According to scientists, orchids adorned the Earth 130 million years ago. As a houseplant, they spread only 4000 years ago, initially in China and Japan, where they made medicinal infusions, since for a long time it was believed that they have healing properties.
In other countries, an orchid, care and planting of which was already commonplace in the East, appeared only 200 years ago and has since gained many admirers of its beauty.
Orchid in the wild
For a long time, people were mistaken in thinking that this plant grows exclusively in tropical forests, so it is difficult for him to create the right atmosphere at home. In fact, there are about 30,000 species of orchids that grow in completely different climatic conditions, avoiding only too arid and cold places.
The mistake was not without meaning, since most species of this plant really prefer moist tropical and monsoon forests, in which they are protected from direct sunlight with good air ventilation.
To date, there are no orchids only in Antarctica, while the rest of the continents are home to its various varieties. Many of the varieties of this flower are epiphytes and need support in the form of a tree trunk. At the same time, they do not belong to parasites, since they feed exclusively on decayed foliage and insects.
Some orchids settle in the mountains, choosing crevices for this, in which moisture accumulates and there is protection from cold winds. Over millions of years, these flowers have evolved and “grown” roots and leaves that help them survive in the event of drought, collecting moisture from the environment.
Some of them attract bees, while others mutated and began to be pollinated by flies, butterflies, mosquitoes, bats, hummingbirds and even moths. Not all of their species are able to take root outside the familiar ecosystem. Orchids, transplanting and caring at home for which do not cause much trouble, are represented by only 50 species, the most popular of which are cambria and phalaenopsis.
Types of Orchids
Most often, flower growers pay attention to those varieties of these flowers that do not require the creation of a complex microclimate in an apartment or greenhouse. These include:
- Phalaenopsis, which was first discovered on Ambon Island in Indonesia. Translated from Greek, its name means "similar to a moth", which is associated with the shape of a flower resembling an exotic butterfly. The plant has 4-6 evergreen leaves, from the sinuses of which flower stalks and aerial roots grow . Propagated by a baby.
- Cattleya orchid was found in Brazil by botanist William Swanson. The name was given by the name of the person who managed to first achieve its flowering in his greenhouse. This plant with large and bright flowers is very moody and requires the creation of conditions with high humidity and light. Therefore, a similar orchid for a beginner, the care and transplant of which requires more time and experience, is not suitable. It is better to start with less capricious varieties.
- Dendrobium is one of the most numerous species, which includes from 1000 to 1400 varieties and garden hybrids. All varieties of this orchid may have a different number of flowers and leaves, but they have one common attribute - the lower petal is wrapped around the base of the flower. This is the most favorite variety of these plants among gardeners, since it does not require special care and blooms from two to six weeks.
- Cumbria is a hybrid grown specifically for "living" at home. They are the best option for beginners who want an orchid in their home flower garden. Care and transplantation is its most minimal and simple. She will delight her owner with flowering several times a year.
Hundreds of books have been written in which everything about orchids is described in detail - care, watering, transplanting and dressing, necessary at home, so that even a beginner can afford an exotic flower in his "collection".
Potted orchids
For many beginner gardeners, the question is urgent in which pots to grow orchids. Transplantation and home care of these plants often depend on the selected containers, location and created artificial environment.
Most often, lovers of this flower prefer to purchase varieties whose dormancy period is either minimal or absent altogether. These include cymbidium, coelogin, phalaenopsis and others. They bloom year-round, which is especially nice when caring for them.
For many orchids, soil is only a way to keep them upright, so it should not contain “heavy” garden soil. Most varieties have a mixture of sifted sand with clay, moss, bark, coal and cork. All this must be thoroughly crushed and mixed. You can buy a ready-made soil mixture for orchids.
Some newcomers believe that if the roots of a plant hang from a pot, then it is crowded in it, and they try to transplant flowers. An orchid, the care and transplant of which is not as complicated as it seems, does not need large containers until its growth stops.
