How to grow and care for an orchid at home?

The exotic beauty and sophistication of orchids amazes people even far from floriculture. Is it difficult to tame a tropical beauty, and how to care for an orchid so that it delights with both luscious greenery and luxurious inflorescences?

Many indoor florists who have not previously grown these unusual plants may get the wrong idea about caring for an orchid as overly painstaking and time-consuming. But getting to know the flowers better, it turns out that keeping an orchid of one of the common species in the room is not so difficult.

How to care for an orchid at home, what conditions are required for an exotic culture that has fallen into a room pot?

Orchid keeping conditions

Properly organized care implies the creation of conditions close to natural. An orchid will preserve health and decorativeness for a long time if:

• all the flower's needs for food, lighting and watering are taken into account and provided;
• the plant is satisfied with the temperature and humidity conditions, the composition of the soil and the applied top dressing.

When choosing a flower for home growing, you need to remember that orchids have many varieties that differ in appearance, conditions of natural growth, and needs.

Without disregarding this fact, it is possible to significantly simplify the care of orchids for beginners and for those who already know a lot about the maintenance of this culture of flower growers.

Most of the plants found in interiors are epiphytes that came from the tropics. They are easy to recognize by their juicy airy rhizomes, which not only provide the flower with moisture and nutrition, but also take part in the process of photosynthesis. There are orchids that are used to living on rocks, where the soil layer, like on trees, is extremely small.

For such plants, air humidity and looseness of the substrate are important.But soil species, in addition to the usual care of the orchid, also need nutrient soil.

Lighting features

See also: how to properly care for the Phalaenopsis orchid

In the tropics, where the vast majority of indoor species come from, orchids grow in conditions of long daylight hours and moderately bright, diffused lighting. The same conditions are recreated in a situation when the orchid is looked after at home.

The optimal duration of daylight hours for actively growing and flowering orchids is 13-15 hours, practically not decreasing in winter. Therefore, additional lighting will not be superfluous when caring for an orchid.

You should not put the pots on the southern windows without pre-thought out shading. Bright sunlight can leave brown or yellow marks on the foliage, and the buds will completely fall off under direct hot rays. The best location is the east or west side. On the northern windows, illumination will be required even in the summer.

If the place for the plant is chosen incorrectly, even with proper home care, orchids, as in the photo, turn yellow, their leaves lose their elasticity, dry, flowering becomes rare or does not occur at all.

Moisture in the air: the key to successful home orchid care

High air humidity is extremely important for the successful cultivation of a tropical plant. And if in the summer it is quite possible to reach the desired 60-70%, then in the winter the grower will have to try.

How to properly care for an orchid with heating devices running, mercilessly drying the air in the room? To maintain such air humidity, electric humidifiers and household products are used.

The container in which the flowers are grown can be placed on the moist moss placed in a shallow pan. If there is no sphagnum at hand that retains moisture for a long time, expanded clay is used in the same way. Plants feel best in a florarium or room greenhouse, separated from the rest of the room by plastic or glass.

When a florist in care uses foliar spraying, this should be done regularly and carefully, trying not to get on the flowers. It is highly undesirable to allow the orchid to cool down while it is still wet, as this will lead to the development of fungus on succulent leaves and aerial roots.

It is necessary to irrigate the flower in the morning with water at room temperature, until the foliage has dried out, the pot is protected in every possible way from cold air and drafts.

Watering when caring for an orchid in a pot

Studying information on how to care for an orchid at home, a novice florist should not ignore such a question as watering these natives of the tropics.

The appearance of a plant alone can tell a lot about its preferences and needs. Powerful aerial and underground rhizomes are designed to extract and store moisture. In addition, the flower can save some amount of nutrients and water in the leaves, which are noticeably thickened in some species.

All orchids are moisture-loving and require abundant watering, in which the soil clod or loose coarse-grained substrate poured into a pot is completely wet.

But how to care for an orchid at different times of the year? Does the frequency of watering change, and how do you know about the "thirst" of a flower in a mixture of bark, expanded clay, pieces of foam plastic and other materials that have little resemblance to traditional soil?

