How to grow orchids? Beginner planting methods

Newcomers to the hobby, the "orchid friends," naturally have great enthusiasm for growing orchids. But enthusiasm alone is not enough; it is also necessary to master some basic knowledge of orchid cultivation——

(1) First, sort out the site and environment for planting orchids

Orchid planting can be divided into courtyard planting and large-scale field planting. For ordinary home orchid growing, you can choose a balcony or rooftop, or build a small shelter on the windowsill. If conditions allow, you can build a glass greenhouse. But for the growing site, whether on a balcony, rooftop or windowsill, you should install appropriate shade netting to block sunlight and wind heat, have good ventilation conditions, and maintain appropriate humidity. When it is too hot in summer, you should also add a layer of movable shade netting on top of the shelter to control light flexibly.

(2) Choose good potting medium and pots

Orchid pots: The orchid pot is the orchid's living space and has a relatively large impact on orchid growth. In the past, traditional orchid growing used large clay pots; now most high-grade orchids are grown in small flared pots. There are ceramic pots and plastic pots, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Which pot is good to use depends on personal habits and the cultivar being grown. However, within one orchid shelter it is best to use the same type of orchid pot in different sizes, so that management can be unified in the future.

Potting medium: In the past, pond mud was mostly used as orchid potting medium (base material); now for growing premium varieties, media such as pond stone, floating stone, weathered stone, water-absorbing stone, and ceramic granules are used. For field growing of common orchids, most use soft media such as wood shavings, rice husks, medicinal residue, coal cinder, sea sand, and peanut shells, with foam plastic as a bottom layer, etc. Mixed use is relatively common. Each of these media has strengths and weaknesses. Which medium is actually better to use also depends on personal habits, the cultivar grown, and the pots used (pots and media must work together).

(3) Continuously sum up experience in practice

To grow orchids well, you must also master the management of watering, fertilizing, and disease and pest control. Among these, the fertilizing principle is generally to fertilize on sunny days; the fertilizing principle is to apply lightly, apply frequently, and not apply during the dormant period. It is recommended to take part in more orchid-growing practice, usually read more books, visit more places, ask more questions, ask when you do not understand, and constantly explore and sum up experience and lessons in practice, so as to continuously improve your skill level in orchid cultivation.

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