Rules for caring for the Cambrian orchid at home, description of the type and nuances of cultivation
Cambria is a hybrid orchid with beautiful, graceful flowers. Due to its simplicity and undemanding, it is becoming more and more popular, it is purchased for landscaping apartments and offices. Caring for the Cambrian orchid at home is not difficult, the main thing is to periodically take preventive measures against infectious diseases and pests.
Description and peculiarities of the plant
An orchid of the cambria species is an artificially bred hybrid, it does not exist in the natural environment. External characteristics of the flower:
- the formation of convex pseudobulbs;
- narrow elongated leaves of dark green color;
- the flowers have a varied shape, most often round or star-shaped;
- flower diameter - up to 10 cm;
- any color, including variegated, but most often red, yellow, brown, purple.
The main characteristic that distinguishes the Cambrian species from other orchids is the development of shoots. Another noticeable feature is the star shape of the petals, for which the plant is called an asterisk.
Main varieties
The Cambrian species is divided into many varieties. Below are the most popular ones.
Colmanara
The orchid is obtained by combining 3 species. Shoots stretch up to 50 cm. Flowers are characterized by a variety of shapes and colors.
Wuilstekeara
The variety is distinguished by long flowering shoots, on which there are 5-20 large flowers of yellow, dark red and light red color. The plant blooms for two months. Flowering begins at the end of winter.
Burrageara
Hybrid with large red flowers obtained by combining 4 species.
Beallara
The variety, created by combining 4 species, is distinguished by variegated star-shaped flowers.
Degarmoara
The shoots reach 10 cm. The flowers are characterized by a variety of shapes and colors. Flowering occurs all year round.
Odontocidium
Long-flowering shoots produce up to 50 small flowers. The color is variegated, different shades of red and yellow prevail. Flowering all year round.
Odontioda
Variety with yellow-red flowers. Blooms all year round.
Conditions of detention
Cambria is not capricious. But for full development and abundant flowering, you need to provide the plant with the best storage conditions.
Temperature regime
In order for the cambria orchid to develop normally, it is kept at a temperature of + 16-20 ° C. Cambria is thermophilic, but reacts painfully to heat, slows down growth. Night time temperature fluctuations are unacceptable. The difference between daytime and nighttime temperatures should not exceed 5°C.
In the winter months, the temperature in the room where the orchid is located should not be lower than + 15 ° C. And it does not matter whether the plant blooms or rests.
air humidity
The cambria orchid is not capricious in terms of air humidity. If the flowerpot is close to the heating radiator, the air humidity should be artificially increased. For this, a container filled with water is placed next to the flower.
Regular spraying of the foliage is also beneficial for the orchid. But when spraying with water, the spray bottle should be kept away from the plant so that large drops do not remain on the leaves, which can cause the appearance of yellow spots.
Lighting
Cumbria needs light, it should be in a well-lit room. However, the light must be diffused; direct sunlight should not be allowed on the orchid. Intense ultraviolet light burns the leaf surface, causing yellowing. The optimal place for an orchid is a window to the west or east.
With a lack of natural light in the winter months, phytolamps should be installed. But if the plant is in the dormant stage, it is not necessary to disturb it with additional light. The optimal daylight hours for an orchid are 10 to 12 hours.
Priming
For the cultivation of orchids, special soil is purchased, which includes:
- pieces of sphagnum moss;
- chopped pine bark;
- a small amount of charcoal to prevent oxidation of the substrate;
- expanded clay as an aerator.
top dresser
Fertilization begins when young shoots appear on the orchid, and ends when the flowering phase begins. Cambria has a fine and sensitive root system.In order not to injure the roots, low-concentration fertilizers are prepared: for the solution they take 2 times less medicine than indicated on the package.
The orchid is fed no more than 2 times a month. The flowerpot is immersed in a bowl of nutrient solution.
watering
Water the plant when the substrate dries out. During the summer months, watering is usually done once a week. With the onset of winter, the frequency of watering is significantly reduced. Watering is carried out by the lower method: the flowerpot is placed in a basin of water. Use only settled and slightly lukewarm water.
Seasonal Care Features
The peculiarity of the Cambrian orchid is that it does not have a pronounced dormant phase; with good care, it can bloom all year round. In addition, flowering shoots come out alternately: one fades, the other appears. Therefore, flowering is practically continuous.
Spring
With the onset of spring, the orchid standing on the windowsill should be protected from direct sunlight. If the temperature in the room does not exceed 18-20 ° C, then it is not necessary to moisturize the flower abundantly.
Summer
During the summer months, the delicate orchid leaves protect against direct sunlight. The optimum summer temperature for a plant is not higher than +25 ° C. If it is hot, moisten the air around the flower. For spraying, use a finely dispersed spray bottle. In the summer, the orchid can be taken out to the balcony or to the yard. Place where there are no drafts, where raindrops and direct sunlight do not fall.
Autumn
With the onset of autumn, the flower begins to lack sunlight. Cambria may enter a resting phase, or it may remain in an active state, releasing flower stalks.In the first case, the plant is not disturbed by additional lighting, in the second, phytolamps are installed.
Winter
If the cambria continues to bloom in the winter months, artificial lighting is a must. The optimum winter air temperature for a plant is 16-20 ° C.
How to care during and after flowering
Cambria blooms most actively in autumn and winter. In spring-summer, pseudobulbs form on the shoots, peduncles emerge from the leaf sinuses. In order for the winter flowering to be beautiful and complete, phytolamps should be used.
In order for the orchid to more actively release flowering shoots, the frequency of watering is reduced during the phase of pseudobulb formation.