The watering schedule, like other orchid care procedures, must be adjusted when the season changes. In the warmer months, the potted orchid receives water more often than in winter. But it is better to underfill the plant than to fill it.

Thick leaves and roots will help the orchid survive a short-term drought, but excess moisture, and especially its stagnation, is a sure step towards root decay.

Tropical guests at home are planted in transparent plastic pots or containers with special slots.This makes it possible to monitor the state of the root system, the rhizomes themselves participate in photosynthesis and more easily consume nutrients and moisture. But how to care for an orchid in a pot of such an unusual design?

There are no peculiarities of caring for an orchid here, except that you have to water the flower in a solid container from above, and it is convenient to immerse the pots with slots in prepared water for 4-6 minutes. During this time, the substrate will be saturated with moisture, and the excess will drain freely.

In summer, the substrate is moistened 2-3 times a week, when the surface of the soil is dry to the touch. In the cold season, the frequency of watering is sharply reduced.

The need for water is recognized by the rhizomes that have lost their elasticity, slightly wrinkled and drooping leaves. A healthy plant recovers quickly after moistening the soil.

But the sluggish foliage of regularly watered orchids should alert the grower. Perhaps the roots were once flooded and are now in need of reorganization.

Feeding indoor orchids

Like other indoor crops forced to grow in a limited amount of substrate, orchids need regular feeding. But you shouldn't fertilize these plants too often. It is optimal if specialized liquid formulations are applied no more than twice a month and only during the period of active growth and flowering.

The increased salt content in the soil negatively affects the condition of the plant. How to care for an orchid if traces of salinity appear on the surface of the filler in the pot? It is better not to fight this phenomenon, but to prevent its occurrence. Therefore, feeding is alternated with rinsing the root system, for which the pot is immersed in warm soft water for several minutes.

If the fertilizing included in the care of the orchid is excessive, the flower tolerates temperature changes worse, and is also more often affected by pests and fungi.

Orchid care after flowering

The wilting of flowers on an orchid is a sure sign that the plant is preparing for a dormant period. It will not lose foliage, but there will be much less development and nutrition until the future appearance of buds. How to care for an orchid at this time?

First of all, it is worth paying attention to the peduncle left without bright corollas. As long as it retains its green color and juiciness, it is left.

In some cases, on the same peduncle, the buds are re-formed, and daughter plants, tiny rosettes are also formed, which, when their own roots are formed, are cut and planted in a separate pot, in a loose substrate for orchids. But signs of wilting of the peduncle suggest that it is time to cut it out.

If the indoor orchid has bloomed for a long time and abundantly, it is not correct to allow the re-emergence of buds, as is the case with certain plant varieties. This will only further weaken the flower.

In order for the culture to quickly and well restore its strength, after flowering, the care of the orchid includes feeding or transplanting a flower. However, the latter procedure can be stressful for the plant, since the roots not only tightly wrap around the substrate, but also penetrate the holes and go beyond the pot.

A video about caring for an orchid at home will explain all the intricacies of handling a spectacular tropical flower. Subject to the rules that are simple, even for a beginner, the indoor collection will be replenished with an amazingly beautiful plant, which, feeling cared for, will respond with a long bright flowering.

Proper care of an orchid - video

Hard to believe, but orchids are not much younger than ferns. They existed 130 million years ago. Perhaps no flower has overgrown with so many legends as the orchid. In one of them, it is said that the beautiful Aphrodite, running through the forest, lost her shoe, and in this place an equally beautiful flower, an orchid, grew.

Another tells of a broken rainbow, from the fragments of which orchids grew.

For a long time it was believed that breeding them is possible only in greenhouses.Now indoor plant lovers proudly showcase their collections of orchids grown on the windowsills of city apartments.

Orchid - flower description

Pseudobulb

It is a seal on the stem that contains a supply of water. It is located almost at the root, it is from there that peduncles and leaves come. In shape, pseudobulbs are spherical, ovoid and cylindrical.

