Detailed Guide to Orchid Cultivation Methods and Precautions
Soil Selection
Orchid soil should be mainly humus, primarily using leaf mold or mountain forest humus soil. In the south, use the humus soil from the place of origin, commonly known as orchid mud; you can also use leaf mold, vermiculite, perlite, etc., to artificially mix a loose, air-permeable, water-permeable growing medium. Generally, 8 parts leaf mold and 2 parts river sand are mixed into a growing medium, or 7 parts leaf mold, 2 parts perlite and 1 part river sand are mixed into a growing medium, or 6 parts leaf mold, 3 parts compost soil and 1 part river sand are mixed evenly into a growing medium. The growing media prepared above are all slightly acidic.
Fertilization Methods
For orchid fertilization, one is to apply base fertilizer into the growing medium, and the other is topdressing during the growing period. Topdressing mostly uses liquid fertilizer or foliar fertilizer, and the concentration should be lighter than for other flowers. Orchids need the growing medium changed once a year, and during the growing period less topdressing can be applied, and attention should be paid to timing. Generally, in the growing season, you can apply fully decomposed dilute cake fertilizer water of about 15%, or 0.1% urea fertilizer water plus 0.2% potassium dihydrogen phosphate fertilizer water, once every 15-20 days; from before flowering to the flowering period, spray 2-3 times of 0.2% potassium dihydrogen phosphate or plant ash water on the leaves to promote the development of roots, stems and flowers. Orchids have fleshy roots, so do not apply un-decomposed fertilizer, to avoid root rot.
Watering Methods
Watering orchids should be determined according to the species, growth conditions and local climate; it should be moist but not waterlogged, 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 once every 5-7 days, but Cymbidium sinense, which blooms in winter, needs more water; in spring and autumn, water once every 2-3 days; in summer, when the temperature is high and it is also the vigorous growth period of orchids, water 1 to 2 times a day on average. When watering, be careful to prevent water droplets from splashing on the leaves, so as to avoid black spots and affect the ornamental effect. During the growth period of orchids, water should often be sprayed on the leaves, and in summer water should also be sprinkled on the ground around the flower pot to increase air humidity and promote the growth and development of orchids. For watering orchids, rainwater and snow water are best; if tap water is used, it should be stored for 2-3 days before use.
Temperature Requirements
For potted orchids in the north, they 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 preferably be kept at around 10°C. After Grain Rain, move them outdoors for care. The suitable growth temperature for orchids is 16-24°C. In winter, the indoor temperature is generally required to be relatively low, preferably 10-12°C during the day and 5-10°C at night; temperature and humidity should not be too high; in summer, the temperature should not exceed 30°C.
Orchid Cultivation Methods and Precautions
Light Requirements
Orchids prefer shade and fear 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 shading from 9 a.m. to before 6 p.m., and pulling the curtain open in the morning and after 6 p.m. so that they receive scattered sunlight. In winter, they should be moved indoors to a place with visible scattered light, but direct sunlight should also be avoided. Among orchids, Cymbidium sinense has the strongest shade tolerance, followed by Cymbidium ensifolium, while Cymbidium goeringii and Cymbidium faberi have weaker shade tolerance.
What Are the Orchid Cultivation Methods and Precautions
Orchid is a symbol of loyalty. The orchid among China's traditional famous flowers also refers only to several species of terrestrial orchids distributed among the Cymbidium plants of China. This type of orchid is very different from tropical orchids with large and brightly colored flowers; it has neither striking bright colors nor huge flowers and leaves, but it has a plain, quiet, elegant and noble temperament, which is very much in line with Oriental aesthetic standards, and it has a cultivation history of more than a thousand years in our country. Today, what the editor wants to introduce to everyone is the cultivation methods of orchids.
[Growth Habits]
Orchids like a cool and shady environment, fear direct sunlight, and also like a humid environment. What they most taboo is a dry climate, and they also like fertile soil rich in a large amount of humus, and are most suitable for growing in an environment with air circulation.
