An orchid cannot be called an unpretentious plant. But all the difficulties of care are more than offset by its beauty during the flowering period. In order for the orchid to regularly please the eye with buds, it is important to observe all the subtleties of growing.
Orchids Bloom period
Orchids have an average flowering period of 3 months. Some varieties bloom all year round.
This period may be shortened for the following reasons:
- When buying a plant with flowers, it is worth considering the likelihood that it bloomed for a long time in the store. In this case, you will not be able to enjoy the beautiful petals for long.
- At temperatures above 30 C, they shed flowers for several days. Too warm air provokes active growth of leaves to the detriment of flowering.
- Incorrectly selected fertilizers can dry out the roots of the plant. In this case, the flowers fall off.
- Abundant watering causes rotting of the roots, which provokes a shortened flowering period.
It is important to remember that flowering begins at 1.5 – 3 years. If no flowers appear, the plant may not have reached the correct age. At the same time, when flowering at a young age, orchids are quickly depleted and die. Before buying, you need to check the age of the plant.
After the flowers fall, re-flowering rarely occurs. She is quite capricious and needs special care at every period of her life.
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how to care for orchids in bloom and in the growth period?
In order to admire the flowers as long as possible, and more than once, you must follow all the rules for caring for her during the growth period, during the appearance of flowers and in the inter-flowering season.
Factors that affect flowering activity.
Lighting
Plants are extremely light-requiring. For normal life, they need good lighting for half a day. In this case, it is necessary to protect the plant from direct sunlight. It is optimal to place pots on the southeast or east side to avoid the excess sun in summer and lack of winter.
In the cold season, when daylight hours are reduced, phytolamps should be used. They provide optimal illumination without drying out the air. The lamps must be positioned so that they do not burn the stems or leaves.
Some varieties tolerate a lack of light, but most orchid varieties even lose young buds if they are too dark.
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Air temperature
Flowers do not tolerate both cold and heat. The optimum temperature for them is 23-28 C. At the same time, it is important to ensure temperature drops. It should be 4-6 C cooler at night than during the day.
In warmer months, it is recommended to take flowers outside or on the balcony. If this is not possible, you should at least open the windows in the room. The main thing is to make sure that it is protected from drafts.
Do not raise the temperature in winter. On the contrary, it is worth providing some coolness at this time of year. It is necessary to bring the conditions of detention as close as possible to their natural habitat.
Humidity
The flower comes from the tropics, where the air humidity is high. For a beauty to feel comfortable indoors, it is important to create a suitable microclimate for her. There should always be water in the pan.
The main thing is that the roots do not come into contact with it, otherwise they will rot. It is advised to put a container of water next to the pot, and regularly spray the plant itself from a spray bottle. Installing an electric humidifier is helpful. The optimum air humidity is 60-80%.
Watering
Water the orchid when the soil dries up. Watering is moderate. This applies to mature plants and young shoots. Roots rot from excess moisture. Most of the water is needed before orchids reblooming or blooms and during the flowering process. But after flowering in the inter-flowering season, watering is reduced to 1 time in a week and a half.
Some varieties require year-round watering. Consider this when caring for your pet.
Top dressing
Fertilizers containing phosphorus and potassium are useful for the orchid. The plant responds well to feeding with succinic acid. But nitrogenous ones inhibit flowering.
It is worth giving preference to products developed specifically for orchids and strictly follow the instructions for use. It is usually recommended to fertilize twice a month, stopping feeding during the interflowering season.
Root care
Orchid roots need sunlight. Therefore, it is best to plant the plant in transparent containers with holes for the outflow of excess moisture and air intake. You should choose dishes with smooth, even walls, since the roots grow to a rough and curved surface.
Moving
Orchids don’t like transplants. In addition, they will react negatively to the movement of the pot. The container should stand in the same place with the same side to the light source.
Stress
Often, orchids are in no hurry to please with flowers due to the fact that they are too comfortable. They put all their energy into the development of shoots and leaves. In order for the buds to appear, they should be “scared”. It is enough to create drought conditions for this. Watering is halved, spraying and feeding are stopped. It will also be helpful to temporarily move the pot or lower the temperature.
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What do you do with an orchid after the blooms fall off?
After the flowering period, the orchid begins the inter-flowering season. At this time, feeding and watering is limited, but the same lighting is left. This happens most often in winter.
Novice flower growers are wondering what to do with the arrow when the orchid has faded? Do I need to prune my orchid after flowering? If the orchid has faded, how to transplant it?
