Orchids - elegant and refined flowers, which have gained special popularity among fans of indoor plants. They are adapted for growing in the conditions of an ordinary city apartment and blossom beautifully. Despite the prevailing opinion that growing orchids is an incredibly difficult business, it is not so burdensome to care for them. For a competent plant grower this flower will not be difficult. If you were given such a miracle of nature, and you want it to feel good, you first need to find out what kind of a variety it is. And then it is advisable to study how to grow orchids at home. This article will highlight the basic principles of breeding these gorgeous flowers.
How to grow orchids at home? Temperature and lighting features
There are two methods of breeding these colors:
- Traditional. It consists in alternating periods of growth and dormancy, while the latter is quite long and varies in floriculture so that the plant is prepared for development at the most favorable time.
- Intensive (used in industrial cultivation). Implies the resumption of active irrigation immediately after a period of rest, in order to receive active growth of the plant several times a year.
Both of these methods have their advantages. Decide how to grow your orchid, only you. The first method allows you to get a strong, healthy plant, but for a fairly long period of time. The second shortens the time, but the risk of a flower's death is large enough. How to grow orchids at home? What is required for this beautiful plant for long flowering? Of course, this is the correct lighting. The orchid loves light, but does not tolerate the scorching direct rays of the midday sun. Therefore, it is desirable to place the beauty on the western, eastern or northern window. If you notice that her leaves are dark, then this indicates a lack of light. And vice versa, if they have turned yellow and become stained, it is too much. In addition to lighting, the orchid is very demanding and refers to the temperature in the room. For each variety, a special range of indicators is intended, inside which the flower feels well. Therefore, it is desirable to purchase a thermometer with a hygrometer. In general, for most varieties, an air temperature of 20 to 25 ° C is needed. Phalaenopsis blossoms require a day and night temperature difference of 5 ° C. This plant is the most thermophilic, in winter it needs a regime of at least 15 ° C. For the Cattleya variety, the night temperature should vary between 12-15 ° C, the daytime temperature should be between 18-22 ° C. There are species of orchids requiring coolness (from 10 ° C to 12 ° C), as well as a serious drop in night temperature, up to 12 ° C. Without such differences, such varieties as Tsegolina, Lelia, Miltoniopsis, Masdevallia, Rossoglosum, Cimbidium, Lycasta will not grow and blossom.
How to grow orchids at home? Soil and watering regime
This plant is quite demanding to the ground. At home, it is advisable to purchase a special substrate for orchids or make it yourself from materials that hold moisture well (tree bark, sphagnum moss, polypodium, coconut fibers, etc.). Watering the plant must be literate. Moisturize the flower in the summer every two to three days, and in the winter - one (two) times a week. The substrate must dry well. How to grow an orchid? It is important to water it rationally and saladily, immersing the pot with the plant in a basin of water for 10 minutes. During this time, the substrate will collect liquid through the holes in the container. After that, the water merges, and the pot still stands for some time in an empty basin. Do not moisturize the orchid from above, like all other indoor flowers. For irrigation it is important to use stagnant warm water. In addition, periodically it is necessary to spray the plant (in the mornings or in the daytime), especially it is necessary for the orchid standing close to the heating battery. It is not bad to arrange a warm shower periodically. The pot is placed in a bath and the plant is treated with a gentle stream from the shower, while the water temperature should be about 40 ° C. Then give the orchid to dry and blot the middle to prevent it from rotting. "Bath" beauty can only when it does not bloom!
How to grow orchids at home? Proper feeding and reproduction
In addition to timely watering and spraying, this plant also needs additional feeding. To do this, use specialized fertilizers, which can be purchased at any flower shop. Do not use additives designed for other indoor plants. Top dressing is done once in 14 days during the growth and flowering of orchids. As for breeding, there are three possible ways of breeding: by dividing, cuttings and air roots. One of the most convenient methods is division. How to grow an orchid from the root? To do this, you need to get the plant from the pot. Separate the roots from the substrate and gently wash. Then the rhizome with a sharp knife is divided into several parts, and the places of the slices are sprinkled with activated carbon (crushed). The resulting plant elements are placed in a substrate and carefully looked after them, just like an adult flower. For the division is selected orchid powerful and well-developed.