Orchids, also called orchids, are extremely impressive potted plants that decorate many shelves or windowsills. They owe their popularity to their unique, beautiful flowers that come in many colors. Unfortunately, beauty goes hand in hand with specific growing conditions. How to care for them?
How to care for orchids so that they bloom all year round? If properly cared for, they will delight
Orchids delight with their unusual, exotic beauty, and when properly cared for and grown, they can bloom not only several times a year, but even for 365 days. It all depends on whether we provide them with appropriate conditions. And these can be a bit demanding. Orchids are epiphytes, i.e. they grow on trees, although they can also be found on rocks or meadows. Not everyone knows that some varieties also grow wild in Poland. In apartments, we most often find the Phalaenopsis variety with burgundy, purple, white or yellow flowers, although these are not the only colors they come in. However, before you decide to grow them at home, be aware that they are quite capricious, delicate and demanding. How to care for them?
How to care for an orchid? How to care for an orchid? Photo Private archive
How to care for orchids in a pot? Watering is important
Phalaenopsis orchids require a warm and bright location, but with diffused light, not exposure to direct sunlight. Otherwise, the leaves may be burned. They also need high air humidity to develop properly. Therefore, in a dry apartment, it is worth spraying it with water mist regularly. How to water them? It is best not to water often and sparsely, and certainly not to leave the roots standing in water, as they may start to rot. This is quite a common mistake that many beginner gardeners make. There should be a break between each watering, during which the substrate will dry out completely. If you don’t know when to water your orchid, keep an eye on its roots. When they are green, the plant does not lack water. A silver, yellowish color means that it is dry and needs to be rehydrated quickly. The water should be soft and with a high oxygen content, i.e. it should preferably stand out.
Can you propagate an orchid from a leaf? You only need one
Sometimes it happens that despite your best efforts, orchids rot and die. Too much water is usually the culprit, but not always. What to do in such a situation? Well, if the orchid is beyond saving but has at least one healthy leaf left, you can grow a new plant from it. First, stop watering it immediately and wait until the roots dry out completely. Then you can shorten them to the stem and then cut off a healthy leaf from it. Do it gently so as not to damage or break it, preferably with a disinfected knife and in such a way that the tip of the leaf has a piece of the trunk. Carefully wash the cut leaf under running water, wipe it and set aside.
How to propagate an orchid at home? Use onion or coal
In the meantime, prepare an appropriate medium for it in the form of water. Finely chop 1-2 layers of vegetable peels, pour boiling water over them and set aside. Then gently soak the tip of the orchid leaf in it for about 30 minutes, remove it and wipe the whole thing with a small amount of the preparation. After this treatment, you can root it, e.g. on a cotton swab placed in the neck of a bottle, which you place like a funnel in a glass vessel with water. The first roots will appear after about a month. When they reach about 4 cm, transfer the leaf to a pot and care for it as you would a fully developed plant. Although the whole procedure requires some time and patience, you will soon get beautiful flowers. Another method involves placing the strain in a glass half-filled with water and adding a tablet of black coal.
Source: Gazeta
Bruce is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment . He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