Leaves

Collected in a basal rosette, dense, green, oblong, at the same time wide enough.

Roots

They have a flattened shape, using which they stick to any plant.

Growing features

For a long time, the orchid was considered a difficult flower to grow at home. Now the situation has changed. The orchid is now a completely home flower. For successful cultivation, a little experience and practical knowledge are enough.

Planting an orchid at home

An orchid bought in a store does not always need to be transplanted, but only in a few cases:

• the flower does not keep in the pot, reasons: the leaves have grown on one side - you need not just transplant the orchid, but make the pot heavier or choose a heavy glass pots;
• if there was sphagnum moss in the shipping pot;
• if another pot is prepared for the orchid.
• there is little soil in the container, and the flower sways - fill up the substrate or transplant the orchid;
• root problems are visible through the transparent walls - the orchid must be urgently removed, bad roots removed, the cuts should be sprinkled with charcoal and replanted; if there are few healthy roots left, then the peduncle will have to be cut, otherwise the plant will die, the roots will not be able to fully provide it with nutrition;

Planting methods

The orchid is planted in a transparent pot, because its roots participate in photosynthesis on a par with leaves. There should be many holes at the bottom for water intake and excess drainage. The orchid pot can be plastic or glass. For step-by-step instructions on how to plant, see the Orchid Transplant section below.

Optimal planting time

The best time to plant is spring.

Soil for planting

Orchids are not suitable for ordinary soil: their roots are used to receiving a lot of air, at home most of them grow on trees. It is better to buy a ready-made orchid substrate. Then the plant is guaranteed normal air permeability. If this is not possible, you can mix pine bark chopped into small pieces (pieces about 1-2 cm in size) with garden soil.

The bark must be boiled within an hour. Crushed charcoal is added to the mixture.

Features of orchid care

In the process of caring for a plant, there are three main components: light, watering, temperature.

Location and lighting for the plant

Properly organized lighting is the key to successful orchid breeding. They need a lot of light, but it should be diffused, soft. In summer, sunlight is filtered using curtains or special filters that are glued to the window.

In the fall, you can let the sun's rays into the room: they will no longer be able to burn the delicate leaves of the flower. In winter, it is not only necessary to remove everything that interferes with natural light, but also to supplement it with artificial light. Daylight hours for orchids lasts up to 12 hours.

It is desirable that orchids stand on the southern windowsill, especially from autumn to spring, but they do well in the southeast and southwest, although there will be a problem of additional lighting. With good artificial light, some types of orchids feel comfortable on northern windowsills. Orchids can be taken outside, but do not forget to shade in time and do not expose to a draft.

Air humidity

Plants need high humidity. It is useful to spray regularly, increase the humidity in different ways, but only in a warm room. With cold content and high humidity, the orchid can rot the roots. Under any conditions it is necessary to provide care for orchid leaves by carefully wiping them with a damp cloth and spraying them.

When growing miniature orchids, the problem with moisture is solved simply. It is convenient to grow them in an aquarium. At the same time, watering is minimized: they have enough moisture in the environment for a long time and its supply in pseudobulbs.

Temperature regime for orchids

To choose a temperature for orchids, you need to know that different types of plants prefer different temperatures. You can distinguish:

Heat-loving

They need high temperatures, reaching 30-32 degrees in summer and not falling below 20. In winter, they grow at 15-18 degrees, but the difference between day and night temperatures should not be more than 3-4 degrees. These orchids are native to tropical forests: they are mainly phalaenopsis, dendrobiums, and some varieties of Cattleya.

Growing at medium temperature

In summer they will be satisfied with a temperature of 18-25 degrees, in winter 12-15. These orchids were once brought to Europe from the tropics, but from the mountains and foothills, hence the low growth temperatures. These are miltonia and odontoglossums.

Cool temperature lovers

In summer, such orchids will grow successfully at a temperature of 18-22 degrees, and in winter, 10-13 is enough. They are from highlands and subtropical regions. Australian dendrobiums, almost all papiopedilums.

