Today there are a huge number of flowers that are an excellent decoration for a living space. Sooner or later, most flower growers decide to grow an orchid on their own plot. It is actually quite difficult to do this. There are a huge number of types of orchids. Among them there are not so many varieties that can be grown at home. Dendrobium is one of the most popular home orchids. This family includes representatives such as Phalaenopsis.
Growing technique
This issue should be given special attention. Many gardeners today are interested in the Dendrobium orchid. Home care for this plant is determined by the characteristics of the climatic conditions that are natural for it. The orchid belongs to the epiphyte family. Dry air, lack of light and excess moisture can adversely affect the development of the plant. With proper care, the orchid blooms amazingly beautifully. In the process of growth, pseudobulbs are formed. Outwardly, they look more likethickening of the stem, in which nutrients and moisture accumulate.
During the growing season, the plant may enter a dormant state for a while. It stops growing and prepares forces for the next flowering. With the onset of winter, it is necessary to create special conditions for a beautiful culture. The temperature should be reduced to 10 degrees, and watering should be completely excluded. Subject to these rules, pseudobulbs will give new flower stalks at the beginning of spring.
What types of orchids are suitable for home growing?
The Phalaenopsis and Dendrobium Nobile hybrids are the most widely used among flower growers. They begin to bloom without any additional preparation. The care of these plants is determined by the origin of their parents. Before acquiring one or another type of orchid, you must first properly study their history. If you want to achieve beautiful flowering, the room temperature must be maintained between 16 and 20 degrees.
How to care for an orchid after flowering?
So what do you need to know about this? What to do when Dendrobium stops flowering? Plant care during this period of time must necessarily include a regime with high humidity and temperature. In addition, be sure to feed the plant. Special liquid mixtures for orchids are best suited for this purpose. The flower will gain green mass until the very end of summer. There is no need to disturb the pseudobulbs at this time. They provide nourishment for new growth.
How to transplant an orchid?
Let's stop atthis in more detail. Many gardeners today are interested in such a flower as the Dendrobium orchid. Home care for this plant must necessarily include a transplant. However, this operation can seriously injure the plant, so it is best to do it every 2-3 years. In general, it is better to do a transplant only if there is really a need for it. For example, if there is no longer enough space in the pot in which the Dendrobium grows. In this case, the plant stops gaining mass, and the emerging pseudobulbs begin to hang from the edges of the pot.
Orchid propagation
One of the most popular houseplants is the delicate Dendrobium orchid. Reproduction at home requires special skills. The best time to propagate orchids is spring. It is then that the plant is in the stage of active growth immediately after flowering. Be sure to clean the roots of the transplanted flower from the old soil. To make this operation easier, moisten the flower pot well. This will avoid many problems later on. After you remove the substrate from the roots, be sure to inspect them. If you find areas that are damaged or rotten, simply remove them. Sections must be treated with charcoal. Zelenka and other products containing alcohol are not suitable for this purpose. After processing, the roots must be given some time to dry.
How to choose a container for an orchid?
Many beginner flower growers today are interested in how togrow dendrobium. Care at home can be provided much easier if you choose the right pot. It is best to use containers in which the soil layer between the roots and the walls will be at least 2 cm. As it grows, the aerial part of the flower may gradually increase. It is recommended to plant the plant only in stable pots. Clay models are considered the best option. After you select a suitable container, it is necessary to lay drainage in it. This layer should occupy a quarter of the total volume. The rest is filled with soil with a slide. At this preparatory stage is completed. Now it's time to start the next process.
Orchid should also be prepared for planting. The roots are straightened, and the plant itself is moved directly to the center. Try to keep the pseudobulbs on the surface. To ensure better stability of the plant, supports can be used. After planting, the orchid needs to be kept in the shade for some time. The air temperature in the room should be at least 20 degrees. After a couple of days, the plant can be watered.
Subtleties of caring for a home beauty
The main thing that interests everyone who wants to breed Dendrobium is care. Photos of flowering plants look incredibly beautiful, but in fact, growing it is not so easy. The flower needs a lot of attention. Best of all, an epiphytic orchid will feel in loose soil without a lot of nutrients. As a soil, it is best to use a mixture prepared from pine bark, peat andsphagnum moss. You can also add charcoal to it. The soil mixture used for planting orchids should not contain calcium. The fact is that a flower may react poorly to the presence of this element in the soil.
You can also use crushed coniferous bark as a substrate. The planting container must be filled as follows. Large items are placed at the bottom. Smaller ones can be placed in the upper part. The presence of a small amount of peat will positively affect the quality of the soil. It allows to significantly improve the mechanical properties. In addition, the soil will then have an optimal indicator of acidity. The substrate prepared for use must be disinfected. To do this, the mixture is poured with boiling water and allowed to stand for 10-15 minutes. After that, you need to wait until the soil dries out.
