When do potted orchids bloom? Cultivation methods and precautions explained

Orchids hold a high “status” among China's flower varieties and are one of the traditional famous flowers, with a cultivation history of more than a thousand years, and are the beloved favorite of many flower enthusiasts. So when do potted orchids usually bloom? What are the cultivation methods and precautions?

I. Basic facts about orchids

1. Alternative names and origins of orchids

Orchids are epiphytic or terrestrial herbaceous plants, also known as Chinese orchid, spring orchid, orchid grass, orchid flower, secluded orchid, mountain orchid, national fragrance, empty-valley fairy, ancestor of fragrance, and so on. They are distributed throughout the country, but the number of orchids in the south is greater than in the north, and among them the provinces with the most species in China are Yunnan, Sichuan and Taiwan, China.

2. The value of orchids

Orchids are plants with high ornamental value. Besides their fragrant and beautiful flowers, even the form of the plant itself is very attractive.

Besides being ornamental, orchids can also be eaten and used medicinally. Making tea, dishes and soups with orchids are all good choices. In addition, the whole plant of the orchid can be used as medicine. It has effects such as nourishing yin and moistening the lungs, clearing heat and detoxifying, and promoting diuresis and draining dampness, and it is also very effective in treating pulmonary tuberculosis, lung abscess and malignant ringworm.

II. When do potted orchids usually bloom?

Orchids actually have many, many varieties, and different varieties bloom at different times. Below, several orchids and their blooming times are introduced.

1. Blooming time of the iris-like orchid (Vanda)

The iris-like orchid grows on trees in open woods or shrubland, or on rock walls beside streams and valleys. It is cultivated in the Guangdong-Guangxi and Yunnan-Guizhou regions of China. It generally blooms in April and May each year, but occasionally also blooms in October.

2. Blooming time of the summer orchid (Cymbidium ensifolium)

The summer orchid has a fragrance when it blooms. The flowers are mostly light yellow-green with purple spots, and it is distributed in the southwestern and southern regions of China. The flowering period of the summer orchid lasts relatively long, and it generally blooms twice a year. The first early flowering period is in early July, and the second is in early August, with full bloom in mid-July and mid-August respectively.

3. Blooming time of the cymbidium (Cymbidium faberi)

The cymbidium's flower color is light green, with a fragrance when it blooms. The cymbidium is cultivated in most regions of China and generally blooms from March to May.

4. Blooming time of the tiger-head orchid (Cymbidium hookerianum)

The petals of the tiger-head orchid are apple green or yellow-green, with a few dark red spots at the base of the flower, and occasionally a pale reddish-brown halo. The tiger-head orchid generally grows on trees in forests or on rocks beside streams and valleys, usually blooming from January to April, with a fragrance when it blooms.

III. What are the cultivation methods and precautions for orchids?

Although orchids are graceful in form and captivating in fragrance, they are somewhat harder to grow than ordinary flowers and require more care, so let's learn about the cultivation methods and precautions for orchids below.

1. Soil selection

Orchids like humus-rich soil, so when planting, leaf mold or mountain forest humus soil is mainly used. Of course, friends who find mixing it troublesome or hard to get right can directly buy prepared orchid planting soil. Note that orchids must never be planted in ordinary soil, as this not only hinders the growth of the orchid but may also cause its death.

2. Temperature requirements

The suitable temperature for orchid growth is 16-24°C, so in the severe cold of winter good warmth measures should be taken, and in the heat of summer good shading measures should be taken.

3. Water and fertilizer requirements

The amount of water for orchids should be decided according to the variety, climate and growth conditions, keeping it suitably moist and dry. Generally, in spring and autumn, water once every two or three days; in summer, once or twice a day; in winter, when they enter dormancy, watering can be stopped or done once a month. Besides base fertilizer in the growing medium, orchids also need liquid fertilizer and foliar fertilizer during their growth period, generally fertilizing once every ten to twenty days, and the fertilizer applied must be thoroughly decomposed. In addition, the growing medium should be changed once a year.

4. Light requirements

Orchids are plants that prefer shade and coolness, so when the light is strong they should be shaded, but they cannot be completely without light, and a certain amount of scattered light should be ensured.