But most orchid owners bought them in a store or received them as a gift, again the donor bought them, as a rule, at the nearest flower kiosk. They themselves and their ancestors were raised in Europe, most likely in Holland, and will feel great at temperatures of 20-27 degrees in summer and 15-18 in winter.

Orchids get sick stuffy in rooms: the room should be regularly ventilated. But you can't make drafts.

How to water properly

To organize the correct watering, you need to have a good idea of ​​the conditions under which the orchids grew in nature. And bring watering as close to natural as possible:

• all orchid plants are epiphytes, therefore, they can easily endure a short break in watering, but this should not be allowed often: the leaves of the orchid will begin to wrinkle;
• some orchids (phalaenopsis, cymbidium, pafiopedilum) like the substrate to be constantly slightly moist; others (oncidium, dendrobium, cattleya) require the soil to dry out first;
• the water should be soft and warm; ideal rain or thawed warmed up; tap can be boiled;
• it is better not to water the plant from above, but put it directly in a pot in a bowl of water and leave for a few minutes, then take it out, let the water drain.

Fertilizing and fertilizing a flower

Ideally, you don't need to fertilize your orchid. She has enough supply of nutrients available in the substrate. But then the flower should be transplanted regularly every two years.

If there was no transplant, then it is better to add top dressing. You cannot take any fertilizer for flowers. They only need special ones for orchids. It is necessary to strictly observe the proportions named in the instructions. Fertilizers are applied during the flowering period once a week.

Pruning orchids

Orchids are pruned after flowering.

Pruning methods

After the orchid blooms along the main axis, you can cut the peduncle, leaving up to 5 buds from the leaf outlet. Then peduncles from the buds below the cut can develop, and flowering will continue. When the plant has completely faded, all peduncles are cut off.

Orchid transplant

The flower is transplanted every two years to replenish the nutrients in the substrate. If the pot has become small, then it is transplanted more often. The plant is transplanted in the spring, but this cannot be done if the orchid has released a peduncle. It may not bloom.

Transplant methods

Transplantation raises many questions from novice florists. Here you need to follow a certain algorithm:

• carefully separate the walls of the pot and the root ball with a sharp narrow knife (the roots can grow into the pot);
• clean up old soil and cut off dead and rotten roots;
• pour a little soil into a new planter;
• install the plant in a pots, trying to keep it in the middle;
• gently spread the roots, they are brittle;
• first, little by little fill the voids between the roots, then the entire pot to the very edge, shaking it from time to time so that the substrate fills everything evenly;
• lightly crush the soil from above with something flat, for example, a spoon;
• After transplanting, the orchid is placed in a warm place and watered little by little.

Orchid propagation

It is not difficult to reproduce it at home if you have certain knowledge.

Reproduction methods

There are two main ways: by seed and vegetative propagation. When propagating by seeds, you may not get a plant that is the same as the parent.

Division

This method works if the plant is large. Then the rhizome itself disintegrates during transplantation. It can also be divided:

• the orchid is taken out of the container and the roots are thoroughly cleaned from the soil;
• with a knife, which has been previously disinfected over an open fire, divide the rhizome between pseudobulbs;
• the sections are powdered with charcoal;
• flowers are planted in pots according to the method already described.

It is better to do this in the spring.

Propagation by cuttings

Not all species can be divided this way, but some, for example, Vanda, succeed.

The apical shoot is separated with a sterile knife, the cut point is dipped in crushed coal and planted in a pot.

Reproduction by children (stem offspring)

Many flowers, for example, phalaenopsis and dendrobium, give side shoots, babies. If such a baby has formed, then it should be protected, sprayed often and patiently wait for it to give roots. Then it is separated and planted in a container, sprinkling the cut with coal.

The appearance of such a baby can be provoked. This requires: high room temperature and nitrogen fertilization.

Reproduction by layering (pseudobulbs)

The pseudobulb is carefully separated and, after coal treatment, is planted in the ground. Further care is watering.