The peduncle should be removed only after it dries. If the arrow is completely dry, it is cut off at a distance of 2-2.5 cm from the base. In case of partial drying, only the dry tip is removed, leaving the green part of the peduncle. Perhaps the orchid will still have time to please with fresh flowers before it finally hibernates.
Removing the arrow is mandatory. The blackened peduncle does not look aesthetically pleasing, in addition, it takes some of the nutrients from the plant.
Pruning is done with sharp scissors or a knife. The instrument is pre-disinfected with alcohol or calcined. The cut area of the plant is treated with brilliant green or activated carbon powder.
The cropped green arrow of some varieties is used for propagation by cuttings, provided that at least one bud is preserved on it. The chance of survival is small, but under favorable conditions it is possible.
The stalk is planted in a greenhouse with high humidity and an air temperature of 25-28 C. Moss is used instead of soil.
Often, flowering takes away all the vitality of the plant. Not everyone knows what to do if the orchid has faded and dries up. In this case, the arrow is cut off almost completely, leaving no more than 1.5 cm.Not a single kidney should be left on it. If the orchid blooms again, this will finally weaken it.
After pruning, the plant is left alone and the necessary conditions are provided:
- adequate lighting;
- low temperature;
- reduction in watering;
- termination of feeding.
If your orchid is doing well, you may want to consider replanting. The transplant helps to improve the health of the plant, allows it to develop further.
You can understand that it’s time to move your pet to a new container by the roots. If they stick out of the drainage holes, then you need a bigger pot. The need for a transplant appears every 2-3 years. If you disturb the plant more often, it will go into hibernation for a long time or die.
The transplant should be carried out as carefully as possible so as not to damage the delicate flower. To make it easier to get it out of the container, the soil is watered abundantly.
After extraction, you should carefully examine the roots. Dried and rotten areas are cut off. The rest of the roots do not touch. If you try to untangle them, you can damage the system.
The new pot should be slightly larger than the previous one. Several drainage holes are made in it. In order for the roots to receive the required amount of light, it is better to take a transparent container.
A drainage layer of fine gravel or granite chips is laid on the bottom of the pot. The soil can be purchased ready-made, with a special composition for orchids. Experienced flower growers prepare the mixture themselves.
Optimal soil components.
Charcoal
Natural antiseptic. When crushed it provides water balance. The finished soil should contain no more than 10% of coal, otherwise excess salts will accumulate in it.
Moss
It gives the soil looseness and sufficient moisture. It is pre-scalded with boiling water and dried. After transplanting, cover the soil surface with moss. The layer should be changed every six months.
Humus
The main part of the soil. Obtained from fallen leaves. Provides orchid roots with nutrients and beneficial microflora.
Pine bark
Provides additional drainage. It is removed from healthy trees. The bark is disinfected and dried before mixing. Combined application with pine cones is possible.
The potting mix is calcined to get rid of insects and larvae. The plant is placed in a pot at the same level as it grew earlier and covered with soil.
When transplanted correctly, the orchid takes root quickly. It does not require support or soil compaction.
After transplanting, the plant is not watered. It is sprayed abundantly and left alone. If done correctly, flowering will be repeated in 2-3 months.
Some varieties go into hibernation for a longer period. If this is not the case, and the plant still does not bloom, most likely the conditions for keeping the orchid are not correctly followed.
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Basic Principles Of Plant Care In The Interflowering Season
In order for the exit from the dormant state to occur in a timely manner, and flowering to come quickly, it is necessary to adhere to the basic rules.
Reducing watering
In the inter-flowering period, watering is carried out no more than once every 10 days. Some growers recommend reducing watering to once a month. If the variety does not go into hibernation, watering remains the same throughout the year.
Stop feeding
No nutrient processing occurs during the interflowering season. Fertilization at this time is useless.
Air humidification
Heating in winter dries up the air, so humidification should be a priority during this period. But it is not recommended to spray the leaves. At rest, they can rot.
Additional lighting
To maintain the duration of daylight hours at 10-12 hours, phytolamps are used. They are located at a distance of 20-30 cm from the plant.
Decrease in temperature
In the inter-flowering season, the temperature should be slightly lower than the rest of the time – at least 150C at night and 230C during the day. At the same time, as always, it is necessary to avoid drafts and contact of leaves with a cold window.
A capricious flower requires careful adherence to all the rules of care. If you take this issue seriously, then she will regularly delight others with beautiful flowers.
