A house without indoor plants is empty and uncomfortable. Small green islands refresh the interior, bring warmth to it. Many flower lovers are attracted by exotic plants reminiscent of distant hot countries. One of them, no doubt, is a magnificent indoor beauty - an orchid.
Many beginner growers admire this plant but hesitate to plant it in their home for fear of too much maintenance. And to some extent, 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 difficulties - go for it, and the result will more than pay off all your efforts.
In this article we will talk about the features of an exotic beauty, you will learn how to care for an indoor flower. The orchid will undoubtedly decorate your home.
Features of the plant
Different types of orchids grow on all continents, forexcept for the snow-covered Antarctica and the Arctic. Most varieties are found 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, the most common Phalaenopsis orchid is found in flower shops. Under natural conditions, it is distributed in Malaysia, China, the Philippines, Australia and the foothills of the Himalayas. This variety belongs to a 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?
It should not be forgotten that orchids are natives of countries with a warm and humid climate. Based on this, you can understand how to care for flowers. An orchid will require you to be careful and strictly follow certain rules.
Soil requirements
For orchids belonging to the group of terrestrial plants (for example, cymbidium), care is a little easier than for phalaenopsis. The composition of the soil mixture is also noticeably different. Flowers that prefer to live on trees do not require nutrient soil, but the earth in the composition of the soil allows excess moisture to evaporate.
Experienced flower growers recommend purchasing a ready-made soil mixture for orchids and adding several components to it:
- sphagnum moss;
- pine or oak bark;
- perlite;
- charcoal.
These elements allow you to loosen the soil and increase air flow to the roots. The key to choosing the right potting soil for your indoor orchid is experimenting with different proportions of supplements. Ground orchids will need nutritional supplements to regular soil. To do this, you can use the leaves of plants (non-poisonous) and a mixture of charcoal and peat.
Lighting
Experienced lovers of these exotic plants, who know how to properly care for a flower, do not recommend putting an orchid in the bright sun in summer. Tender leaves can get severely scorched, so when choosing a location for a flower, window sills facing west or east should be preferred. In winter and autumn, when daylight hours are short, additional lighting will be required. An included 40W light bulb will be enough for one flower.
Temperature
Many beginner flower growers would like to see a luxurious orchid in a pot on their windowsill. Care at home involves compliance with the temperature regime. In room content, the orchid feels quite comfortable - it is almost always warm in the apartment, but there are two factors that are dangerous for the plant:
- Air conditioner that dries the air a lot, besides aftercompletion of his work is required to spray the flower. Never expose it to cold air.
- Drafts. The orchid does not tolerate hypothermia, so you should remove the plant from the windowsill while airing the room.
If the plant stops blooming, how to care for the flowers? The orchid in this case needs a little stress. This can be easily achieved by lowering the day temperature to +12 ° C, and the night temperature by another two degrees. This method allows you to achieve the laying of the kidneys. After their appearance, do not abruptly interrupt the previous regimen. The plant should be transferred to room temperature gradually so that the buds are well fixed and later turn into buds.
Air humidity level
It is known that the tropical climate to which the orchid is accustomed is characterized by high humidity. The usual figure is from 60 to 70%. In urban apartments and houses, it is significantly lower, this is especially noticeable during the heating season. In such conditions, how to care for flowers? The orchid needs a special microclimate that will help create frequent spraying with well-settled 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.
Irrigation features
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. Through their walls, the root system of the flower is clearly visible. In themyou can make cuts, and water the soil not from above, but place the pot in a bowl of water for 5 minutes. In this way, the roots will receive the necessary amount of moisture without creating excess water.
If the pot is opaque, water the orchid after the top layer of soil dries. It is very important not to flood 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 the roots to rot, which in turn causes the leaves to turn yellow and the flowers to drop.
Flower growers have learned to deal with this problem quite successfully. In this case, the orchid is carefully removed from the pot, the roots are carefully examined and their rotten parts are removed. It is advisable to replace the soil with a new one, as too wet can negate 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, it means that the plant lacks moisture: restore the normal watering regime, and your beauty will quickly come to life.
Orchid nutrition
Traditional nutrient mixtures for flowering plants will not work for an exotic guest. The orchid needs soluble mineral fertilizers with a high content of nitrogen, phosphorus and iron. They promote flowering, leaf growth, strengthen the immunity of the flower against pests.
Today in specialized stores you will be offered many such drugs. Well proven such fertilizers for orchids(for flowering) like:
- BonaForte.