Seed propagation

Orchid seeds are very small, this is the main difficulty of such reproduction. It is used only by those who are engaged in selection. The seeds are placed in an artificial nutrient medium under sterile conditions so that molds do not develop, and germinate within 3-9 months. Then they are planted in a substrate and wait another 2-3 years until the plant can be transplanted. Orchids grown from seeds bloom only after 3-4 years.

Orchid bloom

They buy a blooming orchid in the store. Therefore, each owner faces two acute questions: is it possible to make it bloom for a long time and how to force it to bloom again if it faded quickly.

When the orchid blooms

They bloom when they reach the age of 1.5-2.5 years.

In order for the orchid to please with flowering, it is necessary to create certain conditions for it:

• provide a long daylight hours, the orchid must lay the required number of buds and form peduncles, this is a long process;
• be sure to need drops in day and night temperatures, during this period they can reach 5-7 degrees.

But if the orchid does not want to bloom, you can try to force it by arranging extreme conditions of detention:

• keep it for 15-20 days at a temperature of 15-17 degrees;
• significantly reduce watering during this period.

In different types of orchids, flowers differ markedly both in shape and in shades of color. But there is also something in common: the lower petal resembles a lip in shape, there are two sepals on its sides, two side petals rise above them, and the upper sepal completes all this.

Orchid care during flowering

An orchid, depending on the species and how many buds were laid in preparation for flowering, can bloom from 2 to 10 months. During this period, watering is doubled, the air temperature should be at least 20-25 degrees.

Orchid care after flowering

First of all, the peduncle is cut to give the opportunity to form a new one. The orchid can be fed, followed by the usual care.

Pest disease problems

Diseases:

• anthracnose - manifests itself as brown spots with dots on the leaves; it is treated with preparations containing copper;
• fusarium - rotting spots appear on the leaves, this happens due to excess moisture — they are transferred to a dry room and watering is stopped;
• rust - rust spots on the bottom of the sheet — cannot be treated; the plant is destroyed so that others do not get infected;
• black rot - sprouts and leaves die off, the reason is in a too cold room - it is better to destroy the plant so as not to infect the rest.

Pests:

• aphid - destroyed by a mixture of milk and water in equal proportions;
• soft mite - the affected areas in the form of rosettes are cut out and sprinkled along the edge with ash;
• spider mite - the whole plant, window and windowsill are thoroughly washed with soap;
• scabbards - live in growths and bumps, get rid of them with the help of soap suds;
• thrips - translucent bugs living at the bottom of the leaf, cut out the affected areas.

If such methods do not help, then they turn to chemicals and process the plant according to the instructions.

Popular species (varieties)

• Phalaenopsis orchid—The most widespread species in indoor floriculture, there are many hybrids on sale that successfully grow in the house;
• Dendrobium nobile orchid - there are many varieties, they all bloom in spring, the most popular is the white orchid, such plants, which have a pure white color, come from Thailand;
• Cambria orchid- an artificially bred plant, it blooms for a long time, grows well on the windowsill;
• Ludisia orchid—A plant with very beautiful leaves, grows indoors only with very high humidity;
• Miltonia orchid- Difficult cultivar to breed, but with very beautiful fragrant flowers, similar in shape to pansies;
• Cymbidium orchid- very large plants, now miniature varieties have been developed that are so easy to care for that they are offered to novice growers;
• Cattleya Orchid- a species with spectacular waxy flowers, hybrids of which grow successfully in rooms;
• Wanda orchid - grows successfully indoors up to a meter;
• Oncidium - flowers resemble butterflies, grows in the house, but with strict adherence to the rules of care.

Useful tips (note to the florist)

• If the bathroom has a large enough window, then this is the optimal place for the orchid.
• It is better to buy orchids in spring or summer.
• If the flower has given aerial roots, then they must be sprayed.
• After the orchid has faded, it must be rearranged to a new place.

Answers to readers' questions

What is the lifespan of a plant?

Each species has its own lifespan. At home, orchids live from 3 to 10 years.

Can this plant be kept at home?

This flower will be a decoration for any home.

Is this flower poisonous?

This houseplant is not poisonous.

Why isn't the orchid blooming?

No preparatory measures were taken.

