Recently, the orchid was considered a picky plant, but now even a novice can handle its cultivation. Here are just some rules that should be followed, otherwise the tropical guest will refuse to bloom or will die altogether.
An orchid at home can please you for a long time with its beautiful flowers and leaves. But only if you do not make mistakes that can lead to the death of the plant. So, let’s figure out what needs to be done to harm an orchid, and how to avoid it.
An orchid at home can please you for a long time with its beautiful flowers and leaves. But only if you do not make mistakes that can lead to the death of the plant. So, let’s figure out what needs to be done to harm an orchid, and how to avoid it.
Choose an unhealthy orchid in advance
The fastest way to get rid of the desired plant is to choose a suitable specimen: sick, weakened or simply old. Of course, in stores, all flowers seem beautiful and healthy, but be vigilant. Look not only at the flowers, but also at the roots and leaves of the orchid. Healthy roots should be green or silver-gray in color, without brown areas. The leaves are juicy, springy, rich green.
Make sure that there are no spots, mold, insects, or shriveled areas on the parts of the plant. Gently move the plant in the pot. Does the orchid fall out? Then keep looking, this instance is not yet established and may have problems after shipping.
Even if you have made an excellent choice, the orchid can die if it is not transported properly. In frost, the plant should be wrapped in a newspaper, a film, and synthetic fiber. And remember, even in a shelter, a flower can be outside for no more than 5-10 minutes, otherwise it will freeze.
Place the orchid in inappropriate conditions
An incorrectly chosen place for an orchid is one of the reasons for its premature death. These plants are usually placed on the windowsill, as they like sunlight. But there are pitfalls here. If the windowsill is north, there will not be enough light on it, and the orchid will turn pale and stretch out. On the southern side, the orchid is exposed to scorching sun rays, and as a result, burns on the leaves in the warm season. The situation is a little better on the eastern and western windowsills, although there is not always enough sunlight there. In general, you can put an orchid on any window, you just have to additionally illuminate the plant with a phytolamp, or shade it with blinds or a curtain.
Transplant the plant immediately after purchase
If, immediately after purchase, you decide to transplant the orchid into a pre-purchased beautiful pot, you can say goodbye to your plant. It is unlikely that she will like the additional stress in the form of a transplant. Give the orchid at least a few weeks to get used to the room conditions and your care. And it is better not to touch it at all, if there are no special problems with the plant. In a store pot, it may well develop and bloom for 1-2 years, and then, when the substrate becomes worse at giving off moisture, feel free to transplant.
Too often watering an orchid
Watering is one of the most important orchid care procedures. Beginner florists often confuse a flower’s love for humidity with a love for moisture and constantly water the plant. You should not do this. Not only will such “care” lead to rotting of the roots, but also flowering can be delayed, since orchids necessarily need a period of dryness to set buds. Water the plant about once every 10-14 days, when the lower leaves become a little sluggish. Keep an eye on the condition of the roots: if they are deep green, and there is condensation in the pot, watering is not needed in the near future.
Use soft settled water for watering. If you moisten the orchid by immersion, then after 15-20 minutes, remove the plant and make sure that the water does not accumulate in the tray. When watering the substrate with a watering can, it is necessary to drain the remaining water from the tray to prevent rotting of the roots.
Water the orchid only in the morning so that the plant has time to absorb moisture by evening.
Actively feed the orchid
Orchid does not like frequent and abundant feeding. It is enough to feed the plant 1-2 times a month and only during the growth period. If you bought a flowering orchid, do not rush to feed it, this will lead to stress in the plant. It is better to wait until new leaves start to grow or a fresh shoot appears. Such signs are a signal for feeding.
For feeding, you can use special preparations for orchids or universal complex fertilizers. If you chose the latter, the concentration of the solution should be 3-4 times less than that specified in the instructions. The less feeding, the better for the orchid. Fertilization should not be carried out during the flowering period.
For orchids, only aqueous solutions of fertilizers should be used. Dry feeding can cause root irritation and plant death.
Never make the mistakes indicated in this article and your orchid will live a long time.
