How to grow potted orchids well? These care tips you need to master
Orchids are also known as spring orchids, orchid grass, secluded orchids, national fragrance, etc. They are epiphytic or terrestrial herbaceous plants of the genus Cymbidium in the orchid family. Orchid cultivation in China has a history of about two thousand years. Chinese people have always regarded orchids as a symbol of purity and elegance, and together with "plum, bamboo, and chrysanthemum" they are called the "Four Gentlemen." They have extremely high ornamental and cultivation value. Let's take a look below at how to grow potted orchids well!
Orchid growth habits
Orchids originally grew in hilly areas or beside mountain springs and flowing water in lofty, towering, continuous mountain ranges. Some grow in valleys and deep ravines with dense trees on sloping hillsides, or in crevices with rocks and relatively deep soil layers. Because orchid types differ, their living habits also vary. Spring orchids prefer shade, while summer orchids prefer sunlight, but both like a warm and humid climate. Orchid roots are distributed on the surface layer of the soil, requiring soil rich in humus, with good looseness, water permeability, fertilizer retention, and water retention. The soil is acidic, with a pH value between 5.5 and 6.5. Orchids are most averse to coal smoke and dust, and are also afraid of scorching sun and violent wind and rain. Areas with air pollution are not conducive to orchid growth. The roots need orchid fungi to coexist with them, otherwise growth will be poor.
Orchid propagation methods
1. Division: This can be done in both spring and autumn, generally once every three years. Any plant with robust growth and densely clustered pseudobulbs can be divided. After division, each clump should retain at least 5 connected pseudobulbs. Before division, watering should be reduced to make the potting soil relatively dry. When potting after division, first cover the drainage hole at the bottom of the pot with broken tile pieces, then spread coarse gravel to occupy 1/5 to 1/4 of the pot depth, then place coarse-grained soil and a small amount of fine soil, and then plant with sandy loam rich in humus.
2. Sowing: Orchid seeds are extremely fine. The seed contains only one incompletely developed embryo, and its germination capacity is very low. In addition, the seed coat does not easily absorb water, so sowing by conventional methods cannot cause germination. Therefore, orchid fungi or artificial culture medium are needed to supply nutrients for germination to occur.
How to grow potted orchids?
1. Soil: Orchid soil should be mainly humus, mainly using leaf mold or mountain forest humus soil. In the south, the humus soil from the place of origin, commonly known as orchid mud, can be used. Leaf mold, vermiculite, perlite, and others can also be manually mixed into a loose, air-permeable, water-permeable growing medium. Generally, a growing medium is made by mixing 8 parts leaf mold and 2 parts river sand, or 7 parts leaf mold, 2 parts perlite, and 1 part river sand, or 6 parts leaf mold (peat soil), 3 parts compost soil, and 1 part river sand mixed evenly.
2. Fertilizing: For orchid topdressing, liquid fertilizer or foliar fertilizer is mostly used, and the concentration should be lighter than for other flowers. Generally, during the growing season, fully decomposed dilute cake fertilizer water of about 15% can be applied, or 0.1% urea fertilizer water plus 0.2% monopotassium phosphate fertilizer water, applied once every 15 to 20 days. From before flowering to the flowering period, 0.2% monopotassium phosphate or plant ash water can be sprayed on the leaves 2 to 3 times to promote the development of roots, stems, and flowers. Orchids have fleshy roots, so undecomposed fertilizer must not be applied, to avoid root rot.
3. Watering: Watering orchids should be based on the species, growth conditions, and local climate. It should be moist but not wet, dry but not parched. Watering should not be too much or too little, and the principle of not dry in autumn and not wet in winter should be mastered. In winter, when the temperature is low, the plant is in a dormant state, so watering should be controlled. Generally, water once every 5 to 7 days, but Cymbidium sinense, which blooms in winter, needs more water. In spring and autumn, water once every 2 to 3 days; in summer, water 1 to 2 times a day on average.
4. Temperature: In the north, potted orchids should be moved indoors around the Frost's Descent solar term when the temperature drops to 5°C. In the early period after being moved indoors, windows should be opened frequently to maintain air circulation. In winter, the indoor temperature should be kept at about 10°C. After Grain Rain, move them outdoors for care. The suitable temperature for orchid growth is 16 to 24°C. In winter, the indoor temperature is generally required to be relatively low, preferably 10 to 12°C during the day and 5 to 10°C at night. Temperature and humidity must not be too high, and in summer the temperature should not exceed 30°C.
5. Light: Orchids prefer shade and are afraid of direct strong light, so shading should be carried out in spring, summer, and autumn. For growing orchids at home, in order to control the amount of light, it is best to place them on a balcony windowsill or under the eaves with bamboo curtain shading. Generally, shade from 9 a.m. to before 6 p.m., and open the curtains in the morning and after 6 p.m. so they receive scattered sunlight. In winter, move them indoors to a place with visible scattered light, but also avoid direct sunlight. Among orchids, Cymbidium sinense has the strongest shade tolerance, followed by Cymbidium ensifolium, while spring orchids and Cymbidium faberi have weaker shade tolerance.
6. Pruning: During orchid cultivation, the plants need pruning. For example, when old leaves turn yellow and withered, they all need pruning, which is beneficial to the growth of other leaves and also allows ventilation. Diseased leaves especially need timely pruning to prevent infection. In addition, scissors also need to be disinfected to prevent infection.
7. Repotting: Orchids grow relatively slowly, so they can be repotted once every 1 to 2 years after the flowers fade. When potting, first place about 3 cm of tile pieces, furnace slag, and the like at the bottom of the pot to facilitate drainage. Then, add a layer of growing medium, place the orchid seedling in the center of the pot, straighten the roots, and let them spread naturally. When half of the soil has been added, lift the orchid seedling gently while shaking the flower pot so that the soil and roots are closely combined. When the soil is filled to 2 to 3 cm from the pot rim, gently press it firm with your hands.