Why do the leaves turn yellow (dry)?

The reason is most often in excess or lack of moisture.

How does the plant overwinter?

Winters in a cool room with an average temperature of 15 to 18 degrees and limited watering.

Orchid is a beautiful, mysterious, extraordinary and, indeed, a royal flower. There are about 20 thousand varieties around the world. And only some of them managed to be tamed by flower growers: Wanda orchid, Cymbidium, Phalaenopsis, Dendrobium, Pafiopedilum - the most suitable species for indoor conditions.

Growing an orchid at home still scares novice flower lovers. Since it is believed that she is extremely capricious, demanding, and will not take root in every home. For some amateur flower growers, it grows without problems, and does not take much time to care, for others it requires constant attention. What does an orchid need in order for it to endow the house with flowering for many years? Read this article for details.

Orchid pot

You can make a similar pot with your own hands.

It is necessary to take care of the pot in which the flower will grow.For those who have just decided to purchase an orchid, you should know that it will not grow in an ordinary flower pot.

This means that it is necessary to create the appropriate conditions for growth.

The pot should be made of clear plastic. It is necessary to make holes on it on the sides and bottom. It is desirable that small legs from 0.5 mm are present. This is done so that air flows to the roots of the plant. Some types of orchids prefer to grow in baskets that are hung from the wall.

Vanda Orchid in a hanging pot

Note: The orchid is sold in a transparent pot with air holes.

Soil preparation

The orchid should be freely removed from the pot along with the soil.

An orchid will not grow in the ground. No matter how high quality and nutritious it is. In the wild, this flower (orchids - epiphytes) grows on trees high from the soil.

The same conditions must be created at home.

You don't need to rack your brains over this. The stores sell ready-made substrates for orchids. It is a mixture of sphagnum moss, pine bark, high-moor peat, a small amount of charcoal. Additional components are added to these main components. Therefore, the substrates are different.

It is important to know: the amount of charcoal should not exceed 5%. Since over time it accumulates salts, which negatively affects the growth of the flower. The soil should lie freely in the pot, it should not be tamped.

Where to put the flower

Side light is one of the conditions for proper orchid cultivation

Orchid is a plant that makes you admire yourself. Each hostess is proud of her favorite and wants to put it in a prominent place.

In this case, the following points should be taken into account:

• the orchid loves a lot of light, but it should be diffused;
• it is better to put the flower not on the windowsill, but to allocate a special stand for it, which should be placed on the side of the plant;
• after winter, the orchid weaned from bright sunlight, for a while it needs to be shaded.

Note: if the leaves turn pale, turn yellow, the roots stretch out, then the orchid does not have enough light.

Temperature regime

The orchid on the loggia in the summer feels great

Orchid is a heat-loving flower.

The room temperature must be at least 15 degrees Celsius. Otherwise, the flower may simply freeze. At high temperatures, the flower feels much more comfortable. But there are some nuances.

If the air temperature is over 25 degrees, so-called "babies" will begin to appear on the orchid. These are small shoots on shoots, roots. As they develop, they can be detached from the main flower, and transplanted into a separate pot. Sometimes such conditions are created on purpose.

Note: You can take the orchid out into the fresh air in the warm season in the morning and in the evening. The scorching sun can scorch the leaves and the plant dries up.

Watering the orchid

Watering the orchid is best over the sink.

In the case of an orchid, the rule applies: it is better to underfill than to overdo it. In the warm season, it is enough to water the flower once a week. In winter, once every 14 days.

There are 3 methods:

1. Pour water into a pot - pour the liquid around the edges. Watering should be abundant. Residual moisture flows out through the holes.
2. Submerge the pot in water - immerse the entire pot to the brim for 30 minutes. Then they put the water on the glass.
3. Spraying - the whole plant is treated, except for the inflorescences. From the presence of water, they fade, wither, spots appear. Care must be taken to ensure that the water does not stagnate in the leaves.

Very important: the water should be at room temperature or slightly warm.

