Detailed Explanation of Orchid Cultivation Methods and Propagation Techniques

Orchids have traditionally been regarded in China as a symbol of nobility and elegance, and together with "plum, bamboo, and chrysanthemum" they are collectively known as the "Four Gentlemen." So how are orchids cultivated? What good methods are there for cultivation? What points should be noted when cultivating orchids? Please read on with your questions alongside me!

Orchid cultivation methods (basic knowledge):

Best propagation time: The best propagation time for orchids is in March to April.

Best growing soil: Orchid soil should be mainly humus, primarily using leaf mold or mountain forest humus soil. In the south, the native humus soil, commonly known as orchid mud, is used; leaf mold, vermiculite, perlite, etc. can also be artificially mixed into a loose, airy, water-permeable potting soil. All prepared potting soils are slightly acidic.

Growing humidity requirements: Orchids should be moist but not wet, dry but not parched. Daytime humidity is 70-90%.

Best growing temperature: The suitable growing temperature for orchids is 16-24°C.

Best growing light: Orchids prefer shade and fear direct strong light, so shading is needed in all three seasons of spring, summer, and autumn. For home orchid growing, to control the amount of light, it is best to place them on a balcony windowsill or under the eaves with a bamboo curtain for shade, generally shading from 9 a.m. to before 6 p.m., and pulling the curtain open in the morning and after 6 p.m. to let them receive diffused sunlight.



Notes on cultivating orchids:

Fertilizer application: The principle of fertilizing orchids is that not fertilizing is not acceptable, but fertilizing too much or too heavily is even worse. Generally, when new leaf buds emerge, a small amount of light fertilizer can be applied several times. The spring equinox, autumn equinox, and about 20 days after flowers fade are all relatively appropriate times. The best time to fertilize is in the evening, then water once with clear water the next morning. Apply once every 2-3 weeks. At the same time, spray potassium dihydrogen phosphate once every 20 days to promote bud formation and flowering. Fertilizing according to leaf color is a relatively appropriate method: yellow and thin leaves indicate fertilizer deficiency and should be top-dressed; black leaves with scorched tips indicate too much fertilizer and fertilization should be stopped. Fertilizer must be thoroughly decomposed; undecomposed fertilizer cannot be used, and human feces and urine are taboo.

Watering key points:

(1) During the flowering period and the period when leaf buds are sprouting, water less.

(2) In summer, water in the early morning or evening, and not too much; in autumn, the amount of watering can be appropriately increased.

(3) In dry seasons, spray every evening. When spraying, spray upward so the mist droplets are fine and even, moistening the leaf surface and wetting the ground to increase air humidity. Sometimes it is best to spray several times a day; water from the edge of the pot, do not pour directly onto the crown, and do not water at noon.

(4) Although watering can be greatly reduced in winter, it is not that no watering is done; be careful not to let the potting soil dry out completely. At the end of winter and beginning of spring, if watering causes the leaves and leaf sheaths to become wet along their length, wait until they dry in the sun before moving them indoors to prevent rot.

Pruning essentials: During orchid cultivation, dead yellow old leaves and diseased or pest-damaged leaves should be continually cut off to facilitate ventilation. After flower buds emerge from the soil, each plant should keep one strong flower bud and cut off the rest, so as to avoid consuming too many nutrients and affecting flowering the following year. After the flowers fade, the flower stalk should be cut off.

Repotting:

(1) For orchid repotting and introducing new plants, the best time is from the cool of autumn to the "Indian summer" of October. Orchids need repotting once every two years; repotting early or frequently is unfavorable to the growth of orchid plants.

(2) For some orchids cultivated in small "orchid pots," when the plants grow well and the number of orchid seedlings reaches six or more, they should be repotted once a year.

(3) For orchids with poor growth and severe scorched leaf tips, there may be root rot, or the soil may no longer be suitable. At this time, they should be repotted promptly. Emergency repotting can be done at any time, but attention must be paid to keeping them warm and moist after repotting.

Propagation essentials: Orchids are mostly propagated by division and tissue culture; for breeding varieties, the sowing method is used.

Division propagation: Division is carried out in spring and autumn, varying according to species. Species that bloom in winter and spring should be divided in late autumn; species that bloom in summer and autumn should be divided in early spring before sprouting. Generally, divide once every 2-3 years. Before division, reduce watering to make the potting soil suitably dry; when dividing, hold the pot with your hands, gently knock the mother plant out of the pot, remove the soil, cut off rotten roots and leaves, then rinse clean with clear water, place in a shaded spot to air-dry for 3-5 hours, and when the surface water has disappeared and the roots turn white, soften, and slightly wrinkle, use a sharp knife to cut apart from the middle of the pseudobulb, smear wood ash on the cut to prevent rot, and plant immediately after air-drying. Be careful during division to avoid bruising the leaf buds and fleshy roots. After potting, place in a shaded spot, and after growth resumes, return to normal management.

Pest and disease control:

1. Phytophthora disease: Avoid excessive moisture, improve ventilation and air circulation, and provide sufficient light. Avoid overuse of nitrogen fertilizer to reduce soft, spindly plant growth. Spray with 1/800 carbendazim or 1/1000 hymexazol solution. Apply dasen powder to the wounds of removed diseased plants, then place in a dry spot and do not water for a week, which can curb the spread of the disease.

2. Anthracnose: Spray once a week with 1/1000 thiophanate-methyl or carbendazim solution.

3. Soft rot: Improve growing conditions, increase ventilation, and lower temperature and humidity. Remove the infected parts, apply antibiotic powder, and do not water for a week, which can curb the spread of the disease. Use streptomycin 1000x solution, lime sulfur mixture, or Bordeaux mixture 500x solution, spraying once a week.

4. Leaf blight: Remove diseased leaves and spray 500x dasen-45 or 1000x hymexazol. For infected plants, avoid rainwater or temporarily stop watering to prevent the condition from worsening. Spray 500x dasen-45 once daily on a regular basis as a preventive measure.

5. Southern blight: Remove the pseudobulbs with disease spots and burn them along with the growing pots and media. Spray once a week with 500x dasen-45 solution, or carbendazim 1000x solution.



Tips for cultivating orchids:

1. The orchid growing environment should be well ventilated, humid, and pollution-free. Orchid pots should be tall pots, wide at the top and narrow at the bottom, with multiple drainage holes, or with drainage holes in the pot walls.

2. During orchid cultivation, dead yellow old leaves and diseased or pest-damaged leaves should be continually cut off to facilitate ventilation. After flower buds emerge from the soil, each plant should keep one strong flower bud and cut off the rest, so as to avoid consuming too many nutrients and affecting flowering the following year. After the flowers fade, the flower stalk should be cut off.

3. In the hot season, watering should be done in the evening after the sun goes down, to avoid the water on the leaf surface burning the leaves after exposure to the sun, and to prevent high-temperature water from scalding the tender lower parts of new shoots.

4. In the cold season, watering should be done during the daytime, to avoid water in the pot at night freezing and damaging orchid roots; especially avoid water accumulating in the crown, which easily causes young plants to rot.

5. When orchid leaves have disease spots, keep the leaf surface dry to prevent the spread of pathogens.

6. Be careful not to water too frequently. Orchids are very tolerant of water and are relatively drought-tolerant plants; a little dryness has little effect. On the contrary, being wet is not acceptable; waterlogging for 24 hours can cause suffocation. In daily cultivation, the vast majority of people love orchids too much and water too frequently, causing root rot and even plant death.