The most beautiful of flowers, the orchid, is often credited with being capricious, claiming that it is demanding in care. In fact, this plant is one of the most unpretentious. Consider all about Indoor orchid care for beginners, what the plant loves, how to properly care for it, so that it pleases the hostess with beautiful blooming buds regularly.
what does an orchid like: everything about a flower
Despite its beautiful appearance, the orchid is a parasite that can live off others, absorbing moisture and nutrients from the surrounding space. Therefore, she likes:
- sufficient air humidity;
- infrequent watering;
- good lighting;
- average temperature around;
- peace.
Interesting! The flower belongs to the genus epiphytes, that is, it is a parasite!
You do not need to do anything extraordinary to make your orchid feel comfortable.
If you want to place orchid in home here is our best guide on Orchids In Bedroom.
orchids for beginners: Care
Once gorgeous flowers were grown only in greenhouses and greenhouses. Now they can often be found at home. For a flower to look healthy and bloom, you need to know what conditions it is used to, and try to create them at home. Fortunately, this is not difficult.
Lighting and temperature
The orchid likes diffused light, but if it is too intense, the plant can “burn”. Lack of sunlight will result in the appearance of spots on the leaves.
Important! In autumn and winter, it is recommended to extend the daylight hours to 12 hours using a phytolamp.
The optimal place for a pot is a window sill in a room whose windows do not face the sunny side, for example, to the east or north. If you like to open a window for ventilation, a window sill will not work for a pot. The flower does not like drafts.
At the same time, you do not need to create the climate of an exotic country at home. It is enough to maintain the daytime temperature in the region of 22-24 degrees. It can be cooler in the evening – up to 16 degrees, the flower feels good.
Air humidity
Humidity should be quite high to simulate the atmosphere of the tropics. A good option is to place the flower next to an aquarium, humidifier, or decorative fountain. If you don’t have one at home, just place a bowl of water next to the pot, refilling it regularly.
Note! If you love accuracy in everything, then you can use a special device – a hygrometer to measure air humidity, but this is not necessary.
You can also place a cloth soaked in water on top of the battery. True, if the radiators are very hot, you will have to moisten the fabric several times a day.
How often do you water an indoor orchid plant?
Orchids do not like abundant watering very much. If you choose which phalaenopsis gravitates more, then it will be better to dry out the soil than abundant moisture.
If you water the flower too much or often, negative consequences may appear:
- stagnation of moisture will appear in the soil, which will have a bad effect on the roots;
- the stem will begin to rot;
- eventually the flower may die.
To prevent overflow, monitor the condition of the soil: wait until it is completely dry before watering again. Do not pour too much water – be guided by the size of the pot. Water the plant slightly more abundantly in summer than in winter.
Do not leave water in the pan, as it can damage the roots of the plant if it evaporates slowly, and they will rot.
There are many color of orchid for indoor keeping one of them is Black Orchids Varieties.
What is the best potting medium for orchids?
The elegant beauty does not need the particularly fertile soil that other plants need. A light substrate will be optimal for an orchid, which includes:
- small pieces of coal and bark;
- microscopic moss particles;
- tiny clay granules;
- sand;
- special herbal ingredients;
- vermiculite or perlite;
- particles of dry leaves.
You can buy ready-made substrate in the store or make it yourself using moss and bark as a basis.
Top dressing and fertilization
Orchid feeding should be done regularly, but do not get carried away. There are special rules for when to do it:
- In the spring, when all nature awakens from the winter “sleep”.
- In summer (just not in the very heat), if the growth of leaves continues, but when the first bud appears, feeding should be stopped. When flowering begins, root dressings must be replaced with external ones.
- The introduction of nutrients into the soil is not suitable for a heavily weakened plant. Give it some strength first by foliar fertilizing.
- Do not feed a newly purchased or transplanted plant.
- It is necessary to feed the plant no more than once every two to three weeks. The optimal time is morning or evening.
- In winter, the flower should be at rest.
If the orchid is not fertilized, it can wither.
As a top dressing, a special liquid fertilizer for orchids will be ideal. It should be diluted with water according to the instructions. For foliar dressing, special products are produced in the form of a spray. If you don’t have one, you can use a universal compound fertilizer.
Strongly not suitable:
- sticks and tablets for soil;
- folk methods and self-produced mixtures.
How do you repot an orchid for beginners? After Purchase
The flowers are usually sold in transparent pots. It is not necessary to transplant immediately. Usually the flower feels comfortable enough in the container in which you purchased it.
The transplant is best done during rest, that is, in winter. Choose transparent containers as the roots of the orchid need light.
reporting orchid for beginners step by step:
- To transplant a flower, you need to get it out of the container along with the soil. If you cannot do this, cut open the pot and remove the orchid from it.
- Rinse the roots, freeing them of excess soil. Dry on a napkin.
- Line the bottom of the container with expanded clay or clay shards and sprinkle some of the substrate on them.
- Place the plant in a pot, fix it.
- Add the required amount of substrate.
