How to grow the General Orchid: care tips and fertilizing during the flowering period

I. Choosing the soil

1. The General Orchid prefers soil that is slightly acidic and mainly composed of humus, and it can be grown mainly in leaf mold or mountain forest humus soil.

2. In the south, local humus soil can be used; you can also use vermiculite, perlite and leaf mold, etc., to make a loose and airy growing medium with a formula of 50% leaf mold plus 50% perlite. For the leaf mold you can use fallen dead leaves, then add the same amount of perlite.

II. Appropriate light

1. The General Orchid likes a cool and shady environment and is afraid of direct sunlight. In spring, summer and autumn, provide shade from 9 am to 6 pm, and open the curtains in the morning and after 6 pm so it can enjoy some scattered sunlight.

2. In winter, move it to a spot indoors with faint light, but avoid direct sunlight.

III. Watering principles

1. The General Orchid likes moisture and dislikes dryness. The number of waterings can be decided according to its growth and the local climate, following the principle of not letting it dry out in autumn and not keeping it wet in winter.

2. In spring and autumn, water once every 2 days; in summer during the vigorous growth period, water 1-2 times a day; in winter, when the temperature is low and the General Orchid is in a dormant state, water once every 7 days to promote its growth and development. When watering, avoid splashing water droplets onto the leaves, as this will cause black spots on the leaves and affect its ornamental effect.

IV. Fertilizing at the right time

1. The General Orchid should first be given a base fertilizer when planted, then top-dressed during the growing period, generally with liquid fertilizer and foliar fertilizer, at a concentration lighter than that used for other flowers.

2. The General Orchid needs its growing medium changed once a year. During the growing period, it can be appropriately top-dressed with fully rotted 15% dilute oilcake fertilizer water, or 0.1% urea fertilizer water plus 0.2% monopotassium phosphate fertilizer water, applied once about every 18 days.

3. During the flowering period, spray 0.2% monopotassium phosphate fertilizer water on the leaves 2-3 times to promote the development of the General Orchid.

4. The General Orchid has fleshy roots, so it must not be given fertilizer that has not yet rotted, as this easily causes root rot.

V. Suitable temperature

1. The suitable growing temperature for the General Orchid is 16-24°C. When grown in pots in the north, this should be done before Frost's Descent and when the temperature drops to 5°C.

2. Keep it indoors during this period and open the windows often for ventilation. The indoor temperature should preferably be kept at around 10°C. At Grain Rain, move it outdoors for care.

3. In winter the indoor temperature will be relatively low; generally keep it at 10-12°C during the day and 5-10°C at night. Neither the temperature nor the humidity should be too high. In summer the temperature must not exceed 30°C.

VI. Pest and disease control

1. The common pests of the General Orchid are aphids and scale insects. If scale insects appear, they can generally be removed by hand or with tweezers. Aphids are relatively small, and you can use 500 times water with soap powder added to kill them. After spraying, wait 12 hours and then spray clean water once more; this needs to be sprayed continuously for 5 days.

2. The General Orchid likes soil that is dry but not parched, so soil that is too wet will cause the roots to lack oxygen. When oxygen is insufficient, a lot of alcohol is produced and causes root rot. To avoid root rot disease, loosen the soil often so that the oxygen in the soil is sufficient, and when watering, it is best to water a small amount at a time, several times over.