Indoor orchid: how to care? Video

The orchid family, according to some sources, has about 35 thousand species. This is about 10% of all plants on Earth. So the rarity of these flowers is greatly exaggerated. They just grow mainly in the tropics. Orchids vary greatly in size – from 2 centimeters to 2 meters. They lead a rather strange way of life. Tropical species predominantly use trees as support, climbing their trunks towards the light. Some settle on sheer cliffs, penetrate cracks with roots and feed on plant debris and moisture. In Australia, there are orchids that grow and even bloom underground, they are pollinated by underground insects. Not everyone knows that vanilla is also a Vanilla planifolia orchid.

Today, many amateurs collect entire collections of orchids, successfully grow and propagate them at home. The orchid won universal love not only with its beautiful flowers and a variety of colors, but also with the fact that it can bloom all year round with proper care and respect for itself.

The main principle of caring for an orchid is understanding its growth in nature.

Perhaps the most common type of indoor orchid is the Phalaenopsis orchid. Phalaenopsis is home to India and East Asia. This plant can be from 20 to 90 cm high, 18-60 cm wide. It blooms with different bright flowers seasonally, with excellent care it can bloom all year round. Her leaves are evergreen. For proper care of phalaenopsis at home, you must adhere to a certain plan:

– correct climate;

– watering;

– spraying;

– transplant;

– top dressing;

– treatment.

If you strictly adhere to all points of the plan and know the features of each of them, then caring for a room orchid will not be difficult.

Phalaenopsis prefers warm and humid, but not damp conditions, sufficient, but diffused light. It is believed that the best place in the apartment for her is the eastern window sills. When growing it on the southern and western windows, the plant must be shaded.

During the day, the orchid loves temperatures of 22-30 degrees Celsius, and at night about 15 degrees. It can tolerate temperatures as low as 12 degrees and humidity of 50-60%. Such conditions stimulate the flowering of the plant. The ideal orchid pot is an oak bark vessel that allows water and air to circulate.

It is necessary to water the orchid with warm, settled water, it is best to water it through a tray or place the pot in a larger vessel with water 1-2 times a week for 20-30 minutes. Do not leave the plant in water for a longer time, as the roots can get sick with rot. It is important to understand that the orchid pot needs more for support, and not as a store of soil with nutrients and moisture. In nature, she manages to extract everything she needs from water and humid air. The roots of the plant must breathe, constantly be in the air.

For those who are not yet familiar with orchids, dry plant roots sticking out in different directions can be terrifying. The biggest mistake is to try to get the poor roots drunk right away. The roots of the orchid have a unique structure, when immersed in water or sprayed, they absorb moisture like a sponge. This is enough for a few days.

There are two main rules for watering: first, the roots must dry out, and then get wet. In no case should you water the orchid in the open sun and in flowers

Spraying is just as important for an orchid as watering. It is carried out 1-2 times a week, it can be alternated with watering. For spraying, it is best to use warm distilled water, which does not leave unpleasant white spots. For reference: the humidity in the room where the phalaenopsis orchids grow should be 60–80%.

Phalaenopsis should be transplanted once every 2-3 years in the spring. Orchid substrate is sold in specialized stores. Before planting, be sure to remove dry and rotten roots. The main rule is that the transplant, as well as care, must be done with love, which the plant will definitely feel. After transplanting, do not water the orchid for 3-5 days.

Top dressing is important for the orchid, but not in the same way as watering and spraying. You can feed the orchid with a special fertilizer, although fertilizers for ordinary indoor flowers are also quite suitable. The roots of the flower are very delicate, so fertilizers for feeding orchids need to be put in 2 times less than written in the instructions, in order to avoid burning the roots. You need to feed during the flowering and active growth period 1-2 times a month; during the rest period, feeding is not needed.

Sometimes brown spots may appear on the leaves. If the spots are dry and hard, sunburn could be the cause. It is necessary to protect the orchid from direct sunlight, and do not touch the spots. If they are soft, this is a disease, in which case the affected part must be removed.

If the flower grows tilted or horizontally, it is most likely lacking in light. If there is enough light, the reason is poor watering.

At low air temperatures or excessive dampness, mold and plaque can appear on the leaves. Slugs are the main enemies of orchids. If they are found, you immediately need to treat the flower with chemicals and monitor the soil.

If the orchid still does not bloom, then this indicates improper care or poor placement of the flower. You can try to rearrange it to another place and once again read the recommendations on how to care for an orchid.

Caring for an orchid flower can be compared to caring for a pet. Love your plant like a living being. And it will surely respond with a beautiful long flowering. Feng Shui experts claim that indoor orchids distract from everyday problems and help in finding spiritual goals. They inspire creativity and help avoid depression.