How to Grow Orchids? Detailed Care Methods and Precautions
Today we are going to introduce how to grow orchids. To grow orchids well, you must master watering, fertilizing, and pest and disease management. If you are interested, take a look!
How to Grow Orchids
1. Soil Selection for Orchid Cultivation
The soil for orchids should be mainly humus, primarily using leaf mold or mountain forest humus soil. In the south, use 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, airy, and permeable growing medium. Generally, use 8 parts leaf mold and 2 parts river sand mixed into growing medium, or 7 parts leaf mold, 2 parts perlite, and 1 part river sand mixed into growing medium, or 6 parts leaf mold (peat soil), 3 parts compost soil, and 1 part river sand mixed evenly into growing medium. All the growing media prepared above are slightly acidic.
2. Fertilization Methods for Orchid Cultivation
For fertilizing orchids, first apply base fertilizer into the growing medium, and second apply topdressing during the growing period. Topdressing mostly uses liquid fertilizer or foliar fertilizer, and the concentration should be lighter than for other flowers. Orchids should have their growing medium changed once a year. During the growing period, apply less topdressing, and pay attention to timing. Generally, in the growing season, apply fully decomposed dilute cake fertilizer water at about 15%, or 0.1% urea fertilizer water plus 0.2% potassium dihydrogen phosphate fertilizer water, once every 15 to 20 days; before flowering and during the flowering period, spray the leaves 2 to 3 times with 0.2% potassium dihydrogen 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 condition, and local climate. It should be moist but not wet, dry but not parched; watering should not be too much or too little, and master 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 to 7 days, but Cymbidium sinense, which blooms in winter, needs more water;
In spring and autumn, water once every 2 to 3 days; in summer, when the temperature is high and orchids are in a vigorous growth period, 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 flower pot 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 to 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. In the early period after being moved indoors, windows should be opened often to keep the air circulating. In winter, the indoor temperature should be kept at around 10°C. After Grain Rain, move them outdoors for care. The suitable temperature for orchid growth is 16 to 24°C. In winter, the indoor temperature is generally required to be relatively low, 10 to 12°C during the day and 5 to 10°C at night; 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 curtain in the morning and after 6 p.m. so they receive scattered sunlight. In winter, move them indoors to a place with visible scattered light, but also avoid direct sunlight. 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 on the pot wall. The orchid pot itself should also have ornamental value.
Because orchids grow slowly, they can be repotted once every 1 to 2 years after the flowers fade. When potting, first fill the bottom of the pot with about 3 cm of tile pieces, cinder, etc., to facilitate drainage. Then, put in a layer of growing medium, 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 added, gently lift the orchid seedling while shaking the flower pot so that the soil and roots are closely combined. When the soil is filled to 2 to 3 cm from the pot rim, gently press it firm with your hands. After planting, water thoroughly and place in a cool place, spray water once each in the morning and afternoon every day, and after about 7 to 10 days move to a shaded place with dappled light for care.