[Cultivation Methods]
Fertilization: For orchid fertilization, not fertilizing is not acceptable, while fertilizing too much and heavily is even more unacceptable. If a new orchid is potted and the potting soil is too rich, it often cannot survive; even if it survives, it rarely blooms. If there is too much fertilizer in summer, the autumn leaves will be overly vigorous, often causing poor leaf growth and flowering the following spring. If there is too little fertilizer in autumn, it will affect the formation of underground flower buds at the turn of autumn and winter. If there is usually too much nitrogen fertilizer, the leaves will be too lush, causing an imbalance in the nutritional growth of leaves and flowers, and the phenomenon of no flowering or few flowers will occur. Generally speaking, when new leaf buds appear, a small amount of light fertilizer can be applied several times. The Spring Equinox, the Autumn Equinox and about 20 days after flowers fade are all relatively appropriate times. The best time to fertilize is in the evening, and then water once with clear water early the next morning. Apply once every 2-3 weeks.
Watering: Two-tenths moisture is best. During its flowering period and when it sprouts leaf buds, watering should be relatively less, and in the plum rain season it should be moved back indoors, or a rain shelter should be built for it. In summer, water it in the early morning or evening, and of course it should not be too much. In autumn, the amount of watering can be appropriately increased, and in dry seasons it can be sprayed every evening. Sometimes it is best to spray several times a day. Water from the edge of the pot; do not pour it down from the top, and do not water at noon. Although watering in winter can be greatly reduced, it is not that you do not water at all; be careful not to let the potting soil dry out completely. In late winter and early spring, if watering causes the leaf sheaths to become wet along the leaves, wait until they dry in the sun before moving them indoors, so as to avoid rot.
Light: Light is an important hidden factor in the formation of flower buds. Although orchids like coolness, if they are placed in a shaded place all year round, they will also bloom very little. So when cultivating them, we should pay attention to the issue of light. In spring and summer, orchids are best shaded with reed curtains, or placed at an east- or south-facing ventilated window indoors. Orchids under the curtain should have the pot turned once every half a month, so that the orchid receives light from all sides, which is beneficial to balanced plant growth. When autumn becomes cool, the potted orchid should be moved out from the shaded place and allowed to bask in the morning sun for half a day, but care should be taken that it is not dry in autumn. In cold weather, place it indoors under a south window to overwinter, but it does not need to be too warm; it is best to add a plastic film cover to maintain proper humidity on the leaf surface.
Location: The place where orchids are placed is very important, as it can directly affect the growth and development of orchids. Generally, in winter they need to be placed indoors, while outdoors it is best to place them in an open area surrounded by open space, where the air should be humid, and indoors there should be sufficient light, which will be beneficial to the growth of orchids.
The Effects and Functions of Orchids Orchid Cultivation Methods and Precautions
Orchids have a pleasant fragrance. Orchids are one of China's top ten famous flowers, loved by everyone, and this kind of orchid has always been favored by people. So do you know the effects and functions of orchids? Do you know the orchid cultivation methods and precautions? It's okay if you don't know; follow along and take a look below.
I. The Effects and Functions of Orchids
1. The parts of orchids that can be used include roots, leaves, flowers, fruits and seeds. It can be said that the whole orchid is a treasure. The medicinal value of orchids is very high. The roots of orchids can treat pulmonary tuberculosis as well as lung abscess and sprains. The roots of orchids can also set bones, and the roots of Cymbidium ensifolium can be decocted in soup and taken, which is a very good medicine for inducing labor.
2. The leaves of orchids can treat whooping cough in children, the fruits of orchids can stop vomiting, and the seeds of orchids can also treat eye nebula. The whole plant of the Cymbidium faberi variety among orchids can be used to treat women's diseases.
3. The whole plant of Cymbidium goeringii among orchids can treat neurasthenia, and has a very good effect on roundworms and hemorrhoids. The leaves of Cymbidium ensifolium can also treat deficient lung qi in weak people, and the pedicels of orchids can also treat malignant ringworm. The petals of Suxin Lan and Huilan also have the effect of inducing labor.
4. Orchids can also nourish yin fluids, and are very helpful for promoting body fluid and moistening dryness, as well as for treating the sequelae of dry mouth and thirst in wounds after radiotherapy for malignant tumors. Orchid is a Chinese herbal medicine that is pungent in odor, neutral in nature, sweet and non-toxic, and it is recorded in the Compendium of Materia Medica. Modern Chinese medicine doctors mainly use orchids to cool the blood and moisten the lungs, as well as to treat dry cough and prolonged coughing, and to treat pulmonary tuberculosis and women's leukorrhea.
