Detailed Explanation of Orchid Cultivation Methods: Master the Key Points to Grow Orchids Well

Mastering orchid cultivation techniques is beneficial both for our investment and for growing orchids at home ourselves in the future. Orchids are not very easy to care for, and how to make them thrive under limited conditions is a task every orchid lover must undertake.

Orchid Cultivation Techniques

For divided orchid clumps, do not split them too sparsely; each clump should have at least 3~5 shoots, and it is best to keep one-year-old plants, two-year-old plants and three-year-old plants in the same clump.

Lining the Pot

Cover the drainage hole at the bottom of the pot with a piece of tile, then gradually fill with bricks, tiles or shells, filling the large gaps with mud granules or pea gravel, generally to about 1/2~1/3 of the pot's internal height. The remaining clear height of about 10~15 cm is left for the growing medium layer. Its specific height should be determined according to the orchid species, the length of the orchid roots and the height of the pot. The lining material should not be packed too densely or too firmly; a little porosity should be retained. Practice has proved that some new roots can grow well in the pores of the lining layer.

Planting

On the lining layer, first fill in 2~3 cm of growing medium, press it lightly with your hand, then place the orchid upright on it. Depending on the size of the plant and the pot, you can plant several single plants, 2 clumps, 3 clumps or more clumps in one pot. 3 clumps are best arranged in a tripod pattern. 4 clumps can be arranged in a square, and 5 clumps are best arranged in a plum-blossom pattern. The orchid roots should spread out naturally, and the leaves should drape in all four directions. Slowly place the orchid roots into the pot so that they spread out naturally and, as far as possible, do not rub against the inner wall of the pot. After the orchid plant is in the pot, gradually fix its posture. When one clump is planted per pot, the old pseudobulbs should be positioned to one side, leaving room for new shoots to develop. When several clumps are planted in one pot, the old pseudobulbs of each clump should be gathered relatively toward the middle of the pot, so that new roots and new shoots each have enough space to develop outward.

Filling with 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 spread out the root system, while shaking the orchid pot. Let the growing medium reach deep into the root zone; continue adding soil, and shake the orchid pot to adjust the position and height of the plant. Press with your hand along the edge of the pot, but never too hard, so as not to damage the roots; continue adding soil and pressing until the soil surface is 2~3 cm above the pot rim, forming a slight mound shape. The growing medium should cover all the orchid roots, up to the base of the pseudobulbs. As for the depth of soil filling, tradition holds that Cymbidium goeringii should be planted shallow and Cymbidium faberi deep, but generally the leaf bases on the pseudobulbs should not be buried. When newly sprouted orchids grow in the wild, the plants leave clear markers above and below the soil surface, which can be used as a guide. The size of the pot should also match the size and number of the plants; do not use a large pot with small and few plants, nor a small pot with large and many plants. Generally, the number of plants should be such that the pot will just be filled after an estimated 2~3 years. The size of the plant should match the height of the pot. This is both good for growth and meets ornamental requirements.

Top Dressing

After planting is completed, a layer of small stone granules or moss can be spread on the surface of the potting soil, preferably high-quality moss from under the forest. It is both attractive and helps regulate moisture, and it can also protect the leaf surface from being polluted by muddy water, and prevent new shoots from being infected by pathogens in the soil and rotting at the core; in addition, it can slow the washing effect of rainwater on the potting soil and keep the potting soil loose.

Watering

After planting is completed, water thoroughly for the first time; the potting soil must be soaked through, the water droplets should be fine, and the force should not be strong. If placing it in a basin of water to soak, never soak it for too long. Once the potting soil is soaked, immediately take the orchid pot out, then move it to a shaded place for care.

That is all for now on orchid cultivation techniques. I hope the above content can help you better understand this topic. Stay tuned for more wonderful content~