Orchid is a very charming ornamental plant with unique exotic beauty that we mainly find indoor in homes, offices and business premises, that is available in a clay pot.
Orchids stand out for their large impressive flowers that are kept in bloom for a long time with bright colors that impress every recipient.
What is the appropriate placement for the orchid?
You should prefer a bright place in the house avoiding contact with direct sunlight. Especially during summer months, we should avoid sun exposure, as it causes burns on the leaves and drying of the flowers. We take care to place the orchid away from radiators, from cold and hot currents, as well as away from windows. Ideal temperatures for the orchid to thrive indoors are between 18-27 ° C.
What soil does the orchid need to thrive?
As the orchid does not grow in the soil, for its planting we use mixtures of materials that allow the support of the plant, while ensuring proper moisture retention and good ventilation for the roots. In plant nurseries and agricultural stores, there are special packages with soil for orchids that we can use, which contain materials such as pine bark and the husks of the outer coconut shell.
What is the need of the orchid for watering and fertilizing?
Many people water the orchid with a small watering can or put it under the tap for a few seconds to absorb water. The most effective and correct way of watering is to immerse the pot with the orchid in a basin with lukewarm water. So, take the pot out of the planter and place the orchid along with the pot for a few minutes in the basin until the whole substrate of the plant absorbs water. Then take out the pot with the orchid and let it drain well before placing it back in the planter.
The watering of the orchid should be done at a constant frequency, depending on the season we are in and the prevailing temperatures. Indicatively, in the spring and autumn period we water the orchid about once a week, in the warm summer period every 5 days, while during winter every 10 days. Before watering the orchid, check that the substrate and its roots have dried. If we notice that they have moisture, do not water. When the roots of our orchid have a healthy green color, it means that can water properly. If they are dark in color, it means that they have water and we need to be careful not to water too much.
In addition, it is important to spray the orchid foliage with water every morning, especially during the summer season when high temperatures prevail. The foliage is good to be sprayed during the winter as well, because due to the heating devices, the atmosphere inside the house can be quite dry. The orchid, as a tropical plant, requires a relatively high humidity environment to have rich growth and good flowering.
The orchid has mild nutrient requirements and does not need excessive amounts of fertilizer. During the growing season of the orchid, we fertilize every 2 weeks with a balanced fertilizer special made for orchids. During the flowering period of the orchid, the fertilization is done once a month. Avoid lubrication during the winter or apply at very sparse intervals. It should be noted that the orchid is sensitive to fertilizer with high nitrogen content, so it is good to prefer special fertilizers for orchids.
For the fertilization of the orchid we prefer liquid fertilizers that are water soluble in water. The application of fertilization is best done by diluting the liquid fertilizer in the basin where we place the orchid when we water it. There are also special fertilizers for foliar spraying of the leaves and surface roots of the orchid that we can use.
One last tip for caring for orchids
The orchid can be infected by several insects that cause problems with its foliage, buds and flowers. The most common insects that infect orchids are the granules that create cotton on the leaves, the thrips that appear as small flies and the nightshade, a small spider that infects the foliage. To treat insects, dissolve 1 tablespoon of grated green soap in 1 liter of water and spray as a precaution every 2 weeks on the upper and lower surface of the orchid leaves.
In conditions of excessive humidity and poor ventilation in the environment, the orchid may show black spots on the leaves or rot on the root due to fungal diseases. To treat the diseases in an ecological way, we spray the foliage and the roots of the orchid with a liquid copper preparation. Liquid copper is an organic preparation that can be purchased from agricultural stores.