Phalaenopsis flowering period management methods and edible mushroom fertilization techniques

During the flowering period of Phalaenopsis, temperature must be strictly controlled and should not be too high or too low. The most suitable temperature is 15°C to 18°C at night and 23°C to 25°C during the day. A sustained low temperature below 14°C can cause flower bud growth to be hindered and poor development, and can even freeze the sepals, causing deformed flower development and complete loss of ornamental value. If the temperature is too high, such as consistently above 20°C at night and above 27°C during the day, it will accelerate metabolism and shorten the flowering period.

The water required throughout the flowering period should be lower than usual. On the premise of not affecting normal plant growth, a somewhat drier medium helps make the flower colors more vivid. For humidity, it is best if the medium feels slightly moist when squeezed by hand; it should not be too dry or too wet. If the medium is too dry, the leaves will wilt, become soft and wrinkled and lose their luster, reducing ornamental value. However, if the growing medium is too wet, oxygen in the seedling bag is displaced by water. If this continues for a week, plant growth is inhibited and the leaves become wrinkled and wilted, which also seriously affects flower bud development. The flowers will be small and lusterless, with scorched yellow petal edges, and the whole plant will have no ornamental value.

The light intensity required by the plant during the flowering period is high, unlike the earlier stage when coolness and shade are needed. At this stage, shade material should be removed. Increasing light intensity helps the flowers open fully, makes the internodes of the flower spike uniform, and makes the flower colors vivid.

Phalaenopsis originates from places with high temperature and high humidity, and the entire production cycle requires relatively high air humidity, especially in the later stage, when relative humidity should reach 80% to 85%. Higher air humidity is favorable for bright, fully open flowers. If relative humidity is below 60%, the flowers will shrivel and be dull. From noon to afternoon each day, when the air is dry and sunlight is strong, water should be sprinkled on open ground several times to help increase air humidity and also help lower the temperature. During this period, attention should be paid to indoor air circulation, allowing indoor air to exchange with fresh outdoor air, so as to provide enough fresh carbon dioxide for Phalaenopsis. Within a given space, the more carbon dioxide there is, the more favorable it is for the flowers to open and for the flowering time to be prolonged.

In the later stage, Phalaenopsis plants basically stop growing. During this period, no fertilizer may be applied; too much fertilizer will cause root rot. However, the author found in production that applying a small amount of fertilizer helps flowering, and the flower quality is also good, while unfertilized plants show leggy, hard and brittle flower spikes, excessively long inflorescence internodes, and overly large flowers. Apply dilute liquid fertilizer once every half month, with the fertilizer ratio emphasizing phosphorus and potassium fertilizers.