Do you know? Orchids are one of the flowering plants that have the most species in the world. Besides being loved by many people because the flowers are beautiful and rich in benefits, it turns out that how to care for orchids is not so difficult.
Are you a flower lover? Maybe orchids are one of your favorite flowers. Do you know how to take good care of it? If not, just read this article to find out how to care for orchids so they flower quickly.
How to care for orchids can be said to be easy and difficult. It is easy for those who are used to cultivating it and a little difficult for beginners who are just learning to care for it. But don’t worry, we will describe it in simple language to make it easy to understand.
There are important things that you should pay attention to regarding how to care for orchids. Some of these include the selection of planting media, meeting the needs of sunlight, and making sheltered houses.
Not only that, you also have to know how to care for orchids so that their growth is not hampered. Examples are watering these plants regularly, giving fertilizer, spraying hormones, and so on.
Want to know the full explanation? Come on, see the important steps on how to care for orchids so that they are always fertile and flower quickly below!
At a Glance About Orchid Flowers
Who doesn’t know orchids? The existence of this flower has spread to various countries in the world, such as Indonesia, Japan, and the United States. Plants with Latin names Orchidaceae It has a very large number of species, reaching 28,000 species.
The special feature of this beautiful flower is that its stems, leaves, and roots are fleshy and contain water. This situation makes orchids and other types of plants such as coffee able to live in tropical areas that have low water availability.
Most orchids live on other plants without harming the host plant (epiphytes), be it on the stems, twigs, or base. Examples of the species are Dendrobium, Cattleya, Phalaenopsisand Vanda. The way this plant survives is by absorbing nutrients from the water, such as rain, fog, and moisture around it.
Meanwhile, there are also orchids that live in the soil (terrestrial) which take nutrients from the soil. The types include Ladyslipper, Cymbidiumand Jewel. In addition, there are also orchids that live on organic media, such as humus, manure, and compost. An example of the type is Epipogia, Galeolaand Goodyera.
The existence of several types of orchids also has many benefits for humans. Just say it Cattleya kept as ornamental plants, Vanilla planifolia which produces vanilla powder, and Gastrodia elata which is useful for herbal medicine.
Interested in maintaining this beautiful flower? Check out the review on how to care for orchids below so that the flowers you plant can thrive.
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Things to Pay Attention to Regarding How to Take Care of Orchids
It is important to know the factors that affect the fertility of this plant. For that, here are the things that need to be considered so that the flowers you care for don’t die quickly:
1. Growing Media
Planting media serves as a place for orchid growth and storage of water and nutrients. Choose a medium that is not easily weathered, has good absorption, and is not easy to become a nest of disease.
Also pay attention to the level of acidity (pH) that the container has. A good degree of acidity ranges from 5-6. Some suitable growing media for this flower include coconut coir, ferns, wood shavings, moss, and pots.
The most ideal pot to use is one made of clay and has many holes. Placement is usually placed on long shelves or hung using a wire. Avoid placing the pot directly on the soil surface because it will interfere with the drainage and aeration process when sprayed or watered.
2. Altitude of Place
In addition to planting media, things to consider regarding how to care for orchids are the height of the place. A good temperature for species that grow in the highlands (more than 700 meters above sea level/masl) is between 18-21 °C during the day and 13-18 °C at night. Some examples of types of orchids that live in this habitat are: Miltona, Cymbidiumand Phalaenopsis.
For species that grow in temperate areas (501-700 masl) such as Cattleya, Dendrobiumand Oncidium, the ideal temperature is around 19-32 °C during the day and 19-21 °C at night. While species that grow in the lowlands (0-500 masl) such as Arachnis and Arantherathe ideal temperature is 34-38 °C.
3. Sunlight
Each type of orchid has different needs for sunlight. Just say it Phalaenopsis requiring light to moderate shade, Bulbophyllum requires moderate light, and Cymbidium which requires very bright lighting.
Lack of sunlight can result in slowed growth, thin leaves, and imperfect flowers. For that, move the plant to a place that suits its light needs gradually so that the orchid does not experience stress due to drastic temperature changes.
Also pay attention to whether after being moved these plants experience excess light that can interfere with their growth. The characteristics of orchids that are overexposed, namely the leaves easily turn yellow or burn, damaged leaf cells, and mature too quickly can be seen from the cessation of growth before reaching the normal size limit.
