Step-by-step instructions for caring for orchids at home

Proper maintenance of your orchid at home is very important for the full development of the plant. To achieve good results in growing a flower, it is necessary to apply fertilizers in time, properly moisten the soil, cut and spray the crop. Timely control of pests and diseases of the flower is not insignificant. Clear implementation of the recommendations of experienced gardeners allows you to get a strong flowering plant.

Origin and general information

The flower belongs to the orchid family. It is the largest monocot family. Most orchids grow in the tropics. Almost all types of plants belong to epiphytes.They do not have the main acquisition of flowering crops - the double course of fertilizing.

Orchids vary in size. Some varieties reach 2 meters, others are dwarf-growing. Plants lead an unusual way of life.

Most tropical species grow on trees which serve as support and allow the plant to fight for light more easily.

There are also plants growing on the steep cliffs. Their roots penetrate the cracks. This is where we observe the accumulation of water. Additionally, there are underground specimens that cannot see the sun. Insects that live underground are responsible for processing their flowers.

How to choose the right one when buying

An orchid is a delicate plant that needs certain conditions to be created. At the same time, strict adherence to the recommendations of experienced florists greatly facilitates care. It is recommended to buy a flower in spring or summer. In this case, the plant cannot be transplanted immediately. It can grow normally in its substrate for another 2 years. In the process of adaptation to home conditions, the culture needs systematic feeding. Transplanting the plant is required only if it has grown in sphagnum moss.

Before buying an orchid, it is important to carefully study the appearance of the roots of the plant. They are perfectly visible through a transparent pot. If the flower does not hold well in the pot, this indicates a weak root system.

Varieties and types

Today, many varieties and species of this plant are known, each of which has certain characteristics.

Phalaenosopsis

It is one of the most popular types of orchids. It is these plants that are most often sold in stores. They are chosen for their ease of maintenance and simplicity.

The plant belongs to epiphytes. It is characterized by shortened stems and leathery leaves. Culture is able to bloom for 4-5 months. The unusual shape of the flowers led to the fact that such an orchid is often called a "butterfly". It should be remembered that all phalaenopsis need full lighting. With a lack of light, such a plant will not be able to bloom. The crop needs a special irrigation regime. It is carried out only after drying of the substrate. After flowering, the crop should definitely be cut. Today there are about 40 varieties of phalaenopsis. They are characterized by different flower sizes, shape, color.

Cymbidium

It is a species of terrestrial orchid. They have a pleasant aroma. It is very difficult to grow such a flower at home. Under natural conditions, there are 500 species of plants. The flowers have delicate shades. The flowering period lasts a very long time - up to 10 weeks.

Cattleya

The plant has large double flowers with wavy petals. They can be the most amazing shades. Culture needs special care. In the Middle Lane it can only bloom once a year.

Dendrobium

More than 1200 plant species are included in this category. The most common are dendrobium phalaenopsis and nobile. During dormancy, these plants often lose their leaves.

Miltonia

The plant is characterized by unusual flowers with a large unfolded lip. Quite often all sorts of hybrids are created from one plant. As a result, it is possible to get unusual multi-colored patterns on the petals. Vegetable color solutions can be different - lemon, raspberry, burgundy.

wanda

It is an unpretentious perennial that is found naturally in Asia and Australia. The orchid is characterized by beautiful blue flowers.There are also other shades. Abundant flowering occurs 2-4 times a year. Up to 20 flowers are formed on each peduncle. The flowering period lasts 2 months.

epidend

This is a broad category of orchids, which includes lithophytes, epiphytes and terrestrial plants. In total, the group includes 1500 species. Plants are characterized by sympoidal growth. They are distinguished by long flowering. The plants have large flowers that exude a pleasant aroma.

Zygopetalum

This genus includes 16 species of orchids. The thick pseudobulb has dense leaves. Peduncles reach 40 centimeters in length. The size of the flowers is 5 centimeters. A feature of the plant is a curly lip, which resembles a wide skirt. Often there are variegated species that have pronounced spots.