At home, you can plant an orchid in regular or hanging pots. Drainage in any case should occupy about a quarter of the total volume. This layer may consist of crushed granite or broken bricks. It is not recommended to use limestone and expanded clay, as they are rich in calcium, and this mineral negatively affects the Dendrobium orchid. Care and reproduction at home of this plant is not too complicated and is quite within the power of beginner growers.
Recommendations from experts
How to properly grow a flower like the Dendrobium nobile orchid? Caring for this plant requires compliance with many recommendations. So, for example, ifIf you plan to plant orchids in baskets, then before planting, you need to add sphagnum to the soil. Best of all, such flowers will grow wrapped around a support. As for lighting, Dendrobium nobile needs bright, diffused light. It is sometimes very difficult to create such conditions in room conditions, especially in the cold season. It is for this reason that experts recommend keeping a pot with a Dendrobium orchid from May to September on the east or west side, and in winter on the south. By following this rule, various diseases can be avoided.
What else do you need to grow a beautiful Dendrobium orchid? Plant care should include regularly changing the position of the pot. This is necessary so that all parts of the flower receive a sufficient amount of sunlight. When cold weather approaches, it is necessary to remove the flower as far as possible from drafts.
Many housewives dream of growing a Dendrobium orchid on their windowsill. Care and reproduction at home of this flower are associated with a number of difficulties. For example, a flower needs a sufficient amount of light during the day. The optimal duration is from 10 to 15 hours. The lack of natural light in the cold season can be made up for by using special lamps. Best of all, the lack of natural light will endure varieties of orchids with pale pink flowers. They will thrive on window sills on the northeast side.
Bright, demanding orchids are very popular todayDendrobium. The reproduction of these plants with bright pink, red and yellow flowers requires the installation of additional lighting. It is best to keep the plants on the southwest or southeast side. It is also worth remembering the need for additional lighting in the cold season. If you provide plants with too much light, they will actively gain mass. Pseudobulbs will grow too large, which will negatively affect the condition of the flower as a whole. On the other hand, with a lack of lighting, they will be too long and thin. In this case, flowering may not occur at all. In order for the plant to absorb all the moisture that comes during watering, it is necessary to provide it with good lighting. Pay attention to this when calculating the required fluid rates.
How to water properly?
Many beginner growers don't know how much water a Dendrobium orchid needs. Home care includes, in addition to calculating the required amount of moisture, also the choice of watering time. It is worth moistening the soil only if you notice the drying of the substrate. In summer, it is enough to water the orchid a couple of times a week. In winter, the amount of liquid should be reduced to a minimum. If you are growing Dendrobium in a pot, the water must be poured from the top. If the plants are placed in blocks or baskets, then it will be enough just to put them in water for 3-5 minutes.
For watering it is best to use a soft boiled liquid. Its temperature should be slightly above room temperature. ATthe period from April to September, in addition to watering, the plant also needs top dressing. For this purpose, fertilizers rich in nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are diluted in water prepared for irrigation. With this mixture, the plant must be watered every two times.
Temperature
So what do you need to know about this? If you are interested in growing a Dendrobium orchid, caring for this flower must necessarily include temperature control. However, this factor affects the plant only if it is provided with the necessary lighting. A lack of light can cause the flower to remain dormant despite favorable temperature conditions. In the summer in the daytime, 20 degrees Celsius is considered optimal. In winter, this value can drop to 17 ° C. In the dark, it can be lower by a couple of degrees. If the air temperature rises too high, water may begin to evaporate through the leaves. Only a small part of the moisture reaches the roots. Therefore, if the room temperature is rather high, the humidity level must be adjusted accordingly. Experts recommend placing orchid pots in a tray with pebbles and water. Spraying procedures also help maintain moisture.
If optimal conditions for growth are created, the Dendrobium orchid will begin to gain green mass in early spring. At this time, the plant needs top dressing. Mineral fertilizers are best suited for this purpose. If the flowers are provided with everything necessary, already in Octoberthey will have many leaves and pseudobulbs of appropriate sizes.
Diseases
What ailments does the Dendrobium orchid suffer from? Home care must necessarily include airing, since the flower is susceptible to fungal infections. Also, make sure that there are no drafts in the room where the orchid is grown. In sunny weather, plants are generally recommended to be kept outdoors.
Conclusion
Many people think that the cultivation of the Dendrobium orchid, the care of which involves a lot of difficulties, is still an interesting activity. However, if you want to get a gorgeous flowering plant as a result, then this should not stop you. In addition, if you know some subtleties, you can grow an orchid without much effort.
In order for the plant to enter the active phase with the onset of spring, it needs to create favorable conditions in winter. To do this, it is necessary to completely exclude watering and maintain the temperature no more than 10 degrees. In spring, the plant will begin to actively gain green mass. At this time, he needs even more attention. Try to provide the orchid with optimal temperature conditions, maintain the required level of humidity. In addition, the flower needs additional feeding. Mineral fertilizers are best suited for this purpose.
Make sure that in the room where the orchid grows, there are no drafts and temperature changes. Only under these conditions can you get beautiful flowering plants.
