How to care for orchids in summer and autumn? Keep this guide handy
How should orchids be cared for in summer and autumn? Orchids are also known as Chinese orchids, spring orchids, orchid grass, orchid bloom, and secluded orchids. The flowers come in white, pure white, white-green, yellow-green, pale yellow, pale yellow-brown, yellow, and more. Orchids prefer shade and fear sun exposure, and they dislike intense heat and dryness. When planting, they require a well-ventilated environment. Therefore, summer and autumn care can be managed according to these habits of orchids.
1. Shading and ventilation
From early summer to the end of September, orchids must be shaded, and the shade level should not be lower than 70%. For heavy shading, use shade netting; for light shading, place them on a north-facing balcony or under the eaves. During this period, space the plants out, with no less than 10cm between pots, and it is best to prop up the pot bottoms with bricks, which can increase airflow and allow ventilation and air exchange. In addition, prevent contamination by harmful substances such as sulfur dioxide, hydrogen fluoride, and dust to promote healthy growth.
2. Cooling and humidity increase
The suitable growing temperature for orchids is 20-28 degrees. When the temperature is above 25 degrees, they grow rapidly; above 32 degrees, they enter dormancy. When the temperature reaches 30 degrees, cooling and humidity-increasing measures should be taken. For orchids grown outdoors, river sand or plastic film can be spread on the ground; for those on balconies, sponge can be placed under the pots and kept moist frequently. At the same time, mist the plants and sprinkle water on the ground more often during the day. For indoor cultivation, air conditioning or electric fans can be used to lower the temperature.
3. Watering and fertilizing
At present, most orchids are grown in soil, and mostly in pots. The principle for pot soil moisture should be "moist but not wet, dry but not parched." Water when the surface soil is slightly white, and do not overwater. From midsummer to early autumn, generally water thoroughly once in the early morning, and in the evening water as appropriate according to how dry or moist the pot soil is. At noon, if the pot soil is dry, replenish water at any time. After mid-autumn, the climate gradually cools, but the air is dry, so according to the requirement that "autumn should not be dry," keep the pot soil moist. Orchid fertilization follows the principles of small amounts, dilution, frequent application, and timely application. From May to September, fertilize as appropriate according to different orchid species and different growth stages. Apply liquid fertilizer generally once every 15~20 days, with a fertilizer-to-water ratio of 1:10; indoors, use solid fertilizer. Large-scale production mostly uses chemical fertilizer at a concentration of about 0.1%. For foliar spraying fertilizer, prepare the concentration according to the product instructions.
4. Disease prevention and pest control
For orchid anthracnose, carbendazim and thiophanate can be used for control; for southern blight, drench with chloramphenicol injection at 500~1000 times dilution to control the disease progression; adult scale insects can be removed manually, and during the larval hatching period in May-June, spray with pesticide to kill them; for aphids and whiteflies, spray with 10% wettable powder at 500 times dilution for control.
When does white orchid bloom? What are the care methods during the flowering period of white orchid?
White orchid is a famous ornamental tree for courtyards, often planted as a street tree. It is cultivated extensively in Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan and other provinces and regions in China. So when does white orchid bloom? What are the care methods during the flowering period of white orchid?
When does white orchid bloom:
White orchid blooms every year in summer and autumn. The farther south, the earlier the flowering period. In Shenzhen, it blooms around midsummer, and the flowering period is relatively long, lasting almost 1 month. White magnolia blooms from April to September, cinnabar magnolia blooms from April to May, purple magnolia blooms from April to July, and round-leaf magnolia blooms in June.
How to make white orchid bloom more:
1. Leaf removal and pinching: Before and after moving outdoors, remove leaves once, removing all old leaves and keeping only a few leaves on the branch tips, to promote new branches and leaves and encourage flower bud formation. During the growth period, pinching should be done 3 times: the first time after flowers fade, to promote new shoots and more flower buds; afterward, two more pinching treatments should be done at intervals so that flowering is abundant and vivid and blooms continue.
2. Timely fertilization: During the peak flowering period from early May to the end of September, follow the principle of applying thin fertilizer frequently and strengthen fertilizer and water management. Apply decomposed soybean cake fertilizer liquid once every 3~5 days, and apply fertilizer water once every 7~10 days, alternating between them. Before flowering, additionally apply 1~2 times of quick-acting phosphorus and potassium fertilizer, which can keep white orchid blooming continuously.
3. Reasonable watering: The pot soil should not be too wet. In spring, do not water too much; keeping the pot soil moist is suitable. During the summer growth period, prevent dryness to avoid scorched leaves. In autumn, watering should be slightly more than in spring, and each watering should be thorough. By late autumn, watering frequency should gradually decrease. In the rainy season, drain accumulated water to prevent root rot and yellow leaves.