II. Orchid Cultivation Methods
1. Pot Padding
Cover the drainage hole at the bottom of the pot with a piece of tile, then gradually fill it with bricks, tiles or shells, with large gaps filled with mud granules or bean stones, generally about 1/2 to 1/3 of the pot's internal height. The remaining clear height above is about 10-15 cm, reserved as the growing medium layer. The specific height should be determined according to the orchid species and the length of the orchid roots and the height of the pot. The padding should not be filled too densely or too firmly; a little porosity should be retained.
2. Planting
On the padding layer, first fill in 2-3 cm of growing medium, press it slightly firm with your hand, then place the orchid upright on it. According to the size of the plant and the flower pot, several single plants, 2 clumps, 3 clumps or more clumps can be planted in one pot. 3 clumps are suitable for planting in a tripod arrangement. 4 clumps can be planted in a square arrangement, and 5 clumps are suitable for arrangement in a plum blossom shape. The orchid roots should spread naturally, and the leaves should spread in all directions.
Slowly place the orchid roots into the pot so that the orchid roots spread naturally and as much as possible do not rub against the inner wall of the pot. After the orchid plant is put into the pot, gradually fix the posture of the orchid plant. If one clump is planted in one pot, the old pseudobulbs should be placed toward one side, so that new buds have room to develop. If several clumps are planted in one pot, the old pseudobulbs of each clump should be relatively gathered in the middle of the pot, so that new roots and new buds developing outward each have enough space.
3. Filling Soil
When planting, hold the leaves with one hand and add nutrient soil with the other, hold the base of the orchid plant and lift it slightly upward to stretch the root system, while shaking the orchid pot. Let the growing medium go deep into the root zone; continue adding soil, and shake the orchid pot to adjust the position and height of the orchid plant. Press with your hand along the edge of the pot, but do not press too hard and damage the roots. Continue adding soil and pressing until the soil surface is 2-3 cm above the pot rim, slightly forming a steamed bun shape. 4. Watering
After planting is completed, water for the first time immediately. The potting soil must be thoroughly wet. The water droplets should be small, and the impact force should not be strong. If placed in a water basin to soak, never soak too long. Once the potting soil is soaked, immediately take the orchid pot out, then move it to a shaded place for care.
5. Fertilizer
Orchids like lightness, so fertilization should preferably be light rather than concentrated. Like other plants, nitrogen can promote lush growth of stems and leaves. Phosphorus can promote the development of orchid roots, promote the robust development of reproductive organs, and the spreading of stems and leaves. Magnesium, sulfur, iron and other trace elements can make leaves green and flowers strong.
During the vigorous growth period of orchids, more fertilizer should be applied; during the dormant period or weak growth period, no fertilizer may be applied. If fertilized excessively, it will burn the roots and leaves, causing irreparable losses.
III. Orchid Cultivation Precautions
1. The pot should not be too large - planting a small plant in a large pot uses a large amount of growing medium, which easily leads to poor ventilation, and watering is also not easy to control. If too much water is absorbed, the growing medium is not easy to dry, and bacteria invade and cause root rot.
2. Orchids should be planted shallowly - orchid plants should not be planted too deep, otherwise long-term moisture will cause rot. When planting, fill the growing medium around the roots; the base or pseudobulbs must be exposed.
3. The roots should be spread out - when planting orchids, the roots should be evenly spread out and not squeezed together, so that each root can contact the growing medium, and ventilation is also better.
4. Do not water for several days - newly planted orchids may have injured roots. After the wounds are coated with fungicide, do not water for 3-5 days, so that the efficacy of the medicine can be achieved, and it can also promote the growth of new buds and new roots.
5. Avoid strong light - newly planted orchids must avoid direct strong light to prevent dehydration. They should be placed in a warm and shaded place, and spraying can be used to increase air humidity until the orchids return to normal growth.
The above is the knowledge to tell everyone. I hope that after reading it, everyone can have a further understanding of orchids.