Method for domesticating wild orchids: clever use of edible mushroom cultivation bags

As is well known,orchidslove to grow in mountain forests with good vegetation and relatively rich humus, and their root systems all spread out horizontally in all directions, very shallow from the soil surface, with good air permeability. Based onorchidsthis characteristic of root growth, using flat-bottomed mushroom spawn bags for the micro-hole aeration method tocultivateand domesticate wildorchidsis more conducive toorchid plants' settling, sprouting and root growth. The author achieved success through thousands of bags ofcultivationtrials, and now briefly introduces thecultivationtechnique as follows: 1. Choose low-pressure high-density polyethylene flat-bottomed spawn bags, currently commonly used for large-scale production of enoki mushroom cultivation bags or shiitake mushroom cultivation bag cylinders; their specifications may be mouth diameter 12 cm to 15 cm, height 24 cm to 28 cm, thickness 0.04 cm (all available on the market). 2. Cultivation substrate formula: sun-exposed and sterilized humus soil 60% mixed with coarse river sand 40%, or crushed brick residue 50% mixed with humus soil 30% and 20% coarse shiitake cultivation waste material; the ingredients must be mixed evenly, and the mushroom material needs to be soaked and sun-dried again. 3. Cultivation requirements: after washing and disinfectingnewly collected wild orchids, air-dry them until they are white and soft; the planting material must be disinfected. Place some coarse material at the bottom of the bag, put the orchid roots in the center of the bag, add the planting material, lift the bag mouth and shake downward flatly until firm, so that 1/4 of the pseudobulb is exposed; leave 5 cm at the bag mouth for fertilizing and watering. 4. Puncture-hole aeration method Take the planted orchid bag and use a wool needle or a 3-inch-long iron nail to puncture holes in a plum-blossom pattern around the sides and down to the bottom of the bag, with the holes spaced about 3 cm apart. After puncturing the holes, water thoroughly to settle the roots. 5. Routine management Move the planted orchid bags into a shade shed with 75% to 80% shading for routine management. During hot, dry seasons, mainly spray water on the leaves to cool and moisturize; if the planting soil in the bag is not dry, do not water, and increase environmental humidity to retain moisture. If the planting material in the bag looks dry, water thoroughly in one go, and the method of soaking to saturate may be used. Every 15 days, spray with Bai Jun Qing at 1:500 dilution to prevent disease, or disinfect and prevent disease with thiophanate-methyl or carbendazim according to the proportion. Every 20 days, use omethoate at 1:1000 or jie man te at 1:2000 to kill insects and prevent damage. Spray finely, and spray the pesticide water on both the front and back of the orchid leaves. Through observation and records: bag-cultivated orchids settle and revive easily, begin to sprout and root in about 15 days, and in about one month the newly grown orchid roots extend vertically downward inside the orchid bag,the orchid plantsdo not fade in color, and after three months of cultivation, the newly issued shoots and leaves are robust and strong, with well-developed, snow-white, thick roots. Conclusion: because edible mushroom cultivation bags have good heat-retention and moisture-retention performance, and the use of dense multi-hole aeration conforms to the basic conditions of orchids under natural ecology, it is conducive to normal root growth. The planting soil in the orchid bag can remain moist for a longer time, is not easy to dry out, and is not easy to become too wet; even if watered or rained on, excess water will immediately drain out through the many holes. Because the polyethylene bag is transparent, root growth can be directly observed, making it easier to judge the dryness and moisture of the planting soil. Even in 38°C sunny and hot weather, the planting soil in the orchid bag can always remain moist; only spraying leaf-surface water is needed to increase environmental humidity and reduce the number of waterings, reducing labor intensity, and edible mushroom cultivation bags are cheap, directly saving costs. The applicable cultivation range of edible mushroom cultivation bags:Cymbidium goeringii、Cymbidium ensifolium、Cymbidium kanran, etc., but using them for direct viewing is not elegant; one may choose a beautiful orchid pot and put the orchid bag inside it. Guifeng Orchid Garden (East Garden), Yifeng County, Jiangxi Province The author is a member and standing director of the Orchid Association of Yifeng County, Jiangxi Province Jiangxi Zhang Guangrong