How to choose a jar

To ensure the quality development of the orchid, it is necessary to correctly select the container for its cultivation.

Plastic

Clear plastic pots are considered the most popular option for growing orchids. They have some merit. The transparent material promotes normal photosynthesis and allows visual control of the state of the root system. It is easy to make drainage holes in such a pot. The warm structure helps to avoid hypothermia. In addition, the roots do not adhere to the plastic surface.

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At the same time, plastic is not without its drawbacks. It is a fairly light material, so a filler is needed to grow tall plants. Some people don't like the look of this product. To solve the problem, it must be placed in a beautiful flowerpot.

Clay

The main advantage of the clay pot is the excellent air permeability of the material.Thanks to this, even a small container will provide the orchid with a sufficient amount of oxygen-rich air. But in other respects the clay pot loses. It has opaque walls, so it does not allow to assess the condition of the soil and roots. To transplant a plant, the container will have to be broken, since the culture will grow with roots to the inner surface.

Ceramic

The ceramic pot has many advantages. It has a porous structure that provides the plant with a sufficient amount of air. The container is considered heavy enough to give it stability. Ceramic is a fairly hot material. In addition, such a pot should fit well into any interior.

However, it also has some disadvantages. Orchid roots are able to adhere to the porous material, which makes it difficult to extract the flower for transplanting. In addition, the pores of ceramics quickly become saline due to watering and fertilization. As a result, root development may slow down.

Glass flowerpot

In such a container, the plant looks very attractive. The advantages include the presence of drainage holes and high-quality air exchange. At the same time, the glass container also has some disadvantages. Condensation can accumulate on its walls. In addition, there is a risk of developing green algae on the root system of the plant. To avoid problems, it is necessary to change the substrate 2-3 times a year.

Hanging planter

It is perfectly acceptable to grow an orchid in a hanging planter. In such a container, the plant looks quite natural. At the same time, it is important to ensure full aeration of the roots and sufficient lighting. A flower pot with an orchid is placed in a planter so that a finger passes between it.It is recommended to hang the plant near the window. This will provide him with enough light.

Cultivation and care rules

To grow an orchid, you need to follow certain guidelines. First of all, it is worth planting the plant correctly and providing it with suitable conditions for its development.

how to plant

Under natural conditions, almost all orchids grow on trees or other plants. Therefore, the process of planting a crop should be treated responsibly. To do this, it is recommended to browse the following features:

1. To simulate natural conditions, it is recommended to plant the orchid on a block. To do this, you need to use a piece of bark, a snag or a fern.
2. It is worth choosing a block taking into account the size of the orchid.
3. Then take the pot and put a layer of moss on the bottom.
4. Place a snag or bark on top and secure the root of the plant with a wire.
5. It should be remembered that with this method of planting, the culture dries out very much. Therefore, care should be taken to maintain optimum humidity.

Also, the orchid must be planted in a special substrate. To do this, consider the following:

1. For a plant, it is worth buying a ready-made substrate or making it yourself. In the second case, you will need to mix high-quality moss with pine bark. You can also make a mixture of soil, moss and fern. They are taken equally.
2. Get an appropriate container. A transparent pot with drainage holes is recommended. Place a drainage layer on the bottom.
3. Place an orchid in a container and sprinkle with a ready-made substrate.

Ground requirements

For the plant it is worth using a substrate based on bark.For this, fragments of pine, oak and spruce bark are used. Material from other trees will do. The pieces should measure from 1 to 5 centimeters. It is also worth adding charcoal and expanded clay to the mixture in the required proportions. Sometimes sphagnum moss, peat, perlite are added to the composition.

When growing epiphytes or lithophytes, it is recommended to use the lightest possible soil, which has large elements. For terrestrial plant species, a heavier soil of a fine fraction is suitable. It must contain moisture-absorbing ingredients.

