In a house without indoor plants is empty and uncomfortable. Small green islands refresh the interior and bring warmth to it. Many flower lovers are attracted to exotic plants, reminiscent of distant hot countries. One of them, no doubt, is a magnificent indoor beauty - an orchid.
Many of the beginning gardeners admire this plant, but hesitate to plant it in their home, fearing too complicated care. And partly, these fears are justified. Caring for an orchid requires certain knowledge and special skills, since the plant is rather capricious. If you are not afraid of complexity - go for it, and the result will more than pay for all your efforts.
In this article we will talk about the features of an exotic beauty, you will learn how to care for a room flower. Orchid, no doubt, will be the decoration of your home.
Plant features
Different types of orchids grow on all continents, with the exception of snowy Antarctica and the Arctic. Most species are common in the tropics. These flowers love moisture and warmth. There are over 35 thousand species of orchids. The color palette of these colors is huge - from white to black.
All orchids can be divided into three groups:
- underground;
- ground;
- plants living on tree branches.
In our country, in flower shops, the Phalaenopsis orchid is most often found. In vivo, it is common in Malaysia, China, the Philippines, Australia and the foothills of the Himalayas. This species belongs to the group of plants that live on trees. The main part of their roots literally soars in the air, from which the flowers receive moisture. Quite often, thickenings appear on the roots, in which nutrients accumulate.
Orchid: how to care for a home flower?
Do not forget that orchids are natives of countries with a warm and humid climate. Based on this, you can understand how to care for flowers. Orchid will require you to be careful and strictly follow certain rules.
Soil requirements
Orchids belonging to the group of terrestrial plants (for example, cymbidium) are a little easier to care for than phalaenopsis. They also noticeably differ in the composition of the soil mixture. Flowers that prefer to live on trees do not need nutritious soil, but the soil in the soil allows the moisture to evaporate.
Experienced flower growers recommend purchasing a ready-made soil mixture for orchids and adding several components to it:
- moss sphagnum;
- pine or oak bark;
- perlite;
- charcoal.
These elements allow you to loosen the soil and increase the flow of air to the roots. The main secret in choosing the right soil for a room orchid is to experiment with different proportions of additives. Ground orchids will require nutritional supplements to ordinary soil. To do this, you can use the leaves of plants (non-toxic) and a mixture of charcoal with peat.
Lighting
Experienced lovers of these exotic plants, knowing how to properly care for a flower, do not recommend placing an orchid in the bright sun in the summer. Delicate leaves can get a serious burn, so when choosing a place for a flower, you should give preference to window sills facing west or east. In winter and autumn, when daylight is short, additional illumination is required. An included light bulb of 40 watts will be enough for one flower.
Temperature
Many beginner gardeners would like to see a luxurious orchid in a pot on their windowsill. Home care involves observing the temperature regime. In the indoor environment, the orchid feels quite comfortable - it is almost always warm in the apartment, but there are two factors that are dangerous for the plant:
- An air conditioner that dries the air very much, in addition, after the completion of its work, it is required to spray the flower. Never place it under a stream of cold air.
- Drafts. The orchid does not tolerate hypothermia, so you should remove the plant from the window sill during the ventilation of the room.
If the plant stops blooming, how to care for the flowers? Orchid in this case needs little stress. This is easily achieved by lowering the daytime temperature to +12 ° C and the night temperature by another two degrees. This method allows to achieve the laying of the kidneys. After their appearance, do not abruptly interrupt the previous regime. The plant should be transferred to room temperature gradually so that the buds are well fixed and later turn into buds.
Humidity level
It is known that the tropical climate, to which the orchid is accustomed, is characterized by high humidity. The usual rate is from 60 to 70%. In urban apartments and houses it is significantly lower, this is especially noticeable in the heating season. In such conditions, how to care for flowers? Orchid needs a special microclimate that will help create frequent spraying with well-protected water.
It is necessary to moisten the stem and leaves, but try not to affect the inflorescences. Such procedures should be carried out at least four times a week.
Features of watering
Probably, many of those who are interested in how to care for orchid flowers paid attention to the fact that most often these plants are sold in stores not in traditional clay pots, but in transparent plastic ones. The root system of the flower is clearly visible through their walls. You can make slots in them, and water the soil not from above, but put the pot in a bowl of water for 5 minutes. Thus, the roots will receive the necessary amount of moisture, without creating its excess.
If the pot is opaque, the orchid is watered after the topsoil has dried. It is very important not to fill the flower, because in nature the roots of the Phalaenopsis orchid, for example, receive the necessary moisture from the bark of trees during rain. Moisture accumulating in the pot causes rotting of the roots, which, in turn, causes yellowing of the foliage and falling of flowers.
The flower growers have learned to quite successfully deal with this problem. In this case, the orchid is carefully removed from the pot, carefully inspect the roots and remove their rotten parts. It is advisable to replace the soil with a new one, since too wet can nullify all efforts to save the plant.
Watering in the cold season is reduced to a minimum. If you notice that the leaves of the flower have become thinner, and the lower ones turn yellow and fall off, then the plant does not have enough moisture: restore the normal watering regime and your beauty will quickly come to life.
Orchid dressing
Traditional nutrient mixtures for flowering plants of an exotic guest will not work. Orchid needs soluble mineral fertilizers with a high content of nitrogen, phosphorus and iron. They promote flowering, leaf growth, strengthen the flower's immunity against pests.
Today in specialized stores you will be offered many of these drugs. Fertilizers for orchids (for flowering), such as:
- BonaForte.
- Cameleon
- Kemira Lux.
