Paphiopedilum - the most suitable species for indoor conditions.
Growing an orchid at home still scares novice flower lovers. Because it is believed that it is extremely capricious, demanding, and will not take root in every home. For some amateur gardeners, it grows without problems and does not take much time to care for; for others, it requires constant attention. What does an orchid need in order for it to give flowers to the house for many years? Read this article for details.
Orchid pot
It is necessary to take care of the pot in which the flower will grow. For those who have just decided to purchase an orchid, you should know that it will not grow in an ordinary flower pot. This means that it is necessary to create appropriate conditions for growth.
The pot must be from transparent plastic. It is necessary to make holes on the sides and bottom. It is desirable that there are small legs of 0.5 mm. This is done to ensure that air flows to the roots of the plant. Some types of orchids prefer to grow in baskets that are hung from the wall.
Note: The orchid is sold in a transparent pot with holes for air.
Soil preparation
An orchid will not grow in the ground. No matter how high-quality and nutritious it is. IN wildlife this flower (orchids - epiphytes) grows on trees high from the soil. The same conditions need to be created at home.
There is no need to rack your brains about this. Stores sell ready-made substrates for orchids. This is a mixture of sphagnum moss, pine bark, high peat, and a small amount of charcoal. Additional components are added to these basic components. Therefore, the substrates are different.
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Where to put the flower
An orchid is a plant that makes you admire itself. Every housewife is proud of her pet and wants to place it in a prominent place. The following points should be taken into account:
- the orchid loves a lot of light, but it should be diffused;
- It is better to place the flower not on the windowsill, but to allocate a special stand for it, which should be placed on the side of the plant;
- after winter, the orchid loses the habit of bright colors sun rays, it needs to be shaded for a while.
Note: if the leaves turn pale, turn yellow, and the roots stretch out, it means that the orchid does not have enough light.
Temperature
Orchid is a heat-loving flower. The room temperature must be at least 15 degrees Celsius. Otherwise, the flower may simply freeze. At high temperature the flower feels much more comfortable. But there are some nuances.
If the air temperature is above 25 degrees, so-called “babies” will begin to appear on the orchid. These are small shoots on shoots and roots. As they develop, they can be detached from the main flower and transplanted into a separate pot. Sometimes such conditions are created on purpose.
Note: take the orchid out to Fresh air possible in the warm season in the morning and evening. The scorching sun can burn the leaves and the plant will dry out.
Watering an orchid
In the case of an orchid, the rule applies: it is better to underwater than to overfill. In the warm season, it is enough to water the flower once a week. In winter, once every 14 days. There are 3 methods:
- Pouring water into the pot - the liquid is poured around the edges. Watering should be plentiful. Remaining moisture flows out through the holes.
- Immerse the pot in water - immerse the entire pot to the brim for 30 minutes. Then they set it to let the water drain.
- Spraying - the entire plant is treated, except for the inflorescences. Due to the presence of water, they fade, wither, and spots appear. It is necessary to ensure that water does not stagnate in the leaves.
Very important: there should be water room temperature or slightly warm.
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Soft water can be used from the tap. Before this, she insists for a day. The hard one is boiled, and then also settled. If the orchid likes acidic soil, add a few drops of vinegar, citric acid or juice.
Transplanting a plant
The orchid does not like frequent transplantation procedures. The optimal period of time is 2 years. This should be taken into account when choosing the size of the pot. The best time of year for this is spring and early summer.
An orchid should feel care, warmth, and a calm atmosphere in the house. Then she will delight with excellent flowers and become a talisman of good luck for her mistress or owner. Caring for an orchid is no different from other flowers, it’s just special.
Look video tips for growing orchids at home:
It will probably be difficult to find among all the variety of indoor plants a flower that will surpass the orchid in its attractiveness. The indoor orchid has a long and thin stem, and at the top there is a exquisite flower. The orchid enchants and fascinates with its variety of shapes and colors. However, the orchid is very capricious and has a number of difficulties in care.
How to choose the right orchid when buying
Having decided to place an orchid in our home, we head to the flower shop to get it. The range of modern flower shops is huge; the variety of products presented can make your head spin.
Important! It is important to understand that in appearance beautiful flower It may well turn out to be spoiled, so you should always pay attention to the condition of the entire plant.
