Not surprisingly, many gardeners are fascinated by mini orchids. Caring for flowers at home is not particularly difficult. The most important thing is to know some of the subtleties of their content, and then they will delight you with their beauty for a long time.
general characteristics
Mini orchids, dwarf orchids, they are phalaenopsis, are flowers belonging to the same species. There are a huge number of varieties and varieties of phalaenopsis. However, we will consider only a mini, or a dwarf version.
Mini orchids were not in vain loved by avid flower growers and people who just want to bring a little cosiness to the room. These flowers have miniature sizes, which compares them favorably with standard plants.
Dwarf orchids are represented in many varieties. An adult flower along with an inflorescence reaches 15-30 centimeters in height. There are varieties that are even smaller - they do not grow above 10 centimeters.
Where does this flower grow? A mini-orchid in nature can be found on the expanses of the wooded part of the equator or among the rocks. To grow Phalaenopsis at home was successful, you need to understand which variety is most suitable for the microclimate of your home.
As previously mentioned, varieties of mini orchids are diverse. But it is impossible to consider all of them, so we will focus on the most popular ones.
Mini Mark
Easy to maintain phalaenopsis. It has many cream colors. Petals are decorated with orange and pink blotches. A lip has a rich orange tint. Leaves and stems are very neat, have a grayish-green tint.
Separately, it is worth mentioning that this phalaenopsis will delight its owner with double flowering in a year. The flowers themselves have a pleasant aroma. The leaves of the plant reach a length of not more than 12 cm. Flowers in diameter - about 4 cm.
Pink orchid
Not the smallest member of the orchid family, but its size is smaller than average. Peduncle height - about 20 cm, has a curved shape. Flowers have a pink and white color. On one plant, they can be from 10 to 15 pieces. The sheet is elongated, its size varies from 10 to 15 cm.
Orchid Luddemann
A feature of this species is the ratio of the proportions of the sepals and the flower itself. A rather unusual mini orchid, since the flower is much smaller than the sepals. The color is intense pink and purple. The core is a little darker. The lip has yellow-red blotches.
The leaves are elongated, not more than 20 cm in length. The color is light green. The diameter of the flowers themselves is about 5 cm. On one peduncle, they are from 5 to 7 pieces.
Oncidium
Oncidium is widespread and has more than 700 species. Some representatives are simply gigantic, while others are very miniature. There are species that do not exceed 10 cm in height; their flowers resemble irises. The aroma is tender, but well palpable. The inflorescence of the mini-orchid reaches about 10 cm. The flowers are small, the diameter of each is 1-2 cm. The main type of color is red, yellow and brown. It blooms all year round.
Cymbidium
Cymbidium has no less species than oncidium. One of the most famous is the aloe-cymbidium. The plant does not exceed 30 cm in height. The flowers are light yellow, small, about 5 cm in diameter. Cymbidium can also be painted in other shades, such as burgundy and beige.
Cattleya Orchid
There are a lot of dwarf subspecies. Flowers have different colors, so that everyone can choose a pet to their taste. The height of the flower itself is from 10 to 25 cm.
Moreover, in some species of Cattleya, the diameter of the flowers is equal to the height. The most famous varieties of Cattleya: Skinner, Walker, Akland.
The content of dwarf orchids
There is nothing difficult in the content of mini orchids. Home care includes the same procedures as for many other colors. Consider the main features:
- The plant should not be in direct sunlight, but the lighting should be sufficient.
- The temperature regime in the room should change over the seasons. In particular, this applies to the first two months of autumn. During this period, the temperature should not be lower and not higher than 16-17 degrees heat. This is due to the process of laying flower buds. In the rest of the year, the temperature can vary in the range +18 ... +30 .
- Humidity also matters for mini orchids. Home care comes down to maintaining the proper level of humidity. The higher the temperature, the higher the percentage of humidity should be. Otherwise, the flower will simply die. However, if you overdo it, the process of decay may begin. To prevent this, it is recommended to ventilate the room well.
- Only soil based on moss, charcoal and coniferous bark is suitable for transplanting. A mini orchid transplant is done once every two years.
- Now for the question of how to water a mini orchid. It is also important to observe the temperature regime. Water should be 4 degrees above room temperature. What else are the features of caring for a mini orchid at home? You can put flower pots in the water. For example, in the bathroom. This procedure should last no more than 20-30 minutes. In this case, as in the case of "bathtubs", it is important that the glass water from the holes in the pot. Otherwise, the root system may rot. Watering the flowers is necessary no more than once a week. In the hot season - once every 3-4 days.
- Irrigation is also necessary to care for the mini orchid. At home, you can use a spray gun. In particularly hot weather, the procedure is recommended in the morning. The water temperature should be the same as for irrigation.
- Feeding should be carried out twice a month. Moreover, it is possible to add a nutrient mixture both to water for irrigation and to water for irrigation.
- Peduncle pruning is done after the mini orchid has faded. You need to leave one centimeter of the base of the peduncle.
Rest period
Mini orchid in its natural environment does not need a period of rest. However, the housing method of housing and our climate dictate their own rules. Therefore, in the cold season, when it begins to get dark quite early, care must be taken to prolong the daylight hours for the plant.
To do this, you can use artificial lighting. The ideal option is to use special lighting fixtures for flowers. But if for some reason it is not possible to purchase such lamps, then you can use ordinary ones.
Diseases and Anxiety Symptoms
The dwarf orchid has enough health problems. This type of plant is susceptible to viruses and sensitive to abnormal contents. Pest problems often also occur. All this can result in the death of an orchid.
In order not to start the problem and manage to save the flower in time, you need to be able to distinguish between the symptoms that signal a disease. Let's consider some of them:
- Leaves acquire a yellow color, wither and fall off. This indicates either excessive accumulation of water in the soil, or too intense lighting.
- Flowers fall before they bloom. A sign that the plant is very hot. Or he lacks moisture.
- Leaves are covered with dark spots, clump. Symptom of insufficient watering.
For prevention, it is necessary to regularly inspect the plant for parasites. If they are found, remove manually or apply specialized tools that can be purchased at the flower shop. Choose the preparations purely for a mini orchid. Home care for these beauties may not be difficult, but monitoring the plant is still necessary.