Fertilization should vary with the crop and be applied at the right time

Generally speaking, at the end of March each yearorchidsbegin to sprout. New shoots that grow from March to June are called spring shoots, and new shoots that sprout from October to December are called autumn shoots. Spring shoots are strong and autumn shoots are weak, so it is advisable to stimulate more spring shoots.orchidsThe sprouting of spring shoots has peak periods, and different types oforchidshave different peak sprouting periods.Cymbidium ensifoliumThe peak sprouting period is from mid-April to early May;Cymbidium goeringii、Cymbidium sinenseAlthough sprouting begins in early April, the peak period forCymbidium sinenseis from late April to mid-May,Cymbidium goeringiiis from mid-May to mid-June;Cymbidium kanran、Cymbidium faberisprout later and unevenly, with no obvious peak period;Cymbidium kanranbegins sprouting in May, and some do not sprout until June or July. To make orchids produce more spring shoots, it is necessary to seize the key period for fertilization and apply sprout-promoting fertilizer at the right time, once every five days. The starting time for fertilization. In principle, it should be half a month to one month one month before the different peak sprouting periods of various orchid types arrive. As for the types of fertilizer to apply, there are currently many sprout-promoting fertilizers on the market, characterized by quick results, relatively high prices, and most containing hormones; orchid growers can flexibly choose according to the situation.. The author alternately uses the following sprout-promoting fertilizers: Hyponex No. 4 The content of the three major elements is 25-5-20, which can promote orchidflowerbudding and increase of the root mass, and strengthen the stem (pseudobulb). The method of use and dosage can follow the instructions. Zhibaosu It can be used both as a sprout-promoting fertilizer and as a shoot-strengthening fertilizer. For the concentration when spraying orchidflowersthe author uses a water-to-fertilizer ratio of 3 kg water: 0.5 g fertilizer. If the concentration is too high, it will instead inhibit orchid growth. Rapeseed bran fertilizer Solid, containing 4.60% nitrogen, 2.48% phosphorus, and 1.40% potassium. It can be applied in holes around the orchid plants in November, which helps sprout new shoots the following year. The dosage is one tablespoon of fertilizer powder for a pot with a 20 cm diameter. VB12 Mix 1-2 ampoules of 1000-unit VB12 injection into two jin of water and spray on the leaf surface, starting before spring shoots begin to sprout (about early March), once a week until the summer solstice, which can increase the sprouting rate of spring and summer leaf buds. After orchid leaf buds emerge from the soil, they gradually enter an important period of vegetative growth. The more leaf buds sprout, the more nutrients are needed. If nutrients cannot keep up, the young shoots will be stunted or die. At this time, shoot-strengthening fertilizer must be applied to fully meet the fertilizer needs of orchid shoots during the nutrient growth period. In addition to spraying Zhibaosu, the author also applies fermented (about 1-2 weeks of fermentation) rice washing water. Rice washing water is a good phosphorus-potassium fertilizer, and watering orchids with it can strengthen the shoots. In addition, potassium dihydrogen phosphate can be sprayed once every ten days. According to observation, regularly spraying orchids with 0.2% potassium dihydrogen phosphate can not only promote flowering, but also promote faster swelling of the pseudobulbs of new orchid shoots. When orchid pseudobulbs grow plump, they can store more nutrients to supply the plant's growth needs, and also help produce strong shoots the following year. Regulating light and controlling humidity Overall, orchids are plants that prefer half shade and half sun. However, different orchid species have different light requirements.Cymbidium sinenserequires the most shade; strong light or too long light exposure will cause orchid leaves to become limp and droop;Cymbidium goeringii、Cymbidium kanranprefer partial shade, and Cymbidium kanran prefers refracted light;Cymbidium faberi、Cymbidium ensifoliumneed more sunlight, but cannot be placed in blazing sun. The intensity and duration of light have a direct impact on the number of orchid leaf buds and flower buds that sprout, the time they emerge from the soil, and their growth condition. With moderate light, orchids grow vigorously; with too strong or too weak light, orchids grow poorly. Orchids placed in shady areas sprout more leaf buds and fewer flower buds; conversely, they produce more flower buds. But spring sunlight is beneficial to the growth of Cymbidium goeringii and Cymbidium kanran. In spring, it is advisable to let sunlight scatter or shine obliquely for two hours each day. The shade level of the orchid-growing site is generally controlled at 60%-70% in spring and 70%-80% in summer. After White Dew, shading is unnecessary, and more sunlight can be received to promote photosynthesis, store nutrients, and benefit growth the following year. Some orchids that prefer partial shade or partial sun can also be regulated by placing them in different shady or sunny spots at the orchid-growing site. "Drought tolerance" is one of the habits of orchidflowersOrchids' requirements for dryness and moisture should be divided into two aspects: first, air humidity, and second, pot soil humidity. Orchid leaves grow in clusters, and the area for transpiration is relatively large, so they need higher air humidity. The roots, leaves, and pseudobulbs of orchids have a unique structure and can store water, so orchids can tolerate drought. The dryness and moisture of orchid pot soil should preferably be "moderately dry and wet, with moisture leaning toward dry." Moisture leaning toward dry is good for aeration and sprouting. If the pot soil is too wet, it leads to root rot and invites disease. Specifically, in spring, summer, and autumn, it is best to keep orchid pot soil 70% dry and 30% wet, and in winter 80% dry and 20% wet. During the leaf bud growth period of orchids (about May to the end of June), more water is needed. If there are consecutive sunny days, appropriate watering is necessary to strengthen the shoots. During the leaf bud emergence period (about March to April), watering should be appropriately reduced, otherwise the base of young shoots is likely to turn black and rot. During the winter dormancy period, watering should be even less or not done at all. When the pot soil is too wet, a small amount of plant ash can be scattered on the pot surface to regulate the humidity of the pot soil. (Zhang Bingfu, Longyan, Fujian)