Condition of roots and leaves
The quality of the root system plays a huge role. It is best to take a flower with well-developed roots. If the root system is healthy, its color will be grayish or have a green tint.
If the tips of the roots are bright green, then the orchid is in the active growth phase, which means it is not susceptible to any diseases. It’s easy to check the condition of the root system; to do this, shake the flower pot - if it doesn’t tilt or wobble, then everything is fine with the roots.
Did you know? If the roots of an orchid are hollow and soft, then it begins to die.
A healthy and viable orchid has dense, elastic leaves of a rich green color. Sometimes there are flowers with herbal and light green leaves. U healthy flower the border is slightly red. If the orchid has limp and wrinkled leaves, then you should not buy it.You should avoid buying a flower with a sticky or whitish coating. If the flower has a clearly darkened shade of leaves, then it was kept in a dark place; too bright (yellow or red shade) indicates an excess of light. An orchid with curled leaves was growing without the proper amount of moisture, and the presence of dots and spots indicates the presence of harmful insects.
Soil condition
It is not customary to use soil for the life of orchids. It is too heavy and does not allow enough air and moisture to reach the roots, so you need to use different substrates. Soil for an orchid is collected from sand, bark, perlite or vermiculite additives, granulated clay, coal, moss and cork.
Important! Garden soil is not used for growing orchids at all!
Plant age
It is very important to learn to distinguish between a mature plant and a young seedling. An adult orchid, which is capable of blooming and reproducing, always costs more than a seedling, which still has a long time to grow. The young seedling has very little foliage compared to an already formed orchid.
Important! The seedling has no peduncle.
The seedling is constantly in a period of active growth of new leaves; each new shoot should be larger than the previous one. A mature orchid is more expensive, since an already formed flower can delight you with its blooms several times a year.
The seedling will bloom only after a few years. If you want an orchid because of its beautiful blooms, then it is better to opt for an adult flower.
Ideal conditions for growing orchids
Having brought home a flower, a reasonable question arises: how to care for an orchid? The orchid is considered a very demanding flower. For a comfortable existence, an orchid needs suitable soil, lighting, proper watering, a certain air humidity, the presence necessary fertilizers and timely transplantation.
Selection of soil and pot for orchids
As already mentioned, the main task of the soil and pot for orchids is This is to keep the flower in an upright position, allow air to pass through and protect the roots from excess moisture. A substrate is used as soil, which includes a mixture of natural fibers, moss, bark, clay, coal and sand with vermiculite or perlite.
Grind all these ingredients well, add a little dry leaves and a pinch of garden soil. Thanks to this composition, the substrate will retain required quantity moisture and all useful substances.
As a pot, you can use containers that can hold the substrate inside, for example, the most common plastic pot, which has many holes for water drainage. To appearance does not deteriorate, it can be placed in a wire planter, net or basket.
Did you know? A substrate is a medium for the development of organisms, which includes many nutritional elements.
Lighting and temperature conditions
The optimal temperature for the development of orchids at home ranges from +18 to +27 degrees Celsius during the day and from +13 to +24 at night. If your apartment is well heated, then try to put the orchids in a cooler place at night.
Frequently moving the orchid to a cooler place at night will help the flower develop faster and it will be able to release a new peduncle. Almost all types of orchids can withstand deviations temperature regime, but when the temperature drops, reduce watering the orchid, and when the temperature rises, watering should be increased.
As for lighting, it should be bright, but diffused. Direct sunlight is harmful to the flower. If the plant has enough light, it will delight you with its flowering for a long time.
Watering and spraying orchids
Don't forget about proper watering and moisturizing the orchid, since its successful growth and flowering. How much and often a flower needs to be watered is affected by the dryness and air temperature in the room, lighting, the size of the pot and what phase of the growing season the orchid is in.
It is believed that the orchid tolerates drying out well, but, on the contrary, dies from waterlogging. If a flower does not have enough moisture, its leaves will become stuck and wrinkled, and if there is too much moisture, the leaves will turn yellow, darken and become soggy, and the roots will rot.
You need to increase the amount of water during the active growth phase. During the dormant period after flowering, in winter, when there is not enough light and it gets cooler, you need to reduce watering.
Fertilizer and feeding
In order for an orchid to bloom well, it must be constantly fed with a balanced fertilizer. It's best if you buy special remedy for fertilizing orchids. Follow the instructions for the fertilizer, and your flower will delight you with its flowering for a long time.
