, many people have already worked out some experience in growing orchids on rooftops, balconies, and indoors. The most important point is that, according to the habits of the orchid variety and according to the temperature, humidity, and light the orchids need, different care methods should be adopted. Orchids generally have their best growth period at a temperature of 15 to 25°C and a humidity of about 10 degrees. By regulating the temperature and humidity of the place where the orchids are kept according to the four seasonal nodes of spring, summer, autumn, and winter, and creating the microclimate most suitable for orchid growth, you can not only grow orchids well, but still get them to produce good flowers. Therefore, wherever conditions do not allow for a site, trellis frame, and greenhouse, as long as you place a thermometer and a hygrometer where the orchids are kept, observe them at any time, and pay attention to ventilation and the prevention and control ofpests and diseases, following routine management, it is possible to grow orchids wellFloral。