Among flower growers, a stick for orchids, which is saturated with mineral additives, is popular. It is installed near the wall of the pot. When watering, nutrients dissolve and nourish the plant.
succinic acid
It is a colorless crystalline substance that dissolves in alcohol and water. The compound is found in brown coal and amber. The drug is available in the form of powder or tablets. In floriculture, it is used to process orchids (especially phalaenopsis).
Indications for use
The drug has many useful properties, which allows it to be used for:
- resuscitation after stress (transplantation, transportation);
- rooting cuttings;
- increased flowering time;
- to accelerate the regeneration of leaves and stems that have suffered from exposure to high temperatures or frostbite;
- to stimulate root formation;
- saturation of leaves with chlorophyll.
In addition to a positive effect on the plant, succinic acid has a beneficial effect on the soil: it improves the microflora, destroys toxic substances, accelerates the absorption and processing of other fertilizers.
Solution preparation
The method of preparation depends on the form of release of the drug. According to the instructions for the use of succinic acid tablets, it is recommended to dilute 1 tablet in one liter of water at room temperature. This should be done in stages:
- throw the drug in 200 ml of water;
- after its complete dissolution, add another 800 ml of liquid.
Succinic acid in the form of a powder is diluted at the rate of 1 g per 1 liter of water.
Methods of application: watering
In accordance with the instructions for the use of succinic acid tablets, orchids growing in the soil are watered with the resulting solution using a small watering can. The liquid should flow in a thin stream, slowly and gradually filling the surface of the soil. Watering is stopped when the solution begins to flow out of the drainage holes. It is necessary that all surplus drain into the pan.
Leaf processing
Dampen a cotton napkin or cotton pad in the solution and wipe the sheet plates, being careful not to touch their base.
Overdose and frequency of use of the drug
Orchids absorb succinic acid well. There are no cases of overdose. A solution of succinic acid is used 1 time per month.
Phalaenopsis orchid diseases and their treatment
This most popular hybrid orchid is quite susceptible to various diseases. Therefore, in addition to proper care for it and a certain growing experience, you should know the signs and methods of treating possible diseases. We will get to know some of them closer.
Anthracnose
A fungal disease affecting orchid leaves, as a rule, occurs due to high humidity or improper watering of the plant. Rounded small spots appear on the leaf blades, which gradually merge with each other, forming extensive black lesion zones.
Anthracnosis can be fought only in the early stages. Affected leaves must be completely removed and the plant treated twice with fungicide at intervals of 10 days.
Bacterial spotting
Typical Phalaenopsis orchid disease. It is caused by pathogenic bacteria that live in poor-quality soil. Overly bright lighting and irrigation and feeding conditions are provoked by the development of the disease. The edges of leaf blades turn yellow in a plant, then they darken, crack and deform. In areas of bacteria accumulation, a liquid appears.
To save the flower, it is necessary to remove the damaged parts of the plant, cut the sections with ash or iodine. To treat the plant and soil with a broad-spectrum fungicide (“Aktara”). The procedure is repeated after 10 days.
Rust
This fungal disease is much less common. It occurs due to the use of contaminated soil or in violation of the irrigation regime. The disease at the initial stage can be identified by light spots on the lower part of the leaves. Then red soft formations form on them. First of all, weak vegetative parts of the plant are affected, then the fungus covers healthy and strong leaves.
Cut off the infected areas of the plant, and treat the sections with a weak iodine solution. Then it is necessary to carry out a two-stage treatment with a fungicide at intervals of 10 days (Actellik, Arrivo, Aktara). In order to avoid relapse, transplant the orchid into a new soil and maintain the necessary humidity.
Pests
The Phalaenopsis orchid is quite often affected by pests. Plant treatment is often difficult because almost all types of parasitic insects breed very quickly, and it is extremely difficult to destroy their population.
Shield
A rapidly breeding species of parasites that appears, as a rule, on plants overfed with nitrogen. The natural enemy of this insect is high humidity and good light. Therefore, in order to avoid the spread of the parasite, phalaenopsis should not only be isolated, but also placed in a greenhouse.
Florists recommend keeping the flower in the greenhouse for three days, until the adults die, and the young ones still appear from under the female’s shield. Then the orchid is removed from it and thoroughly washed under running warm water, washing off young insects. After that, the plant is treated with permethrin contact insecticide.
Mealybug
Very small insects, covered with a whitish coating, with a ribbed and elongated body and numerous antennae. The mealybug on the orchid is located in areas where the leaves connect to the stem. He bites through the foliage and drinks the juice. You can detect it by deposits resembling silver-white flour or a cobweb. These enzymes disrupt plant growth.
The mealybug on the orchid settles on the underside of the leaf plates, where it lays its eggs. For the treatment of plants use: enteric-contact insecticides (Fitoverm, Vermitek), intestinal preparation Aktara, which acts on almost all groups of pests, Actellik, used in especially neglected cases.
Aphid
A very common pest that multiplies rapidly, so if you do not find it right away, it will spread throughout the plant. The first symptom of the presence of aphids is a white coating on the stem and leaves, consisting of scales, which the growing individuals discard during adulthood.
The infected orchid must be isolated and carefully examined adjacent plants. Then damaged flowers, buds and leaves are removed. The plant is thoroughly washed with a solution of laundry soap or any other soap.
You can use a decoction of citrus peels. To do this, they are poured with boiling water and insisted for three days. This infusion is sprayed with a flower at intervals of four hours. In advanced cases, chemical insecticides are used - Neoron, Actellik, Permethrin, Fitoverm, Inta-Vir. Before using the drugs, carefully read the instructions and observe safety precautions - many of the compounds are toxic.