Soft water can be used from the tap. Before that, she insists on a day. Hard - boil, and then also defend. If the orchid likes acidic soil, add a few drops of vinegar, citric acid or juice.

Plant transplant

The new pot shouldn't be too big

The orchid does not like frequent transplant procedures. The optimal period of time is 2 years. This should be taken into account when choosing the size of the pot.

The best time of the year for this is spring and early summer.

The orchid transplant procedure itself includes the following steps:

• water well the day before;
• gently remove the orchid from the pot;
• place in water so that the soil is soaked;
• view the roots - cut off spoiled or with the presence of rot, treat the tips with activated carbon;
• place in a new pot and add a new substrate;
• water only after 1-2 days.

Attention: do not replant when the orchid is in bloom or the roots have resumed growth after winter. You can tell by the tips of the roots - they turn bright green.

The plant itself will say that the time has come for transplantation. The roots will stick out from above, become thin, the leaves will no longer be saturated. It seems that the orchid has little space.

Post-flowering care

The scissors must be sharp so that there is no dent on the shoot

The orchid is distinguished by long flowering. Some species stand in flowers all year round (for example, the Phalaenopsis orchid). On average, this takes 6 months. The buds open gradually. What to do with the stem after flowering?

There are 2 options: cut it off or wait until it dries.

The second option is more appropriate. New flowers may appear on the stem, the formation of which may not be noticeable at the time of cutting. It is better to wait until it dries, and then carefully cut it off. Interestingly, with this care, the orchid will bloom much faster than when the stem is cut off right away!

Reproduction at home

It looks like a cutting, ready for transplant.

Breeding orchids is a process that requires neatness, sterility and aging.

There are several ways to dilute a greenhouse of flowers from one plant:

1. Reproduction by division. The flower is removed from the pot, soaked. A sharp knife is used, which is previously disinfected or pierced over a fire. The flower is carefully cut into 2 parts. The cut site is treated with activated carbon.
2. Propagation by cuttings. Suitable for fast growing orchids with one apical point of growth. Young shoots are used. The knife is pre-prepared. Cut at the base of leaf growth. Cuttings are cut into 20 cm each. The ends are treated with activated carbon. Then it is necessary to dry in the open air for 1 day. The substrate should be light. The day before transplanting the cuttings, it should be well moistened. Next, you need to arrange them correctly. Do not stick, just lay on top of the substrate. Make a greenhouse. Just cover with plastic wrap. To create conditions of high humidity and warmth. When leaves and roots appear, you can transplant.
3. Orchid propagation by seeds at home is almost impossible to carry out. Complete sterility must be observed. And everything. A special temperature regime is created. The composition of the substance in which the seed will develop. Moreover, the seed of the orchid is very small - the size of a speck of dust.
4. Reproduction by children. One of the easiest and safest options. At elevated air temperatures, leaves and new roots appear on the shoots, which grow in different directions. These are kids. It is necessary to provide the flower with high humidity. After the neoplasm gets stronger, you can cut it off and transplant it into another pot. Another breeding option is to gently bend the shoot into another pot of soil and sprinkle it. After it takes root, cut it off.

You can find out more useful information about the methods of breeding orchids at home from this article.

The orchid should feel cared for, warm, calm at home. Then she will delight with excellent flowers and become a talisman of good luck for her mistress or master.Orchid care is no different from other flowers, it's just special.

Look video tips for growing orchids at home:

Rate the article

(

estimates, average:

out of 5)

Orchids belong to the Orchid family - the largest of the monocotyledonous families, which includes almost a tenth of all the world's plants. This family is quite old, since the first representatives were found in the layers of the Late Cretaceous epoch. Orchids have not been found only in Antarctica, but they grow everywhere, where there are conditions necessary for their habitation. Most species prefer the tropics.

The word orchis, which gave the name to the flower, is translated from Greek as an egg. The famous member of the Orchid family is Vanilla planifolia, the pods of which give the aromatic spice vanilla.

Most of the species are epiphytes. Orchids lack the main acquisition of flowering plants - a double fertilization process. Some species can grow up to two meters, while others are dwarf.