Replanting home orchids
Good watering and timely transplantation are the key good growth flower. But it is important to understand that another transplant is a huge stress for the plant. After transplantation, the orchid may be sick for some time, stop root growth and delay flowering.
Experienced gardeners recommend replanting an orchid once every three years. The best time For replanting, early spring is considered, during the period of active flower growth. 
Before starting the transplant, prepare the necessary tools:
- pruner;
- large pot;
- replacement substrate;
- Activated carbon.
Important! Before starting work, treat your tools with alcohol to protect the flower from germs.
Now you can start transplanting.
- Hold the pot in your hands so that the substrate and roots are separated from the pot. Carefully remove from the pot.
- Clean the roots from the old substrate.
- Inspect the roots and get rid of possible insects.
- Remove rotted and dried roots, as well as lower foliage.
- Let the roots dry for 8 hours.
- Place some drainage in the disinfected pot. Place the orchid on top and sprinkle with substrate. The growing point must remain on the surface.
- Do not compact the substrate too hard. But keep in mind that the transplanted orchid should not dangle in the pot.
Propagation of orchids at home
If you have had an orchid for a long time, you have followed everything the necessary conditions If you keep an orchid at home, then most likely you will want to grow several more from one branch yourself. There are several options for propagating orchids, let's look at them.
Rhizome division
This is a simple flower propagation method that can be used to grow any type of orchid. You need to select an adult and large orchid, carefully remove it from the pot and separate the rhizome from the ground.
Very sharp knife cut the rhizome into the required number of parts (you need to leave at least three developed false bulbs in each part). Treat the roots charcoal, plant in separate containers and care for the flower as usual.
Side shoots
Some orchid species have side shoots. These are separate shoots of the mother plant that develop near it. If you want to propagate an orchid using side shoots, then pay due attention to growing these shoots.
The side shoot is separated from the main shoot after good care and constant spraying, then it is placed in a separate pot and cared for as an independent plant.
Old bulbs
Reproduction by old bulbs occurs after dividing the rhizome. After you have divided the rhizome and planted it in separate pots, the flower begins to grow.
In the pot where there are more old bulbs, the orchid will grow more slowly, since the bud from which a viable, healthy shoot will grow is not as developed in the old bulb.
Cuttings
You can try to grow an orchid using cuttings, if a certain distance is maintained between the developed nodes of the shoots. To do this, Use a sterile sharp knife to cut the shoot at an angle.
The cuts are disinfected with charcoal and the cuttings are planted in a separate pot. The cutting is cared for as a full-fledged plant, and after some time you will be pleased with its appearance by another gorgeous orchid. 
Seed method
An orchid is a whimsical and capricious flower that can be propagated and cared for at home, but growing orchids from seeds at home is impossible. The main reason can be considered the possibility of growing orchids exclusively in laboratory conditions.
All this is because in natural conditions plant seeds develop, receiving nutrients with the help of root sponge and fungal roots, but in orchids there is simply no nutritious tissue.
You can, of course, conduct such an experiment. If successful, you can safely count on the immense respect of scientists and some bonuses.
Diseases and ways to combat them
Orchids require constant care. Incorrect or untimely care can be detrimental to the orchid, causing various diseases. If a flower develops a disease, treatment can take a very long time, and it will be good if the treatment helps
Viral diseases
Viral diseases in orchids are, in principle, rare. But if you notice that the leaves of an orchid are covered with mosaic spots, the spots form small stripes and circles, then most likely it is viral disease. If a viral disease is confirmed, then it is necessary to burn the flower as soon as possible.
Bacterial diseases
Due to bacterial diseases, the leaves of the flower become covered with characteristic spots similar to bacteria. The spots, if left untreated, become wet sores and the leaves become soft and yellow. Treatment in this case there is only one thing - cut out the infected area, treat it and neighboring areas with iodine.
Fungal diseases
There are several main types of fungal diseases of orchids.
Anthracnose. Symptoms of a fungal disease are small, brown spots on the leaves. Over time, if no action is taken, they merge into solid black concave areas with a yellow or pink coating.
The main cause of this disease is considered high humidity and stagnation of water in the pot. cure this disease is impossible, you have to completely cut out affected areas down to healthy tissue. Treat the cut area with ash.
Powdery mildew. If the plant is covered with a white coating, then rest assured that it is powdery mildew. This fungus causes the affected area to dry out and die.