- Cameleon.
- Kemira Lux.
Among flower growers, the stick for orchids, which is impregnated with mineral additives, is popular. It is installed against the wall of the pot. When watering, the 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 powder or tablet form. 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;
- increase the duration of flowering;
- 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 microflora, destroys toxic substances, accelerates the absorption and processing of other fertilizers.
Preparing the solution
The method of preparation depends on the form of release of the drug. According to the instructions for use of succinic acid tablets, it is recommended to dilute in one liter of waterroom temperature 1 tablet. This should be done in stages:
- drop the preparation into 200 ml of water;
- after it is completely dissolved, add another 800 ml of liquid.
Succinic acid in powder form is diluted at the rate of 1 g per 1 liter of water.
How to use: watering
In accordance with the instructions for the use of succinic acid tablets, orchids growing in the ground are watered with the resulting solution using a small watering can. The liquid should flow in a thin stream, slowly and gradually filling the soil surface. Watering is stopped when the solution begins to flow out of the drainage holes. It is necessary that all excess drain into the drip tray.
Leaf processing
Soak a cotton cloth or cotton pad in the solution and wipe the leaf plates, being careful not to touch their base.
Overdose and frequency of drug use
Orchids absorb succinic acid well. Cases of overdose have not been recorded. A solution of succinic acid is used once a month.
Diseases of Phalaenopsis orchids and their treatment
This most popular orchid hybrid 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 better.
Anthracnose
A fungal disease that affects orchid leaves, as a rule, occurs due to high humidity or improper wateringplants. Rounded small spots appear on the leaf blades, which gradually merge with each other, forming extensive black lesions.
It is possible to fight anthracnose only in the early stages. Affected leaves must be removed completely, and the plant should be treated twice with a fungicide with an interval of 10 days.
Bacterial spotting
A typical Phalaenopsis orchid disease. It is caused by pathogenic bacteria that live in poor-quality soil. Provokes the development of the disease excessively bright lighting and violations of the regime of watering and top dressing. The edges of the leaf blades turn yellow in the plant, then they darken, crack and deform. Liquid appears in areas where bacteria accumulate.
To save the flower, it is necessary to remove the damaged parts of the plant, treat the sections with ash or iodine. 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, the weak vegetative parts of the plant are affected, then the fungus covers he althy and strong leaves.
Cut off the infected parts of the plant, and treat the sections with a weak solution of iodine. Then it is necessary to carry out a two-stage treatment with an interval of 10 daysfungicide ("Aktellik", "Arrivo", "Aktara"). To avoid recurrence, transplant the orchid into a new soil and maintain the required humidity.
Pests
The Phalaenopsis orchid is quite often affected by pests. Treatment of plants is often associated with difficulties, since almost all types of parasitic insects reproduce very quickly, it is extremely difficult to completely eradicate their population.
Shield
A fast-growing parasitic species that appears, as a rule, on plants overfed with nitrogen. The natural enemy of this insect is high humidity and good lighting. Therefore, in order to avoid the spread of the parasite, phalaenopsis should not only be isolated, but also placed in a greenhouse.
Flower growers recommend keeping the flower in a greenhouse for three days, until the adults die, and the young ones have yet to emerge from under the female's shield. Then the orchid is taken out of it and thoroughly washed under running warm water, washing off young insects. After that, the plant is treated with the Permethrin contact insecticide.
Mealybug
Very small insects covered with a whitish coating, with a ribbed and elongated body and numerous antennae. Mealybug on an orchid is located in areas where the leaves are connected to the stem. He bites through the leaves and drinks the juice. It can be detected by deposits that resemble silver-white flour or cobwebs. These enzymes interfere with plant growth.
Mealybug on an orchid settles on the underside of leaf plates, where it lays its eggs. Forplant treatments are used: enteric-contact insecticides ("Fitoverm", "Vermitek"), the intestinal preparation "Aktara", which acts on almost all groups of pests, "Aktellik", used in especially advanced cases.
Aphid
A very common pest that reproduces rapidly, so if not detected immediately, 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 shed during the growing period.
Infected orchid must be isolated, and neighboring plants carefully checked. Then the damaged flowers, buds and leaves are removed. The plant is thoroughly washed with a solution of laundry 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 on the flower at intervals of four hours. In advanced cases, chemical insecticides are used - Neoron, Actellik, Permethrin, Fitoverm, Inta-Vir. Before using drugs, carefully read the instructions and follow the precautions - many of the compounds are toxic.
