How to cultivate orchids
This article brings you the topic of how to cultivate orchids and the introduction of orchid cultivation methods related to flower cultivation. Next, the editor will answer your questions in detail.
Why can't orchids be cultivated well? It's because most people do not understand the nature of orchids. There are several skills to grow orchids well, which must be firmly remembered. Although orchids are beautiful and pleasing to the eye, not many people can grow them well. If you want to grow them well, you must put in a lot of effort to fully understand their growth habits, so as not to easily encounter problems.
First, the potting soil preparation
The most crucial point in growing orchids is the preparation of its substrate. The roots of orchids are different from those of other plants; they are relatively thick and resemble radish roots. These roots do not have strong penetration capabilities and require loose and breathable soil. They are averse to both dryness and moisture. Therefore, when preparing the soil, a substrate with excellent loose and breathable properties must be used. The substrate for orchids is specifically formulated and differs from that of other flowers.
If the substrate is well-prepared, it will allow the orchid to grow and spread freely without becoming compacted, rotting, or having excessively tangled roots. Try to use a combination of soft and hard materials for the orchid's substrate. Soft materials can include things like peat soil particles, bark, or well-rotted peanut shells. Hard materials can include things like red brick particles, small ceramic beads, or rainbow stone particles. Mix these two types of materials together, applying both soft and hard treatments. If your ventilation conditions are good, you can add more nutritious soft materials, which are especially useful for growing orchids.
If your ventilation conditions are poor and you often open windows for ventilation, you can add more hard particles, such as wheatstone-like particle soil. Once the soil is well-mixed and watered, the bottom will become exposed, allowing the roots to absorb some nutrients from the soil while retaining moisture for slow absorption.
How to cultivate orchids
Second, the watering issue
Many people struggle to master the watering of orchids. Orchids have specific requirements for watering; they prefer a relatively humid environment and do not require a large amount of water, but the humidity must be maintained. If the potting soil is too compacted or too moist, it can lead to root rot. Therefore, you should water based on your care environment, season, and the size of the seedlings, rather than following a fixed schedule of watering every few days. If the soil you have prepared has poor breathability, it might not need watering for a month, whereas if it has good breathability, it might need to be watered one or two times a month.
When watering orchids, you can follow this rule: when the potting soil is dry halfway, water it thoroughly. Do not wait until the soil is completely dry before watering, because plant roots grow downwards, and the new roots at the bottom, when dry halfway, allow the upper roots to breathe well. There is still some moisture at the bottom, so watering thoroughly will not dry out the new roots quickly and allows them to perform respiration. If you are unsure about watering orchids, you can insert a bamboo stake at the edge of the pot. When you want to water, pull it out and check. The bamboo stake can clearly show the dryness or moisture of the potting soil. This is a good method to master watering if you want to grow orchids well.