The fungus develops due to high humidity air temperature. For treatment need to spray the orchid colloidal sulfur solution. Before spraying, you need to water the flower well.
Gray rot.Brown spots affecting the entire flower are a symptom of gray rot. It occurs due to a violation of water and temperature conditions. For treatment use the drug "Immunocytophyte". 
As you can see, growing an orchid is not so simple task. But this one beautiful flower definitely worth it. Do not neglect the care recommendations, and your orchid will delight you for a long time.
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For the first time I saw indoor orchids at your friend's. The family lives prosperously, they have a spacious house with large windows, and on each windowsill there are flowerpots with orchids. The owner's story disappointed me because orchids are not a cheap pleasure. But from that very day I had a dream to collect a collection of orchids in my modest apartment. And then the dream began to come true: for my anniversary, the children gave me a luxurious orchid. I was in seventh heaven.
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Growing orchids at home
I looked after the orchid like I would a child, but my efforts were in vain - the plant began to wilt, the buds fell off one after another... I live in a small town, it’s not easy to find specialists in growing orchids, so I collected specialized literature from the library and from friends , was patient and performed a miracle - she saved her orchid.
Today I already have three phalaenopsis in my collection - Phalaenopsis Horse, Phalaenopsis Stewart and Phalaenopsis Schiller. All of them are characterized by long flowering and healthy appearance, and the problems with the first orchid taught me an invaluable lesson: now I have my own secrets in growing these exotic flowers.
So, my advice to all orchid lovers:
- Make sure that in the saucer in which the pot is standing blooming orchid, there was always clean boiled water.
- Do not replant an orchid during flowering under any circumstances!
- Place a clove of garlic in each orchid pot: garlic repels flower midges.
- At night I turn it on for my orchids table lamp– in the places where they come from, daylight hours are much longer than ours.
- Orchid roots take part in photosynthesis, so it is best to plant the orchid in a clear plastic pot.
- Orchids need to be watered along the top of the substrate. Water should pass freely through the soil, like through a sieve. At the same time, the soil is enriched with oxygen.
Separately, I would like to dwell on the problems that most often arise when growing orchids at home.
Difficulties in growing orchids at home
The orchid's buds and leaves fall off
Perhaps your orchid is not getting enough light or moisture. Humidify the air in the room, move the pot closer to the window, and eliminate drafts. Another reason for an orchid’s leaves to fall may be its proximity to ripe fruits: some of them, for example apples, emit ethylene, and it is very harmful to flowers. A friend of mine had such a case: the children were eating in the bedroom where there are orchids and plums, and in the morning the plant dropped several buds. Although it happens that orchids grow in the kitchen, where there are a lot of all kinds of products, and they feel great. In a word, depending on your luck, it’s better to play it safe and not leave fruit near them.
The leaves of the orchid began to ripple
or their edges have wrinkled. Perhaps the room is too hot, the orchid should feel a temperature difference between day and night of approximately 8 degrees.
Orchid roots peeking out of a flowerpot
It’s okay, it’s just time for the flower to move to a larger pot. But if the orchid’s roots dry out or rot, then urgent measures need to be taken.
Orchid leaves are limp
despite regular watering. Most likely, you overwatered your orchid! Or the pot is too narrow, and the root system of the flower is compressed. Another one probable cause– too generous watering with long breaks.
Orchid doesn't bloom
Despite all your efforts, the orchid does not want to bloom. Most likely, the orchid needs the so-called “heat stress”, that is, the same temperature difference between day and night, which should be 8-10 degrees difference. Or maybe your flower just needs a rest.
And finally, a few more words in favor of these graceful and beautiful indoor plants. Orchids on the windowsill are also aromatherapy. The Pleione maculata orchid smells like apples, the Bulbophyllum picutum smells like watermelon, and the Cychnoches pentadactylon orchid smells like chocolate!
In addition, according to the teachings of Feng Shui, orchids stimulate creative work brain and help get rid of depression. And dark red orchids supposedly cure their owner of laziness and apathy.
Replanting a home orchid
Replanting an orchid is not as complicated a process as it seems to novice gardeners, but it still has rules and you need to know them. An orchid is replanted when the previous pot becomes small or when the substrate is “eaten” by the plant. Half an hour before
Growing orchids in room conditions It is not particularly complicated, but requires adherence to strict rules that relate to the maintenance, as well as lighting and feeding of such flowers. Of course, anyone can plant this flower, but it is only possible to properly grow a truly beautiful and flowering plant if you follow agricultural technology.
