How to prevent orchids from getting sick? Daily care and disease prevention tips
When growing orchids in pots, it is very normal to encounter plant diseases, and whether you are an experienced grower or a beginner, it is often unavoidable. Especially for beginners growing orchids, the probability of encountering disease is often very high. Therefore, in the process of growing orchids, we need to master scientific cultivation techniques, so as to avoid or reduce the risk of plants getting sick. So, how do you prevent orchids from getting sick?
To grow orchids well in pots, ventilation conditions and watering methods are crucial, and when potting orchids, the choice of flower pot, potting soil and watering is usually not so strict. But with prolonged watering and fertilizing, the potting soil will gradually become compacted, and its air and water permeability will gradually deteriorate.
If we can loosen the soil or change the soil regularly, that is fine, but if we ignore the permeability of the potting soil for a long time, then when overwatered, the plants are prone to getting sick, especially in a hot, humid and unventilated environment, where disease is even more unavoidable. This is mainly because pathogens damage the root system, leading to root rot, and in severe cases it may even directly cause the death of the plant.
Of course, watering should also be scientific and reasonable. Generally, water is slowly poured along the inner edge of the pot, and as much as possible, water should not splash into the leaf axils of the orchid. Because if improper watering causes water to splash into the leaf axils, it is also relatively easy to cause the orchid plant to get sick, and the direct consequence is crown rot, seriously affecting the growth of the plant.
If the potting soil is improperly mixed, it is also relatively easy to cause orchids to get sick after potting. It is recommended to keep the potting soil slightly acidic, and avoid using alkaline soil for planting, because orchids are acid-loving plants. When mixing soil for orchids, you need to choose granular growing media, and the growing media should have good permeability and drainage, so that it is not prone to compaction and water accumulation. Generally, leaf mold, coarse sand and coal cinders are used, mixed evenly in a scientific ratio.
Not only that, when selecting orchid seedlings, we should try to choose robust young seedlings, and never buy orchid seedlings that are sick or have been sick. Because the pathogens or viruses previously infecting some orchid seedlings are often difficult to cure. And if such orchid seedlings are used, not only are they not easy to keep alive, but the remaining pathogens or viruses will also continue to spread, and may even infect other plants.
Therefore, if we want to avoid disease when growing orchids in pots, we should first choose robust orchid seedlings, then ensure the growing environment has smooth ventilation, the potting soil is slightly acidic and not prone to compaction, and water and fertilizer are applied in appropriate amounts rather than excessively. As long as these conditions are met, growing orchids well is actually quite an easy thing.