Lighting

This is the main factor in the care of orchids, which ensures normal flowering. With a lack of light, the orchid will lack nutrition for its normal growing season. If there is an excess of lighting, the plant will simply die out.

Dark green leaves indicate a lack of lighting. In healthy plants, they should have a bright or light hue. Excessive lighting can be suspected by the yellowing of the leaves and the appearance of brown, dry spots on them.

How to water with your own hands

Sometimes it is recommended to water orchids with ammonia or hydrogen peroxide. At the same time, it is forbidden to use potassium permanganate or organic fertilizers. When watering a plant, you should follow these recommendations:

1. The procedure should be performed rarely and sparingly. Otherwise, there is a risk of root rot.
2. It is worth determining the frequency of watering, taking into account lighting, the size of the pot and humidity indicators.
3. It is important to consider the rate of evaporation of moisture.

Spray

These plants need high air humidity. Warm, settled water is needed to moisten the leaves.It is important to ensure that the humidity parameters are at least 60%. In a drier room, use a humidifier.

At moderate humidity, it is enough to systematically spray the orchid.

Temperature regime

Temperature conditions depend on the type of orchid:

1. Heat-loving plants need high temperatures. Typical for the tropics is 27-40 degrees. When growing orchids at home, the temperature should not fall below +15 degrees.
2. Moderate temperature orchids can grow in the tropics or in harsher climates.
3. Relatively cold-hardy varieties are found in subtropical climates or high mountain rainforests. They need changing conditions in winter and summer.

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Fertilization and feeding

The plant should be fertilized exclusively during growth. At the same time, it is recommended to introduce nutrients no more than once in 2-3 weeks. To do this, use special tools - Bona Forte, Pocon, Greenworld. It is important to strictly follow the instructions on the packaging. Orchids should not be fed with products intended for other plants.

Bloom

To stimulate flowering, the orchid should be placed in a cooler, less watered room. For this, it is recommended only to spray the soil, and sometimes to water it. At the right temperature, the orchid can bloom for six months. To prolong the flowering period, it is recommended to water the flower stem with warm water. After the end of flowering, it is not recommended to cut the peduncles immediately. This should be done only after complete drying. Modern hybrids tend to branch into flower stalks.Therefore, a small tree may grow out of it.

After flowering

After the end of flowering and the complete drying of the peduncle, it is cut to the base, then removed. After that, it is recommended to fertilize the plant less. In winter, watering is reduced to once a month. Sometimes the crop needs to be sprayed with water.

Size

To stimulate the emergence of new shoots, faded fragments of an orchid should be removed in time. Before the end of flowering, pruning is strictly prohibited. This will lead to the death of the plant. When forming a peduncle, it is very important not to damage the bush.

There are 2 cropping methods:

1. It is recommended to cut the peduncle on the dormant bud. This is done about 1.5 centimeters above.
2. Cut at the base leaving only the stump. Its height should be 2.5-3 centimeters.

When cutting the peduncle, there is a risk of slowing down the development of new stems. As a result, the orchid will spend energy on the development of formed buds. It is recommended to prune the plant with garden pruners. This tool is less harmful to the plant and does not cause burrs and damage to the leaves. Microbes often get into the injured areas, which provokes the development of diseases.

Before pruning, secateurs must be disinfected. This is done in a chlorine solution. It is also allowed to dip it in boiling water or wipe it with alcohol. After the procedure is completed, the cut area should be treated with crushed activated carbon. You can also use iodine or cinnamon. Some orchids have a hollow stem. When watering, moisture can enter it, which will lead to the development of decay processes.Subsequently, there is a risk of affecting the entire flower. It is recommended to close such a cut with beeswax.

