In home greenhouses, you can often find a beautiful orchid. She is quite demanding and needs good care. Otherwise, the owners risk never seeing a blooming orchid.
How many times a year does this plant bloom? Experienced flower growers can tell about this.
Types of home orchids
In room conditions, you can grow various varieties of this plant. However, the following types are in the greatest demand:
- Cumbria Orchid. Differs in refined appearance. She has snow-white inflorescences with red patches. They are usually elongated and are located on a long peduncle that needs support. This variety loves good lighting, and therefore "Cambria" is very often placed on the windowsill.
- Brassia Orchid. Extremely popular with flower growers. Her appearance is rather peculiar. Not without reason, among orchid fans, she acquired the name "warty" or "spider". Caring for her is quite simple. This species is able to withstandten degrees.
- Cymbidium variety. It has delicate beige flowers located on a long vertical peduncle. Each of them contains up to twenty-seven inflorescences. This orchid blooms twice a year. During the three months of the winter and autumn period, it pleases the eye. This variety is very fond of light, and therefore it is advisable to put it closer to the window.
- Orchid "lycaste". It has bright yellow inflorescences resembling tulips. They are located one by one and also have rather long flower stalks. In winter, the Lycasta hibernates. Therefore, the soil during the winter months should be completely dry, and the plant itself should be in a cool and dark place.
- Phalaenopsis orchid has a very original look. Her peduncles, as a rule, resemble an arc. On them are small inflorescences resembling fuchsia in color. The leaves of "phalaenopsis" are thick and short. It is fairly easy to grow. Often, beginners are interested in: how many times a year should the Phalaenopsis orchid bloom? In fact, it blooms once, but for quite a long time.
- Magnificent miltonia orchid. Differs in saturated burgundy flowers with a yellow core. It is quite capricious and does not tolerate any temperature fluctuations. Flowering time falls between the beginning of May and the end of July.
- Oncidium variety. It has large burgundy flowers located on a vertical peduncle. Some varieties of "oncidium" have brindle petals with white patches. This plant loves high humidity and does not tolerate dry indoor conditions.air during the winter months.
Also often at home you can find varieties such as "zygopetalum" and "pafiopedilum". The first of them has spotted inflorescences with purple and green splashes. The second grade contains only one yellow-brown inflorescence with white and black spots. This is a rather original orchid, which, unlike most species, has only one large flower on each peduncle. Flowering continues for three months.
Site selection and soil
Often, after buying this plant, people are interested in: how often and for how long does an orchid bloom at home? How long does it take to see a magnificent flower?
First of all, the plant should be given proper care, which begins with the selection of the right soil mixture and the choice of location. As a rule, all orchids are very fond of good lighting. However, direct sunlight can damage the leaves. In poor lighting, the stems are stretched, and the flower is out of proportion.
As for the soil, these plants are very demanding on quality soil. Typically, the soil mixture consists of chopped wood, sand, clay and a small amount of park land. It is recommended to add processed leaves to the composition. The soil should always be moist and fertilized.
Irrigation Rules
Despite the fact that orchids love moist soil, some varieties are recommended to be watered only after the soil is in a potdry completely. In addition, species such as "pafiopedilum", "odontoglossum" and "phalaenopsis" easily tolerate drought. However, do not overdo it, because with a lack of moisture, the leaves become lethargic. If a flower gets too much water and it stagnates in a pot, then the roots begin to rot and the leaves turn dark.
Experienced flower growers advise watering the plant with warm water from the shower. However, with such a condition that the water passes through the soil and exits through the holes at the bottom of the pot. This will also determine how many times a year the orchid will bloom.
Optimal temperature
Despite the fact that some varieties can easily tolerate temperatures of ten degrees, nevertheless, the orchid is considered a rather heat-loving plant. Very often, owners are interested in: how many times a year does an orchid bloom at home? If the owner wants to ensure year-round flowering, then you can use the following method. Remove the plant to a cool place with little watering, and after a while move it to a warm one. This method very often works and stimulates the growth of a new peduncle.