Oddly enough, it is believed that keeping an orchid in the house is Bad sign. However, for most gardeners, signs do not prevent them from growing beautiful flowering plant. But keeping a flower in the bedroom, based on signs and legends, is still not worth it. Features of indoor plant maintenance can be studied in specialized literature on the topic “Signs and home flowers.”
General rules
On initial stage You should correctly decide what type and variety of orchid you intend to grow. This is quite easy to do even for beginners. The variety must be selected taking into account the following nuances:
- in warm rooms you should grow blue "Vandu", "Phalaenopsis", "Cattleya" And "Dendrobiums";
- should be kept in rooms with moderate temperatures "Leli", which are quite easy to grow;
- can be grown in cool type of premises "Coelogonia", "Paphiopedilum".
Regardless of the variety, the soil or soil must be selected correctly. Grow healthy plant from seeds or “babies” without the availability of high-quality land or when using depleted soil is almost impossible. Currently, you can purchase ready-made soil for orchids in garden stores. However, you can prepare the land for planting yourself.
Choosing soil and pot
Proper planting of flowers in a pot is very important. Otherwise, the plant may weaken and will have to be for a long time treat. When the soil and pot are chosen correctly, orchids live in indoor conditions for a long time and bloom profusely. In addition, it is important to choose the timing when you can plant the shoot.
Quite often, the reason that a plant needs to be treated is a violation of the planting deadlines. That is why, before planting an adult orchid or planting seeds, you should carefully prepare planting soil and pot and observe the planting date, or rather transplantation, and a few simple rules:
- A properly planted plant is sold in a transparent pot, which is absolutely no coincidence. Orchid roots need not only high-quality soil, but also light, which is due to their participation in photosynthesis. You should not rush and plant flowers in a dense but beautiful pot. If it is necessary to divide and replant the plant, the pot should remain transparent.
- It should be remembered that it is generally not recommended to replant orchids frequently and change their soil. Mature plant and its appendage are difficult to tolerate such manipulations. Experienced flower growers believe that changing the soil inhibits the growth and flowering of a flower, and also weakens it.
- As a rule, the aerial roots of the crop stick up directly from the soil, which can create the impression of crowding and the need to increase the amount of soil. Therefore, many novice flower growers try to frequently change planting containers, dooming the plant to illness, and then to long-term treatment.
- It should be remembered that the appearance of crowding is deceptive, and an aerial root system is a common situation and depends on how much nutrients the plant accumulates and how much light the root system requires for photosynthesis. Dried roots should simply be pruned. But healthy aerial roots do not require pruning.
Growing orchids at home (video)
The soil for growing such plants is presented in a special soil mixture. This soil is based on the use of tree bark. It must be remembered that orchids will not grow in ordinary soil. Bark-based soil is quite easy to find in flower shops, but initially you won’t need it. It will have to be used only after flowering, at the stage when the plant needs to be replanted.
Orchids live long and bloom well if the following requirements are met:
- into the saucer on which it is located flower pot With flowering plant, you can pour clean boiled water;
- It is often impossible to replant an orchid (especially at the flowering stage);
- You can put a clove of garlic in each planting container, which will help repel insect pests that often inhabit flower pots;
- standard table lamps are used for lighting;
- orchids and “babies” after detachment can only be transplanted into a transparent planting container;
- After planting, flowers can be watered only from above the planting substrate, which will allow water to freely pass through the soil layer and enrich the plant with oxygen.
Many people try to grow orchids from seeds. Currently, stores offer a wide range of seeds of this plant, but it is extremely difficult to obtain a full-fledged flowering specimen by planting seeds. As a rule, this method is advisable if it is necessary to obtain a varietal plant, the seeds of which will be used to obtain hybrid plants. Most often, so-called “baby” orchids are used for planting. The “baby” is planted in the same way as dividing a plant.
Orchids at home require special care. Depending on how much time is spent on care, and how lighting, fertilizing and watering are properly maintained after planting, its appearance and flowering will depend.
Rules of care
Health indoor plant depends entirely on compliance with care requirements. The orchid is no exception, and it is simply impossible to force this flower to grow or bloom in inappropriate conditions.
