How to care for orchids so they safely get through summer? Summer care tips shared

The hot summer is a very tough season for many plants. For orchids, summer has a major effect on their growth, and a moment of carelessness can cause orchid diseases or even death. So if you want your orchids to get through summer safely, pay attention to the few care points we have put together for you.

Orchid

1. Shading: In summer the sun is strong, and orchids are semi-shade plants that cannot stand scorching sun, so orchid growing must have shading facilities to turn direct light into scattered light. Generally a shade net can be used. It is best if the shade net is movable and can be rolled up. Choose a shade net with a shading rate of 70%-80% (double layer) and hang it up; if there is cloudy weather with low temperatures, the shade net can be rolled up for ventilation, which benefits the growth of the orchid plants.

2. Ventilation: In summer the temperature is high, heat waves roll off the ground, and the greenhouse effect becomes obvious. If ventilation is neglected in orchid growing, diseases or plant collapse are likely. The measures are: first, pay attention to ventilation and achieve air convection; second, use an electric fan for ventilation. Generally use a low-power electric fan or small ceiling fan with adjustable wind direction for ventilation, on a low setting, so that a gentle breeze blows and the orchid leaves sway from time to time.

3. Moisture retention: In the high-temperature season, because evaporation is high, orchids easily scorch at the tips and develop disease, so moisture retention is especially important. How to create a microclimate for orchid growing: according to the experience of orchid growers, basic standardization of orchid growing should be gradually promoted, orchid growing conditions continuously improved, and efforts made to grow orchids on flower stands with unified orchid pots, unified potting medium and unified humidification, so as to achieve basically standardized management; this way the moisture-retention effect in orchid growing will be better. Specific method: a water tray can be set under the flower stand, generally with a height of 10-15 cm, and the orchid pots about 5 cm above the water surface. A drainage valve is set under the water tray to facilitate changing the water. A small oxygen pump can also be used in the water to increase humidity. Add disease-prevention chemicals to the tray water, such as carbendazim, thiophanate-methyl, etc. This way, humidity can be increased, disease prevented, and a cooling effect achieved, all at once. It is advisable to change the tray water about once every half month; if you also spray water on the ground, this can basically meet the orchid's humidity needs.

4. Disease prevention: In the high-temperature season, the principle of disease prevention is prevention first, combining prevention and treatment. Orchid growing sites, pots and leaves should be sprayed with chemicals to prevent disease. Chemicals such as carbendazim, thiophanate-methyl and chlorothalonil can be used. In the process of growing and caring: (1) Orchid pots must be clean. Often spray and wash with disinfectant chemicals to prevent germs from breeding on the orchid pots; (2) The site must be disinfected. For balcony orchid growing sites, spray chemicals regularly to prevent disease; (3) Orchid leaves must be sprayed. Especially in one to two weeks of high temperature and high humidity, spray the leaf surface promptly to prevent disease, use chemicals in rotation, and promptly isolate and grow any diseased orchid plants found, so as to avoid cross-infection.