Take each rule seriously – and the orchid will delight you for years.
I myself have many orchids and I chose them all using these tips!
They are still blooming and always healthy! With the greatest variety of species – up to 35 thousand (10% of all plants in the world), shapes and colors, all orchids are the same in structure: they have three sepals and three petals, one of which is larger and brighter than the others, sometimes in the shape of a cup. Orchids come in any color, even black and green/
Remember the general rules
- Orchids are sold in any season. But this does not mean that they will enjoy March 8 in the cold. After all, their homeland is the tropics! When buying an orchid, at least wrap the flower in a cocoon made of several layers of thick paper. This will protect her from drafts and cold wind. This means that the roots, leaves and buds will not be affected.
- In supermarkets, orchids suffer from lack of attention. But in small flower shops, they are looked after better. In addition, the florist will give the exact name of the plant (phalenopsis, dendrobium, cymbidium) and tell how to care for it. But the ideal destination is a greenhouse. Yes, nurseries grow flowers in conditions close to natural ones. And competent care is also provided there. This is the key to the orchid’s good health.
- Flowering plants are beautiful, but deceptive. The orchid is depleted during flowering. Phalaenopsis, for example, can bloom for several years and then die. How long he has to live and how long he is kept on the shelf, no one will answer.
- Near the shelf with orchids, examine the substrate. The bark should be large and not rotten, if it is moss – dry and fluffy. If conditions are wet (recently watered), there should be no water in the tray. In general, plants should be dry and clean. It is better to buy an orchid in a dry substrate. Yes, it will be easier for her to move and transport.
- Roots are very important. Dense, elastic and not limp — this is a signal of good health. In the dry mixture, they have a light green color, and in the wet – dark green. Brown or gray roots are bad. Ideally, there should be more roots than substrate. There are never too many of them! If the system protrudes a little, everything is fine. If the plant in the slide is mobile, it was recently transplanted and has not yet taken root. Therefore, it is better to buy the one that sits tightly. Check by eye or grab the plant by the stem and gently move it (very gently!).
- The leaves of a healthy orchid have the same shape, they are dense and elastic to the touch, and they look evenly colored. If the leaves become leafy, probably the reason lies in the killing dose of feeding. The plant is unlikely to bloom, and it is not worth taking. As well as those with mechanical damage, stains, dents, warts or insects.
Take each rule seriously and the orchid will delight you for years. Yes, and don’t throw away the species tag. The name will be quickly forgotten. And you will still have to choose fertilizer.
Autor: Eugene Macaulay.