Transfer

The plant should be transplanted into a new pot after 2-3 years. At this point, the substrate is hardened and sour. Accordingly, it must be replaced. In addition, the graft is carried out with strong root branching or sprouting through the drainage holes. The procedure is carried out after the end of the flowering period.

If the orchid is healthy and planted in soil with large elements, then it must be carefully moved to a new container. It must have a drainage layer. It is worth adding fresh substrate to the pot. The main component should be bark, which has a small or medium fraction. In this case, it is permissible to purchase a ready-made mixture or to prepare it yourself.

Airflow

To avoid rot, fungus or mold in the pots, the orchid must allow full air circulation. Otherwise, the plants begin to hurt and disappear. Normal air exchange is essential for proper cooling of plants in hot weather. To organize it, it is recommended to open the window. In winter, it is worth airing the room by opening the windows in adjacent rooms. It is best to use fans in the summer.

It is not recommended to place orchids under an air conditioner. They should not be placed near an open window at negative temperatures. A strong and prolonged draft will lead to a deterioration in the condition of the plant.

the reproduction

There are several ways to propagate a plant. The best time to do this is in the spring. During this period, the orchid has the maximum strength to grow. It is important to handle the roots with care, as they are quite fragile.

Seeds

This is a complex and time-consuming process. The orchid has small seeds devoid of nourishing tissue. In the natural environment, the seeds germinate at the expense of the root sponge, which provides normal nutrition. It is quite difficult to germinate seeds at home. They need specific conditions that can only be achieved in the laboratory.

Before starting the procedure, you should familiarize yourself with the main features:

1. Seed germination takes up to 9 months.
2. In 1.5-3 years, the sprout will turn into a mature plant.
3. Flowering begins after 2-4 years. In some cases, the first flowering has to wait 10 years.

To grow a plant from seed, it is recommended to prepare the soil. For this you will need shredded moss and leafy soil. It is important that the soil is moist. After that, it is worth providing the planting material with a sterile environment. In this case, the temperature should be 20-25 degrees. High humidity is also important.

After the appearance of the first leaf, a dive is carried out. When 4 leaves are formed, it is recommended to move the plant to a pot.

Division

It is a simple method that can be applied to most plants. It is important that the bush is large enough and contains a maximum of 4 false bulbs. To do this, it is recommended to remove the flower from the pot, being careful not to damage the roots. Then clean them of the earth and separate them. Each half should contain 3 pseudobulbs. It is recommended that the sections be treated with charcoal and placed in the ground.

Cuttings

This is a sophisticated method that works well for monopod orchids. For reproduction you will need side shoots, the length of which should be 10-15 centimeters.It is worth using the old patterned rods. Then hook the top shoot with a sharp knife. Sprinkle the slices with charcoal. Cut the cutting in the ground.

Children

There is another technique for propagating orchids. In some varieties, young shoots appear from the mother plant, which are often called babies. It is recommended to cut them and move them to separate pots. If the baby does not have its own bulb, it is allowed to separate part of the maternal. In such a situation, the flower will be able to grow into a new area.

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New babies don't always appear. However, there is a way to help stimulate their development. To do this, a mature plant should be transferred to a room with high air humidity. It is also worth using fertilizers with a high nitrogen content. Under such conditions, an adult culture will raise many children. The separated process should be moved to normal soil. He does not need special care. In this case, it is recommended to carry out the same manipulations as for a mature culture. After 2-3 years, it is worth waiting for the flowering of the plant.

Layers

In this way, it will be possible to propagate plants that have dormant side buds. The stem around them must be cleaned and carefully peeled off from the mother shoot. Then place it in a container with expanded clay or wet moss. It is important to add hot water all the time. In a month, new shoots will appear. When the roots become stronger, it is recommended to transplant the cuttings.

Main issues

When growing orchids, it will be possible to face a number of problems.To deal with it, it is worth knowing what these symptom(s) indicate.