When the pseudobulb is formed, the plant is not moistened for two weeks. Watered further, but not abundantly. This sequence of actions ensures lush flowering of the orchid. Watering is resumed in the same volume after the peduncles emerge from the leaf sinuses. Overwatering at the end of the growing season can prevent cambria from flowering.
Planting and transplanting
In stores, a temporary substrate is usually used. Therefore, after purchase, it is advisable to transplant the flower into high-quality soil. But you shouldn't do this right away, let the cambria rest for a few weeks, adjusting to the new conditions. Cambria doesn't like transplants, it's a lot of stress for her. Therefore, the orchid is transplanted no more than once every 3-4 years. But you can not do without transplants: firstly, the soil loses nutrients, and secondly, the roots grow, begin to grow out of the drainage holes.
For transplantation, take a plastic or ceramic, but opaque pot. Unlike other orchids, Cambria does not tolerate sunlight on its roots. The new pot should be a few inches longer than the old one. The pseudobulbs of the transplanted orchid are not sprinkled with soil. The plant is left alone for some time. Watering after transplanting is resumed a week later.
Solving Common Growing Problems
Inexperienced growers, when growing Cambrian orchids, face many problems, which must be eliminated immediately so as not to destroy the plant.
Care errors
Many problems are associated with non-compliance with the rules of flower care.
Pseudobulb wrinkles
This is due to a lack of moisture or rotting of the root system. In the first case, it is necessary to normalize the irrigation regime, in the second - to remove the plant from the substrate, to remove rotten roots.
Ladder Growth
This is a sign that there is not enough room for the roots in the pot. Transplanting into a larger pot is necessary. To support the above-ground part, a support is placed.
Pseudobulb cracking
The problem is the overflow of the substrate at low temperatures and the lack of lighting. The solution is to normalize the level of lighting, temperature indicators and the irrigation regime.
Leaves turn white, thicken, or change color
This usually happens with overeating. Cambria is extremely sensitive to excess nutrients. Therefore, fertilizers are used carefully, a weakly concentrated solution is prepared.
yellow foliage
The problem is associated with the direct impact of ultraviolet rays on the sheet metal plates. Shading required. The plant is rearranged in a place with diffused lighting.
pests
Most often, the cambria suffers from attacks of ticks, aphids and scale insects.
Spider
Signs of damage - a cobweb on the underside of the leaf plates, dark spots on the leaves. Treatment consists in the use of strong insecticides - Fitoverm, Actellik, Confidor. To prevent tick damage, the plant is periodically treated with a mild soapy solution.
Shield
Symptom - covering the surface of the stems with small brown patches. Insects are removed from the shoots by hand with a cotton swab, wiped with soapy water. Insecticides are of little help, since adult pests are protected from external influences by a shell.
Aphid
Small insects suck the juice from the plant, which slows down its development. A soap solution is an effective means of control and prevention. In an advanced case, insecticides are used. Aphids do not like citrus smells, so you can put lemon or orange zest on the surface of the substrate. In prevention, it is important to maintain an optimal air humidity.
Diseases
With poor quality and unsystematic care, Cambria falls ill.
Anthracnose
Fungal disease that occurs with excess humidity and lack of ventilation. Symptom - spots on the leaves that grow, darken, then become covered with a pinkish bloom. Fight the infection with fungicides. For prophylaxis, the room is regularly ventilated, the accumulated fluid is removed from the leaf sinuses after spraying with a cotton swab or napkin.
Powdery mildew
Fungal disease, accompanied by the appearance of a whitish plaque on the leaf plates, occurs with excessive moisture. Fungicides are used to control the fungus.If left untreated, the plant dies.
Rust
A dangerous fungal infection in which the leaves are covered with red spots. Diseased parts of the plant are cut off. Places of cuts are treated with 25% alcohol. Treat infection with fungicides Skor, Ridomil.
Resuscitation of an orchid without roots
Cambria is one of those species that can be saved even after all the roots have died. The dying plant is removed from the substrate, the rotten roots are cut off, the sections are treated with crushed charcoal.
The orchid is placed in a container of water, in which a root growth stimulator is added according to the instructions. When the first roots appear, the plant is planted in nutritious soil.
the reproduction
The Cambrian orchid multiplies by dividing the plant or by children.
Divide the bush
The procedure is carried out when transplanting a plant. They act according to the following algorithm:
- the plant is removed from the pot, the earthen clod is shaken off;
- the roots are examined, diseased and rotten roots are cut off;
- the plant is divided into two or more parts;
- the slices are lubricated with a solution of carbon or manganese;
- each flower is planted in a separate container.
Children
The resulting shoots, as soon as several leaves grow on them, are separated from the parent plant. Children are placed in water in which a root growth stimulator is dissolved. After the roots appear, young plants are planted in pots.
Additional tips and tricks
Growing a Cambrian orchid is not difficult, but the recommendations below should be considered:
- Do not stimulate the flowering of a young orchid. You have to give it time to get stronger.
- It is categorically impossible to moisten the plant by placing it in the shower.
- Cumbria does not tolerate drafts. But it is imperative to ventilate the room where it grows.
- If the flower is on the south window, then shading is used - thin paper or gauze is attached to the glass.
- Do not transplant the orchid during the flowering phase.
- It is advisable to transplant the flower by the method of transshipment, without injuring the delicate roots.
Cambria is a beautiful orchid that has become popular due to its non-capricious nature and year-round flowering. The rules of care are standard for orchids, reproduction and preventive measures are not difficult.