How to feed
In flower shops you can buy fertilizers designed specifically for orchids. Many experts believe that the use of dressings intended for other plants only harm orchids. In order for them to bloom, good and regular nutrition is required. All fertilizers are diluted with water and gently watered under the root. The procedure is carried out at least once every fourteen days.
Why doesn't it bloom
Often, beginners wonder why the orchid does not bloom. First of all, one should take into account the fact that this plant is able to produce inflorescences only twenty-four months after planting. It has a peculiar biological rhythm, which has the following features:
- The root system is strengthened within six months. During this period, of course, there can be no talk of any flowering. Despite the fact that the orchid grows quite quickly, it spends all its energy on the roots and green mass.
- Special attention should be paid to the kidneys. Already by the first leaves, you can determine how strong the future plant will be.
- If the flower has aerial roots and fairly strong stems are observed, then you don’t have to worry about future inflorescences.
As soon as the peduncle is formed, you should properly feed the orchid. If you skip this moment, then there will be problems with the formation of the bud. Any fertilizer should contain magnesium, potassium and phosphorus. These trace elements are responsible for the normal formation of the petals and the saturation of the shade. And also for how long the orchid teenager will bloom.
Terms of budding
Usually an orchid blooms long enough. This period can last from three months to six months. For example, there are varieties in which the first flowers appear in the middle of summer, and the last in March.
But how many times a year does an orchid bloom? As a rule, most plants bloom at least twice, and some of themthree. In a word, one should take into account the characteristics of the variety, and in the absence of buds, try to stimulate this process by various methods.
How to do it
There are two fairly effective ways. The first of these is to regulate the temperature regime, in which the pot is first placed in a cool room, and then in a warm one. In the wild, this plant hibernates, which allows it to rest. At home, the natural rhythm very often goes astray, which is why the orchid leaves strength. Therefore, it is very important for her to rest after the next flowering and gain strength for the next period.
As a rule, proceed as follows. First, the flower is placed on a loggia or glazed balcony, where the temperature should not fall below ten degrees. During the day, the pot is transferred to a warm room. Thus, a natural regime is established for it, in which the daytime temperature is quite high, and the nighttime temperature is low. This allows the plant to get enough carbon dioxide to rejuvenate and renew itself. And the question of how often and how much an orchid blooms can be answered simply: it all depends on your care for the plant.
Drought stimulation
This method is quite extreme. First, the plant is watered as little as possible, and then completely stop watering. After waiting three days, they again proceed to water procedures. Usually, after a few days, you can notice the formation of a bud. If this does not happen, you can try to wake the plant again. Fromthe effectiveness of this method will also depend on how many times a year the orchid blooms. But one should take into account the fact that too frequent use of such resuscitation can adversely affect the development of the root, as well as reduce the number of leaves or make them weaker.
Flower after purchase
Very often, having received an orchid, people are faced with the fact that it cannot form buds a second time. This period usually occurs in early spring. As a rule, a rather rapid growth of leaves begins in March, which ends with the release of a peduncle. This usually happens sixty days after the awakening of the flower. How often does an orchid bloom at home?
Some species, such as Phalaenopsis, can bloom for eight months. Such a record was recorded only in one variety of orchids. The rest usually bloom within two months. In this variety, the period of bud formation occurs in the winter, while in the "oncidium", for example, in the summer months. Answering the question of how much the Phalaenopsis orchid blooms at home, experienced gardeners find it difficult to answer. Due to the long period, many believe that budding takes place twice a year.
But the unpretentious Cattleya variety pleases its owner from April to December. During this period, she manages to release several buds.
Interesting facts
This plant is practically non-allergic. The smell of orchids is quite gentle. Some compare it tovanilla or honey.
In the wild, there is a black orchid or a completely green one. People confuse some varieties with violets, as their appearance is very similar.
This plant is long-lived. To date, a life expectancy record of one hundred years has been recorded.
The largest collection of orchids is in Asia. And the most rare and expensive flower in the world is considered an orchid called "Kinabalu gold". It is estimated at five thousand dollars.