The leaves are turning yellow

The appearance of yellowing on the leaves can be associated with various factors. These include improper watering, excessive lighting, over-fertilizing, lack of roots, adaptation to new conditions. The natural aging of the plant can also be the cause.

With roots

With excessive watering or using cold water for this procedure, there is a risk of rotting on the roots. In case of minor damage, this fragment should be cut off, and the damaged areas should be treated. With significant damage to the root system, more radical procedures will be required. First of all, it is recommended to get rid of black, weeping roots and process the cuts. Then it is worth waiting for the growth of the root mass.

does not bloom

The absence of flowers is due to various factors:

• there are not enough mineral elements for the development of the peduncle;
• there is a shortage of solar lighting;
• the flower is susceptible to pest attacks.

First of all, these factors should be eliminated. In addition, it is very important to apply the necessary fertilizers. Thanks to this, after 6 months it is worth waiting for the appearance of a flowering arrow.

Pests and diseases

Often the orchid encounters attacks of various pests or suffers from serious diseases.

To rot

This disease leads to the appearance of spots on the leaves, flowers and aerial roots of the plant. Pathology leads to the defeat of cattela, cymbidium, phalaenopsis. High humidity and low temperature become the causes of the violation. The best prevention will be good plant care. An excess of nitrogenous agents can lead to the development of the disease.First of all, it is worth getting rid of the affected leaves and peduncles. It is also worth sprinkling the slices with a drying agent. In conclusion, it is recommended to spray the plant with any fungicide.

mealybugs

These small insects are covered with a white coating. They have an elongated body and numerous antennae. It is possible to identify the parasites by deposits resembling cobwebs or silvery-white flour. These enzymes lead to a disturbance in the development of the orchid. Insecticides will help to cope with the problem.

Spider

These mites can have gray, white and yellow shades. These are small parasites located on the lower parts of the leaves. They can be identified by a silvery coating that looks like a cobweb. In this case, the leaves are covered with yellow or white spots.

flaccid leaves

Sometimes the leaves of the plant lose their shine and acquire a flabby structure. This is due to a violation of the temperature regime. If this factor is eliminated in time, additional funds will not be required. Otherwise, the sheets may crack.

Cracks near the middle of the sheet

The causes of cracks on the leaves include mechanical damage, sudden cooling of a watered plant, excessive amount of fertilizer against the background of excessive watering. Dry air and high temperatures also become the cause.

Bumps, growths, holes, blackheads

Possible factors of such problems include leaf edema, mechanical damage. Often watery and cork-like formations are surrounded by a moist rim. Excess fluid leads to the appearance of edema. At the same time, the cells do not have time to process it. In such a situation, it is important to adjust the watering.

Nematodes

These parasites are small worms that can measure up to 2 millimeters that feed on the sap of the plant. Necrotic spots form on the roots of the damaged plant. After which the disease affects the leaves and the pseudobulb. In this case, the leaves turn yellow and crumble.

Common Mistakes

Even experienced flower growers make mistakes in orchid care. There are common mistakes you absolutely must not make in orchid care:

1. Water the plants overnight. Such actions cause hypothermia of the flower and lead to fungal infections.
2. Water the bush with tap water. To do this, it is worth using exclusively settled liquid. Otherwise, the salts will cover the roots and they will not be able to absorb moisture normally.
3. Dilute fertilizers in the wrong proportions. Be sure to follow the instructions.
4. Place new plants near suitable ones. This can cause infection of all bushes.
5. Keep the plant in full sun. This causes burns and leaf drop.

Tips & Tricks

To achieve good results in growing indoor orchids, you need to take care of them correctly:

• when buying a plant, you need to carefully consider it;
• it is recommended to purchase a substrate in specialized stores;
• do not neglect preventive measures;
• provide the plant with proper watering;
• use pest control products.

The orchid is a popular plant that is cultivated by many growers. To achieve good results in this area, it is necessary to take good care of the culture. She must provide quality care, timely fertilization and protection against pests.