At the first stage, instead of a pot, an ordinary plastic glass may come up, but it all depends on the size of the flower. The main requirement of an orchid is a constantly moist soil, so it needs not only drainage and holes in the pot, but also a tray with pebbles, into which it is regularly worth adding water.
Phalaenopsis variety
This type of orchid does not have a rest period and pleases the hosts with flowers all year round, but it will take some effort to plant and bloom.
- Firstly, it is important that the air is warmed up to +25 degrees at any time of the year. But it blooms only if there is a difference of 5 degrees between daytime and nighttime temperatures. In this case, the flower creates new buds.
- Secondly, spraying once a day should look like water fog. Water droplets should not be left on the leaves, but high humidity is required. To create it, you can use a tray with pebbles, in which there is always water. It is important to remember that the pot does not stand in water, but on pebbles, so that the roots do not rot.
- Thirdly, when the phalaenopsis orchid is grown , the care and transplant of this plant often depends on the substrate in which it grows. It must be breathable and may consist of bark, moss and pieces of foam. It is important to ensure that the soil is only slightly moist, or when the temperature drops, a wet substrate can cause root decay.
- Fourth, watering should be carried out very carefully so that water does not get into the base of the outlet, where its growth point is located. You can pour water along the edge of the pot.
This home orchid, care, the transplant of which is not too burdensome if all its “requirements” are met, will bring joy to its owner. Constant pruning at the place where the flowering ended will provoke the plant to the appearance of new buds, creating their year-round blooming.
Phalaenopsis orchid transplant
It is important to know that the Phalaenopsis orchid does not tolerate the destruction of the substrate . Home care, transplantation should be done with extreme caution and only if:
- the pot became really small;
- the plexus of living and dead roots began;
- destruction of the substrate occurred;
- there is the appearance of plaque on the ground;
- the old tank has fallen into disrepair.
During the transplant, the plant must be carefully removed from the pot. If it is made of plastic, then it is better to cut it. The roots should be freed from the old soil, trimmed dry and rotting processes and rinse in clean water.
Pour a fresh substrate into a new container, place a flower in it and carefully sprinkle with soil all the spaces between the roots. Moisten the soil slightly and place the pot in the shade for a couple of days so that the orchid takes root in it. After transplantation, care consists in moistening the substrate until the plant is accepted. After that, you can transfer it to its usual place.
Cumbria Orchid
Like all hybrid orchid species , cumbria variety needs only the right watering, the required level of lighting and air temperature:
- This plant in summer prefers temperatures from +22 to +26, and in winter - from +16 to +18 degrees. During the flowering period, it is necessary to ensure that the day and night temperatures differ by no more than 5-6 degrees.
- The best place for a cumbria orchid will be windows on the west, east, northeast or north side, where there is a lot of light, but there is no direct sunlight. When the plant blooms in the autumn-winter period, it is necessary to illuminate it with a fluorescent lamp.
- Watering in this hybrid variety should be moderate but regular. It does not tolerate stagnation of water, so there must be holes in the tank, and drainage can be poured not only at its bottom, but also the walls. Watering is carried out only after drying of the substrate after the previous procedure.
- Humidity should be moderate, up to 30%, but during flowering it can be slightly increased, which can be done by spraying up to two times a day.
- Top dressing should be carried out with special means for orchids once a month, during its growth period - from March to September. This should be done carefully, because for all its unpretentiousness, this type of orchid does not like salinization of the soil.
Such a cambria orchid requires care. A transplant is performed if the pot no longer contains the plant, but only during the dormant period. To do this, carefully remove it from the old container, wash the roots and put in a new pot with a substrate.
Watering and feeding orchids
Beginners most often think that the only thing that is necessary for an orchid to bloom is care and transplantation. How to properly water these flowers is also important to know. This largely depends on the type of these plants. Some people like to be watered when their substrate is not completely dry, and others so that it is completely dry.