The lifestyle of orchids is quite peculiar. Many tropical species live in trees that support them and help them fight for light. Others have chosen steep cliffs, launching roots into cracks and crevices - the remains of plants and water accumulate there. There are also underground representatives of the family who never see the sun, and their flowers are pollinated by underground insects.

The beauty of orchids has long haunted people. She was associated with vice and shrouded in the mystery of many legends. Even today, superstitions are alive that somewhere in the tropical jungle, predatory orchids grow, feeding not only on animals, but also attacking the human race. In reality, predatory flowers exist, but they feed on midges and small spiders caught in their flowers.

Proper orchid care at home

It is widely believed that orchids are very finicky and capricious at home. This is partly true, because the flower needs a sufficiently high humidity and does not tolerate dryness and dust. Even two or three spraying increases the moisture level only temporarily. It is optimal to grow these exquisite beauties in indoor greenhouses.

If you adhere to the general requirements for care, almost all species can be grown at home and achieved flowering without much difficulty. The main thing is not to forget that it is very important for a plant to observe a dormant period.

Location

An orchid should be determined for a place of residence on a sunny window or in a special aquarium, remembering the love of humid warm air. If the average daily temperature stays at around 15-16 degrees for a long time, this can cause untimely formation of flowers. Orchids are bred in containers made of clay or plastic, where there are several bottom holes, and preferably wall holes. While the plant is young and not yet matured, it is better to remove the peduncle.

Lighting

Orchids do well under fluorescent light. The lamp should be placed at a distance of 30 centimeters from the flower and the "solar" procedure should be carried out for about 12 hours. The sufficiency of light is determined in a practical way. If the plant has shortened internodes, and the leaves are strongly lowered or extended upwards, there is an excess of light rays. Small leaves, long and thin internodes are a disadvantage. The aquarium with flowers can be located in a warm, albeit dimly lit place.

Temperature

Orchids can be divided into three groups: heat-loving, medium-temperature and cold-loving. Depending on the type of orchid, it is necessary to correctly select the optimal temperature for the flower.

Heat-loving orchids prefer a temperature regime within: 15-32 degrees during the day, 15-18 degrees at night. Medium-temperature orchids thrive at a temperature of 18-22 degrees during the day and 12-15 degrees at night. Cold-loving orchids need a temperature of 22 degrees during the day and 12-15 degrees at night.

Important! Almost all types of orchids will grow well at average temperatures of 18-27 degrees during the day and 13-24 degrees at night.

Watering

Water the orchid flower with boiled settled water, spraying is carried out with melted or distilled water - hard water leaves salt deposits on the leaves, forming a whitish bloom over time. Top dressing can be done while watering.

Air humidity

Orchids love high levels of humidity, and in hot summer or in rooms with centralized winter heating, two or three spraying will be of little use. Orchids should be moistened from time to time for hygiene reasons. The plant is not sprayed if it is located in the sun, and during flowering, the procedure is carried out so that moisture does not get on the flowers.

It is best to do spraying in the morning or in the afternoon. At night, this can be done only when the flower is located not on the veranda or balcony, but in the room. That is, there is no risk that the temperature at night will drop significantly.

Well-humidified air is the main and very important criterion for keeping orchids at home. It is possible to increase the air humidity by breeding plants in special aquariums, indoor greenhouses and greenhouses. Also, a nearby terrarium with water or a regular aquarium with fish will be excellent humidifiers. It is a good idea to place the orchid on a pallet with pebbles and water. An alternative option can be a cat pot, then pebbles or stones will not be needed, they will be replaced by the lattice located there.

Transfer

If you just bought an orchid from a store, then you don't need to replant it right away. The flower is able to grow in its substrate for two years. An orchid needs an immediate transplant if sphagnum moss was used as a substrate in the store before.

How to properly transplant an orchid

Orchids and Feng Shui

Orchid flowers are believed to distract from everyday problems and help find spiritual Zen. Orchids help to cope with depression and inspire creative people. Dark red orchids drive away laziness and apathy.

Proper care of orchids (video)