- If the flower cannot stand upright on its own, tie it using a special peg.
orchid Care during flowering
An orchid is a flower that loves peace and stability. During flowering, do not rearrange the pot to maintain plant comfort. Do not change the conditions to which Phalaenopsis is accustomed: do not revise the schedule or doses of watering, do not experiment with the temperature in the room and you can learn about What Is The Best Room Temperature For Orchids?
Fertilize the plant only externally during flowering. It is strictly forbidden to feed the roots at this time. The flower has accumulated enough energy; during flowering, it goes on to spend the accumulated strength and energy. If you apply fertilizer at the root, you can disrupt the process of bud formation and provoke a refusal from flowering in favor of assimilating the introduced nutrients.
What conditions do orchids need for potting?
To make your flower feel as comfortable as possible and delight with beautiful buds, take care. It is expressed in the following:
- Follow the rules of plant care.
- Aerial roots that are on top of the substrate, do not try to shove into the pot and cover with soil. If part of such a root dries up and dies, carefully remove it until it is healthy, green. Do not be alarmed, this is a natural process that speaks of a flower’s well-being.
- Keep the leaves clean. Wipe them regularly with a damp cloth to remove dust and dirt. Do not forget that through the leaves the orchid takes moisture from the air, and air roots appear between them. If the lower leaves of the plant are dry or yellow, carefully remove them. Keep reading about Care Of Orchid Leaves.
- If in winter the sill of the window on which the pot with the orchid stands becomes cool, put some styrofoam – it will save heat and protect the flower from the cold.
How do you propagate orchids at home?
An orchid can be propagated in several ways. Sometimes this is due only to the desire of the grower, and sometimes – to an urgent need, for example, the bush has grown a lot or children have appeared on it.
Important! Do not propagate the flower in the fall and winter when it is stressed or, conversely, is at rest.
Reproduction of phalaenopsis is a scrupulous process that must be approached responsibly.
how to propagate orchids keiki
Keiki appears at the same time as the flowering or after it. For their appearance, a fairly high temperature and sufficient air humidity are needed.
Note! It is possible to simulate the appearance of “Keiki” using cytokinin paste.
It is necessary to wait until the appeared “Keiki” has four leaves, after which it will be possible to separate it from the mother. After that, you need to process the sections with charcoal or cinnamon and give the sprout a day. After 24 hours, you can plant the “Keiki” in a separate pot of substrate. There the roots will form. At this time, the lower leaves will begin to turn yellow, but you cannot tear them off. When they give all the nutrients to the small plant, they will disappear by themselves.
You may also like What is Orchid Keiki Paste?
Can you start an orchid from a cutting?
This propagation method is also used after the orchid has faded:
- Cut off the peduncle.
- Divide it into several pieces of 3-4 cm.
- Treat the sections with charcoal powder.
- Grow the cuttings in a hot, humid mini greenhouse.
Peduncle propagation
This method is considered the easiest. After flowering, remove the peduncle with a pruner and place it in mineral-fertilized water. Place the vase where sunlight hits (but not direct rays). Soon there will be “keiki” who, with the right approach, will become full-fledged colors.
Orchids Diseases and pests
When purchasing a plant, there is a risk of buying it along with unwanted insects that are hiding in the pot. These can be wood lice, ants, snails, worms. There is a simple method to get rid of them: after bringing the pot home, place it in the water so that the level is just below the edge. Leave it on for a while. In a few minutes all unwanted “tenants” will get out, where you will collect them.
The situation with pests and diseases is more serious. The plant can be infested by ticks, scale insects, whiteflies, etc.
In order not to run into them, carefully consider the choice of plant:
- When buying a flower from a store, pay close attention to it. Examine the roots. They should be fleshy, firm, healthy looking.
- Examine the stem of the plant. Choose one that is dense, elastic, rich green.
- Examine the leaves to ensure they are free of stains, mildew, and dry areas.
Beginners Common Orchid Growing Mistakes to Avoid
No one is immune to mistakes, especially when faced with something new. Pay attention to the mistakes that beginner orchid owners often make in order to avoid the same oversights.
Improper watering
Often, beginners do not pay attention to the water in the pan, believing that the flower will feed on it. However, orchids do not need water in the pan, it can ruin the roots. Therefore, by adding liquid to the pot and waiting for it to be in the pan, drain the excess.
The best way to water an orchid is to immerse the pot of it in a container of water. So the flower will take the right amount of moisture. Everything that is glass is surplus, they must be removed.
Burns
Beginners, knowing that the flower loves rich light, provide it with excessively bright natural light. This can cause burns.
If your window faces south, cover it with blinds or a Roman shade to keep the orchid out of direct sunlight.
Orchid not blooming
It happens that the conditions for a flower are ideal, but it does not bloom in any way. In this case, you should give the phalaenopsis a little shake-up, for example, rearrange it to another place. Changing position will result in a little stress, bringing the plant out of ideal comfort conditions. This often results in long-awaited buds.
Spraying
Trying to provide the flower with a humid atmosphere, many begin to spray it regularly. However, the accumulation of moisture in the soil ends with the subsequent decay of the roots. Do not be zealous with spraying, it is better to place a container of water next to the pot. This will be enough to increase air humidity.
Follow these simple rules of Indoor orchid care for beginners and enjoy the beauty of this truly royal flower!