Lighting
You should carefully consider the issue of lighting orchids. The most important thing for every plant is correct mode lighting, on which growth, development and full flowering depend. During the intensive growth stage, this type of flower requires about 15 hours of continuous light.
It is especially important to observe the lighting regime in conditions of short winter daylight hours. It is convenient to use a special type of fluorescent or phytolamps, which can force the plants to prepare for the formation of flower buds.
Top dressing
When daylight hours increase, that is, in spring, you should start feeding. Shortening daylight hours becomes a reason to reduce the application of fertilizers. Fertilizing should be carried out after two waterings. On cloudy, low-sunny days, fertilizing stops. The fertilizer must be diluted in water and then left for at least ten minutes, which will cause the drug to completely dissolve.
Watering
A convenient method of watering is the method of immersing the planting container. In addition, you should carefully monitor the condition of the green part of the orchid and reduce watering if high humidity levels are detected in the room where the plant is grown, as well as during the plant’s dormant stage and with a large planting pot that can accumulate too much moisture. The plant is responsive to spraying the leaves with distilled water.
Care after flowering
Orchids bloom several times throughout the growing period. As a rule, flowering is long-lasting and can last for several months. After flowering, the plant needs special care. If, after the flowers have fallen, the peduncle dries out, then the crop should be prepared for a period of rest, which should begin after flowering. In this case, the peduncle dries out and falls off on its own. If this does not happen, then trimming is done at a height of 3 cm.
There are cases when, after flowering, the peduncle continues to develop, which indicates preparation for the formation of the last flower bud.
More details about care home orchid You can find out .
How and when an orchid blooms
As a rule, it is impossible to force a plant to bloom at the request of the grower at a certain time. In addition, it is impossible to force orchids to bloom without the presence optimal temperatures. However, it should be remembered that stimulating flowering does not always leave its mark on the health of the crop. It is most difficult to get a variety to bloom that comes from a mountainous region, where dry periods are insignificant or completely absent.
Experienced gardeners use two methods to stimulate flowering.
Drought stimulation
This technique is applicable to any species and variety for which the presence of a dormant period is optional. It can be used regardless of the season. Temperature readings should not exceed +30 °C. This technique allows for sufficient short term force flower buds wake up on the plant.
Stimulation by temperature changes
The optimal period for using this technique is spring period in the presence of stable night temperatures at least +16 °C. The plant should be kept indoors during the day, familiar conditions, and at night - take it out into the open air. Flowering begins no later than a month later.
Orchid transplantation at home (video)
Orchids belong to light-loving plants, however, direct sunlight can be harmful to them. The optimal location is a window sill on a western or eastern window. IN summer period A good incentive for flowering and development is to move flower pots with plants to the balcony and spray the leaves.
Can't leave anyone indifferent beautiful orchid. But growing this flower is possible at home. Of course, capricious tropical beauties require careful care. Be patient, and the orchid will very soon delight you with its fantastic flowers.
Choosing the type of orchid to plant
In nature, there are more than 25,000 species of these plants, and 90,000 hybrids. Among this variety of species, not all can grow indoors.
When choosing a type of orchid, you should take into account the temperature of the room in which the flowers will be grown. Vandas, phalaenopsis, catleya, dendrobiums are suitable for warm rooms, and laelias are suitable for rooms with moderate temperatures. And for cool rooms, celoginiums, paphiopedilums and dendrobiums are ideal.
The most suitable type of orchid for our conditions is phalaenopsis. It is also called the butterfly orchid. If you follow all care recommendations, you can admire the flowers for almost six months a year. And it is this species that is advised to choose as the first orchid that you will grow at home.
Planting orchids
Orchid is an epiphytic plant. This means that under natural conditions it grows not on soil, but on other plants, usually trees. Therefore, even indoors, an orchid can be planted on a block or in a special substrate. But the choice of planting method depends on the recommendations for growing orchids. For different types The plants are different.
Planting an orchid on a block
As a block, you can use a piece of pine bark, cork oak or Amur velvet; tree fern is also suitable. Snags are also good, especially those left over after sorting the peat. The size of the block is selected taking into account the size of the plant itself and its characteristics.
Planting an orchid on a block is not that difficult. Needs to be placed under the plant a small amount of sphagnum moss and tie the plant to the block using soft wire or synthetic thread.
