How to grow orchids? A full analysis of cultivation methods and precautions

1. Soil selection for orchid cultivation

The soil used for orchids should be mainly humus, primarily 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., artificially mixed into a loose, airy, water-permeable growing medium. Generally, use 8 parts leaf mold and 2 parts river sand mixed into a growing medium, or 7 parts leaf mold, 2 parts perlite, and 1 part river sand mixed into a growing medium, or 6 parts leaf mold (peat soil), 3 parts compost soil, and 1 part river sand mixed evenly into a growing medium. All the growing media prepared above are slightly acidic.

2. Fertilization methods for orchid cultivation

For fertilizing orchids, one is to apply base fertilizer into the growing medium, and the other is topdressing during the growth 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 growth period, topdressing can be applied sparingly, and attention should be paid to timing. Generally, during the growing season, apply fully decomposed dilute cake fertilizer water of about 15%, or 0.1% urea fertilizer water plus 0.2% monopotassium phosphate fertilizer water, once every 15-20 days; from before flowering to the flowering period, spray the leaves 2-3 times with 0.2% monopotassium phosphate or plant ash water to promote the development of roots, stems, and flowers. Orchids have fleshy roots, so do not apply undecomposed fertilizer, to avoid root rot.

3. Watering methods for orchid cultivation

Watering orchids should be based on the species, growth conditions, and local climate, achieving moist but not wet, dry but not parched; watering should not be too much or too little, and grasp the principle of not dry in autumn and not wet in winter. 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 period of vigorous growth for orchids, water 1 to 2 times per 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 flowerpot to increase air humidity and promote the growth and development of orchids. For watering orchids, rainwater and snow water are best; if using tap water, it should be stored for 2-3 days before use.

4. Temperature requirements for orchid cultivation

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, and in the early period after being moved indoors, windows should often be opened to maintain air circulation. In winter, the indoor temperature should preferably be maintained at around 10°C. After Grain Rain, move them outdoors for care. The suitable temperature for orchid growth 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; the temperature and humidity should not be too high; in summer, the temperature should not exceed 30°C.

5. Light requirements for orchid cultivation

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 opening the curtains in the morning and after 6 p.m. to let them 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.

6. Potting methods for orchid cultivation

The environment for cultivating orchids should be well ventilated, humid, and pollution-free. The orchid pot should be a tall pot, thick at the top and thin at the bottom, with multiple drainage holes, or drainage holes set in the pot wall. The orchid pot itself should also have ornamental value.

Because orchids grow slowly, they can be repotted once every 1-2 years after the flowers fade. When potting, first place about 3 cm of tile pieces, cinders, etc. at the bottom of the pot to facilitate drainage. Then, put in a layer of growing medium, then 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 filled, gently lift the orchid seedling while shaking the flowerpot so that the soil and roots are closely combined. When the soil is filled to 2-3 cm from the pot rim, gently press it firm with your hand. After planting, water thoroughly and place in a cool place, spraying water once each in the morning and afternoon, and after about 7-10 days move to a cool place with dappled light for care.

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