4. Proper Pot Arrangement
Arrange the pots on the rack lengthwise horizontally with a height of about 1 meter. Avoid placing pots in stages because it can interfere with air circulation in orchid plants.
Place the pot with a distance that is not too close, which is about 5 cm so that sunlight can penetrate between the plants. In addition, air circulation becomes smoother and inhibits the growth of moss on the body of the pot.
5. Safe House
Orchids usually live attached to the stems of other plants. This condition usually makes this plant does not get direct sunlight because it is protected by the leaves of the plant it is traveling on.
Thus, the need for sunlight on orchids is not 100%, which is only around 50-70%. To adjust to its cool natural habitat, you can make a protected house that is given a paranet to protect this plant from excessive sun exposure.
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How to Take Care of Orchid Flowers to Be Fertile and Flowering
After knowing what are the things that need to be considered in maintaining this beautiful flower, now is the time for us to explain the stages of how to care for a good orchid so that it is always fertile and blooms. How to? Here’s the explanation:
1. Regular Watering
Meet the needs of water and maintain humidity by regularly watering the orchids every day. Do watering at least twice a day if the weather is hot. On the other hand, you don’t need to water it when you enter the rainy season, unless your favorite flower is placed under a protected house.
The intensity of the spraying water should adjust to the type and size of the plant and environmental conditions. When watering, you can use a sprinkler, a sprayer, a water pump, drip irrigation, and a sprinkler system (a series of water reservoirs equipped with a pump).
For watering time, ideally it is done at 07.00-09.00 in the morning and in the afternoon at 15.00-17.00. Good watering occurs when water flows directly to the roots and leaves and is then immediately absorbed by the plant.
2. Give Fertilizer
The next way to care for orchids so that they thrive is to give them fertilizers that contain high nutrients. You can use organic or inorganic fertilizers by spraying, spraying, or sprinkling it, depending on the form of fertilizer you choose (solid or liquid).
In order for plants to easily absorb the benefits of the fertilizer given, choose a liquid fertilizer. The trick, mix two liters of water with two spoons of fertilizer then put the solution into a sprayer and then spray it on the leaves, stems, and roots.
It would be nice to spray it from under the leaves and do it when the flower is not exposed to sunlight. That’s when fertilization is effective because the leaf stomata are open.
3. Spray Hormones or Growth Regulators (PGR)
In addition to routinely watering and fertilizing, how to care for orchids so that they thrive is by giving ZPT or a kind of stimulant drug for orchids. One example is the provision of the hormone Gibberellin which helps these plants to flower quickly.
The rule for using this hormone is to dissolve 10-15 ml of Gibelerin with 1 liter of water and stir until evenly distributed. Next, spray the solution on the plants every week or two.
Another option is to use coconut water with a concentration of about 15%. The trick, mix approximately 150 ml of coconut water with 1 liter of water into a sprayer and then spray it on the leaves and roots of the orchid. Do it regularly at least once a week.
4. Prevent Pests and Diseases
Controlling pests and diseases is the last step in caring for orchids that you should do every day. Clean your favorite flower from rotten leaves, weeds, and dirt.
If necessary, use insect repellent (insecticide) if your orchid is attacked by pests. In addition, prevent and kill fungi or bacteria that interfere with using fungicides or bactericides.
For example, your orchid is attacked by trips (one of the plant pests) which causes flower buds to fall off or inhibits plant growth. So, eradicate these pests by spraying insecticides at a dose of about 0.1-0.2% or as recommended.
Spray every week or every two weeks depending on how severe the bug is. The schedule for spraying should be at 06.00-07.00 in the morning or in the afternoon at 17.00-18.00.
Also read: Interesting Information About Tulips and Planting Techniques
It’s time to take care of your favorite orchid flowers so they flower quickly
So, you already know how to take good care of orchids, right? It’s not that hard, huh! Are you interested in practicing it on your favorite flower at home? If so, don’t forget to apply the steps above regularly.
In addition to how to care for orchids, you can also find other articles that are no less interesting. For example, how to grow hydroponics or explore the history of coffee. Where else if not in IGUCeleb!
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