The peculiarity of growing orchids on a block is the rapid drying of the roots. Therefore, if you plant a plant on a block, you should take care of higher air humidity. It would be ideal to place such an orchid in a small greenhouse.
Planting an orchid in a substrate
Preparing the substrate for planting
To grow orchids at home, it is best to buy a special substrate. But you can cook it yourself.
1st view:
To prepare the substrate you will need dry pine bark and dried sphagnum moss. The bark must be boiled for 10 minutes. Dry. After 2-3 days, repeat the procedure. Boiling destroys harmful insects. The prepared bark must be cut into pieces of 1.5-2 cm. The moss must be crushed and mixed with pieces of bark. Now the substrate is ready.
2nd view:
We take 1 part of crushed fern roots, 1 part of crushed moss, 1 part of turf soil, light and very loose, 1 part of leaf soil. To improve the structure of the substrate, add some fallen oak leaves.
3rd view:
A mixture of pine bark and peat is taken in different ratios depending on the required moisture capacity. For example: a ratio of 7:1 is a substrate with average moisture capacity, 1:1 is a substrate with very high moisture capacity.
Preparing a container for planting an orchid
Plastic or ceramic pots, various baskets.
It is preferable to plant plants in white or transparent containers with smooth surface. If you plant an orchid in a rough clay pot, then subsequent replanting of the plant will be very traumatic for the roots. It is recommended to make additional holes in the pot to provide additional air flow to the root system. Additional holes will not allow excess moisture to stagnate. A rigid wire is attached to the holes, which will serve as a support for the plant.
Planting an orchid in a pot
1/3 of the pot's volume is filled with drainage. It can be expanded clay, polystyrene foam, gravel, shards, broken brick. After this, we place the orchid in the pot. We attach the roots to the wire base using soft wire or nylon thread. Fill with prepared substrate. In this case, the horizontal part of the stem should remain on the surface.
Planting an orchid in a basket
A basket is the best container for growing orchids. Thanks to good air access and moderate humidity, plants form excellent root system. No drainage is required for planting in a basket. A wire mesh is attached to the bottom of the container. It can be replaced with pieces of bark or moss. The orchid roots are attached to this mesh. A substrate is placed on top, which should be more moisture-intensive. To do this, moss or peat is added to it. The side slots of the basket are covered with moss. This will increase the moisture capacity of the substrate.
Optimal conditions for growing orchids
Orchid is a light-loving plant, but does not tolerate direct sunlight. The ideal location would be a western or eastern window. In winter you will need additional lighting. The length of daylight required for the proper development of the plant is 12-15 hours. The main signs of a lack of light are dark, soft leaves, excessive elongation of leaves and bulbs.
To grow orchids, it is necessary to maintain the temperature within +20...+25°C. Minimum temperature which orchids can withstand +12°C.
Orchids do well at a relative air humidity of 50-60%. But optimal humidity 70-80%. Such humidity can only be achieved in a greenhouse that must be ventilated. The room in which the orchid grows requires ventilation, but the plants are afraid of drafts. Moist, stagnant air can cause fungal and bacterial infections.
If there is insufficient air humidity, it is recommended to spray orchids up to 3 times a day. During flowering, when spraying, avoid getting water on the flowers. Spraying is carried out in the morning, afternoon and at night, but so that by night the leaves are completely dry. If the plants are on outdoors(on the balcony, veranda), it is better to refrain from evening spraying. If the air temperature is low in winter, then there is no need to spray orchids.
The orchid pot can be placed on a tray with water and pebbles. Water, evaporating, will moisten the plants. Orchids are often displayed next to the aquarium.
Watering orchids
Only soft water (from 2 to 7 dH), without chemical impurities, is suitable for irrigation. For irrigation, use settled, boiled or filtered water. household filter water. Rainwater is ideal for watering orchids.
To reduce the hardness of the water, pieces of peat are added to it. The peat is wrapped in a cloth bag and placed in water for a day. For 10 liters of water, take 10 g of peat.
The watering mode is selected for each plant individually. It is necessary to water the orchid only when the substrate is completely dry. All excess water should flow out of the pot without lingering. Water temperature for irrigation +30-40°C. Plants should be watered in the morning. In summer, orchids should be watered every 2-3 days, in winter - 1-2 times a week. Very useful for orchids hot shower within a few minutes.
Orchids are very demanding, capricious flowers. But how good they are!