Care methods during the flowering period of white orchid:
1. Light should be soft: White orchid likes light. In summer, it can be placed under a shaded flower shed. Open the curtain in the morning to let it receive sunlight, and after 9 o'clock, cover it well to block sunlight, especially avoiding direct exposure to strong midday light.
2. Water frequently: White orchid likes moisture. In summer, water frequently; it is best to water thoroughly once in the morning and once in the evening each day. On hot days, also spray water twice on the leaves and surrounding area in the morning and afternoon to increase humidity. Because its roots are fleshy roots, it fears waterlogging, so on rainy days it should be watered less or not at all. If it is exposed to rain, promptly pay attention to drainage in the pot to prevent the roots from rotting due to soaking, which can cause the whole plant to die. Because white orchid is a typical acid-loving flower and fears alkalinity, and water in the north is relatively alkaline, long-term use can easily cause leaves to yellow and fall off, so when watering it is best to alternately use stored rainwater, and ferrous sulfate water can also be used.
3. Fertilizer should be generous: During the growth period, white orchid likes heavy fertilizer and heavy water. Not only should it be watered well, it should also be fertilized well. It is best to use liquid fertilizer. Mix horse hoof slices, sesame paste, and ferrous sulfate in a ratio of 1:1:0.5, soak in water for one week, and after fermentation, dilute with clean water and apply once every 5 days for better results; the leaves will be broad and thick, and the flowers fragrant and rich.
4. Prevent pests well: In summer, white orchid is most susceptible to red spider mites. Usually spray water on the leaf surface and the plant more often to increase humidity and prevent pest outbreaks. If an outbreak occurs and the number is small, use a sprayer to spray clean water to wash the leaves; if the number of pests is large, spray 1000 times dilution of 20% dicofol emulsifiable concentrate to eliminate the pests.
Indoor care of white orchid
1. White orchid likes a sunny and humid environment and is not suitable for long-term growth in alkaline soil. When planting, choose a wind-sheltered, sunny, well-drained, and fertile location. Before flowering, there should be sufficient water and fertilizer to promote large flowers and a strong fragrance. White orchid does not have many branches. Apart from dead branches, diseased and pest-infested branches, and branches that disrupt the tree shape, it generally does not need pruning. After the flowers fade, if seeds are not being kept, the fruit should be cut off to avoid consuming nutrients.Strong light exposure in the summer afternoon (to avoid scorching branches and leaves due to sun exposure). Whenever there is continuous autumn drizzle or heavy summer rain, place pots and tubs in a rain-sheltered spot in advance to avoid root rot caused by excessive accumulated water. In winter, choose an indoor location that receives sunlight and has good sealing. To prevent the roots from freezing, also wrap the pots and tubs planted with white orchid in plastic film.
2. Good ventilation is required, otherwise it easily causes red spider mite damage, and the leaves of affected plants turn yellow and fall off. In this case, besides spraying pesticide to kill insects, move the pot to a cool place, restrict watering, and new leaves can soon grow again.
3. Managing watering well is the key to how to grow white orchid well. Because white orchid has fleshy roots, it fears waterlogging most; even a slight lapse in watering can cause disease or root rot. But it also fears drought. In summer, if watering is delayed even slightly, the leaf margins become scorched or even burn the tender shoots. Poor growth and sallow leaf color are often caused by improper watering, and diseased plants are even harder to deal with. Therefore, watering must be strictly controlled; if the pot soil is not dry, do not water at all. Summer and autumn are the peak growth seasons for white orchid. Hot weather means high water demand, so generally water thoroughly in the early morning and, in the evening, add a supplementary watering as appropriate according to how dry or moist the pot soil is. After mid-September, reduce the amount of water. In summer and autumn, do not let water accumulate in the pot after rain.
4. White orchid especially likes fertilizer; only with sufficient fertilizer can there be many flowers and a strong fragrance. In addition to applying sufficient base fertilizer, from mid-April, apply decomposed cake fertilizer water or human waste once every month 3~4 times. Entering the flowering period, the fertilizer concentration can be appropriately increased, and supplement with phosphorus-based complete-element compound fertilizer 2~3 times per month, and phosphorus fertilizer can also be sprinkled directly on the surface of the pot soil. According to the size of the pot, use 30~l00 grams per pot and let it seep into the roots with watering.
5. White orchid generally sprouts only twice a year, in spring and during the dog days. In between, the branches have a period of stopped growth, after which the second sprouts emerge, with branches growing while flowering. After each sprouting, it can bloom five or six flowers, with the flowering period from May to September. Therefore, during the growth period, cut off diseased branches, dead branches, and leggy branches, and remove some old leaves to control tree vigor and help promote flower bud formation and improve flowering quality. The best time to remove old leaves is after the first peak growth period, and it should also be done appropriately in the following spring.
6. White orchid usually develops leaf spot disease, fungal rot, aphid infestation, and so on. If aphids appear, they can be caught and eliminated directly. For leaves showing fungal symptoms, spray with diluted carbendazim or methamidophos solution to sterilize.