But most home orchids prefer moist soil, so when watering, you should take into account air humidity and daily spraying. When an orchid is grown, care, transplantation (photo shows this) should be accompanied by moderate watering. If the plant can temporarily withstand dry soil, then increased humidity causes root decay, which can lead to its death.
Water for irrigation should be soft, for which it must be defended or boiled over. It is desirable that its temperature be a couple of degrees warmer than air. In the summer, orchids are watered 3 times a week, while in winter it is enough twice.
For flowers planted in pots, watering is done from above, and if the plants are in baskets or blocks, then they are immersed in a container of water for about five minutes, after which they allow excess moisture to drain.
All kinds of orchids are fed once a month only during their active growth. To avoid salinization of the substrate, it is advisable to alternate it with its washing. You can not fertilize the orchid in winter and during dormancy, and also use mineral fertilizers designed for other flowers.
In the case of orchids, it is better to underfeed them than to harm them with an excess of fertilizing.
Pruning and lighting
The main thing that the orchid requires from the owner is care and transplantation (if necessary). However, pruning also affects both its growth and flowering. For those plants that do not know the dormant period, it must be produced every time it fades. After the flowers fall, this part of the plant is cut off, stimulating it to form new buds in the axils of the leaves.
Depending on the variety of the orchid, the peduncle can be cut off completely or only the part where the flowering was. Depending on its length, it always has from 3 to 5 "sleeping" kidneys. If you cut off a part of the peduncle above them, this will stimulate the flower to let in a new lateral baby.
When the question is what kind of lighting an orchid should have, it should be borne in mind that regardless of their appearance, they do not like direct sunlight. The light should be bright, but diffused. If it is not enough, the flower will give a signal about this by changing the color of the leaves to a pale green color. If measures are not taken in time, then they will begin to turn yellow and stretch, trying to "reach out" to the light. It is enough to move the flower so that it returns to normal.
In the period from March to September-October, the orchids have a growth period, so a lot of light is required, but it is better to shade the window from the sunny side. In autumn and winter, on the contrary, peace sets in, but new buds and shoots ripen, so you can extend their daylight hours with fluorescent lamps, bringing it to the required 12 hours.
Diseases and Pests
Usually, with proper care, orchids do not get sick, but if you systematically break the rules, this can lead to disastrous consequences. For example, this can cause problems such as:
- Sagging leaves, most often caused by damage to the roots. Check their condition and carefully remove the damaged roots.
- Leaves can crack when the temperature changes abruptly, especially after watering.
- The sun's rays cause burns to the plant, which is expressed in the appearance of black dots, holes and various growths.
- The leaves begin to dry and rot, the cause of which may be soft-bodied ticks that settle in the middle of rosettes, or a spider mite covering its inside with its silver spider web. To get rid of them, you need to use special acaricidal agents.
- If the flower has stopped growing and blooming, then you should check the inside of the leaves, where nematodes that feed on its juices can settle. It is enough to treat the plant with nematicides to bring it back to life.
If you comply with all the requirements for caring for the selected type of orchid, then these problems can be avoided.
Orchid bloom
If an orchid bloomed in a beginner, then he became a professional, since it is extremely difficult to achieve her favor. To do this, you must strictly comply with all the requirements for caring for a capricious plant. It is important to remember that these flowers begin to bloom at the age of about two years.
In addition, it needs to be stimulated, for which it is important to observe the light regime, which for most species is 12 hours. You also need to create a mandatory difference of 5-7 degrees between day and night air temperature.
As a last resort, you can apply a change in your familiar environment, for example, hold it for a couple of weeks at a temperature of +16 degrees or skip watering. Extreme conditions create an orchid to bloom. Care after flowering, transplantation (if necessary) is simple. During the dormant period, it is necessary to prune the peduncle and observe the basic requirements for watering, air temperature and light.