Conditions for growing orchids at home. Fertilizer and top dressing

Growing an orchid at home is quite painstaking work.

The orchid loves the light, but not the direct rays of the sun.. Therefore, in terms of illumination, windows from the western and eastern sides are suitable for it.

in winter natural light for a plant at home is not enough, because it needs light for at least 12 hours a day. From an orchid, it is easy to understand whether it has enough light: no, if the leaves have darkened, become soft and stretched out a lot.

The temperature at home is usually from 18 to 25 degrees Celsius. A favorable environment for a thermophilic orchid. The plant must not be allowed to be at a temperature below 12 degrees Celsius: it will die.

Before you open the window in winter to ventilate the room, take the orchid out of the room. If the central heating has already been turned off, and the house has become very cold, the optimal temperature conditions for a tropical plant can be created using an air heater.

Perfect option - grow an orchid in a greenhouse where humidity can be over 70% (as in the tropics).

At home there is no way to make such humidity. But even at home 50%, the plant feels fine if it is sprayed with water three times a day (morning, afternoon and evening).

When an orchid blooms, all parts of it are sprayed except for the flowers. At night, the leaves of the plant should be dry, so the last spraying is not recommended to be done late. If the orchid is grown under temperature conditions below 18 degrees Celsius (for example, on a veranda), it does not need to be sprayed.

Airing the room where the orchid grows, of course. Lack of air circulation can lead to. During ventilation, there should be no drafts, and the orchid should not be supercooled in winter period.

soft and warm water (40°C). Ideally - rain. for watering tap water can be defended, filtered or boiled.

To make the water softer, peat wrapped in a rag bag is placed in a container with it for a day. The calculation is as follows: 10 liters of water - 10 grams of peat. Often watering is not necessary, only when completely dry. Water should not stagnate in a pot. For summer, the optimal watering regimen is after 3 days; for winter - after 7 days.

Ordinary land is not suitable for growing orchids. In the pot in which the shoot is sold, as a rule, there is no earth. There are pebbles (expanded clay) and bark. The fact is that the roots of a tropical epiphyte need air, and ordinary earth- a substance too dense for them.

cultivation

from seed

How to grow an orchid from seeds? Orchid seeds are very small.. They are like dust: 15,000 times smaller than a wheat seed. They lack an endosperm, making the seeds extremely vulnerable when they germinate.

Everything that comes into contact with the seed during its germination must be sterile, otherwise it will be destroyed by pathogenic microorganisms.

A special mixture with agar-agar is sold in stores for growing orchids from seeds.

It must be diluted as written in the instructions, and sterilized in a saucepan with a tight-fitting lid for 20 minutes.

It turns out a substance in the form of jelly, it is laid out in jars (30 milliliters each) and seeds are sown in them. Banks are hermetically sealed. After 9 months the seed will germinate. Transplanting into a pot will be possible only after 3 years.

from bulbs

How to grow an orchid from a bulb? Orchid pseudo-bulbs are sold in flower shops. They are called bulbs.

Using a disinfected knife, we free the bulbs from small pseudo-bulbs that form on the roots.

Sprinkle slices with crushed charcoal or grease with potassium permanganate and plant pseudo-bulbs in moss.

Of babes

How to grow an orchid from a baby? In an orchid, babies usually appear in the spring. But they can form at other times of the year.

From the root

How to grow an orchid from a root? The method is often used at home for propagating orchids.

Successful reproduction of an orchid in this way is only provided that the mother plant is large and has grown greatly.

It is carefully removed from the pot, shaken slightly to release the roots from the substrate. Using a pruner, the rhizome divide so that each part has at least 2 pseudo-bulbs. You don’t need to divide it smaller: you will have to wait a very long time for new orchids to grow.

So that the plants do not get sick, the sections are sprinkled with charcoal. Parts of the roots are distributed in pots one by one. The pots should have a substrate for growing orchids (can be bought at the store).

Delenki is better not to water, but to spray 2 times a day. A sign of plant adaptation is the appearance of roots and leaves.

From a cutting

How to grow an orchid from a cutting at home?

At the orchid, a shoot is cut off from the side with a length of about 15 cm with a sterile knife. The slices are sprinkled with charcoal. The cutting is placed on the sphagnum, greenhouse conditions are created for it until it takes root.

Cuttings can be made from a faded peduncle. It is cut off at the base and divided into parts so that each has kidneys in the middle.

The cuttings are placed in a horizontal position on the moss in a plastic container, covered with a film, put the container in a room where it is warm (about 25 ° C) and light. Watering - after 4 days. When the roots appear, the cuttings should be transplanted into pots..

in hydrogel

Flower shops offer orchids in vases filled with hydrogel balls. It looks beautiful, but you cannot grow an orchid in a hydrogel.

By the way, even the manufacturers of this material themselves write about this. The orchid does not like frequent watering, and the hydrogel was developed specifically for growing moisture-loving plants.

With prolonged contact with beautiful balls, orchid roots die off. As experience shows, this usually happens after 6 months.

A simple worker in Wales in the 19th century could only buy a potted orchid after working for 10 years and setting aside his entire salary for this purchase.

Then it was believed that the orchid was not suitable for growing at home, because it lives only on tropical trees and feeds on them. In fact, this is not so: this plant needs trees as a support, but not as a source nutrients.

We talked about several ways to grow orchids at home. If that worker had known even one of them, he would have become one of the richest men of his time.

Paphiopedilium - the most suitable species for room conditions.

Growing orchids at home is still intimidating for beginner 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 the details in this article.

Orchid pot

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

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

Soil preparation

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 worry too much about this. Ready-made substrates for orchids are sold in stores. This is a mixture of sphagnum moss, pine bark, high-moor peat, a small amount of charcoal. Additional components are added to these main components. So the substrates are different.

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Where to put the flower

Orchid is a plant that makes you admire yourself. Each hostess is proud of her pet, and wants to put it in a conspicuous place. In doing so, 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 sun rays, for a while it needs to be shaded.

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

Temperature regime

Orchid is a thermophilic 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 above 25 degrees, the so-called "kids" 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 these conditions are created on purpose.

Note: take out an orchid Fresh air can be in the warm season in the morning and evening. The scorching sun can burn the leaves, and the plant will dry out.

Watering an orchid

In the case of an orchid, the rule applies: it is better to underfill than overdo it. In the warm season, it is enough to water the flower once a week. In winter, 1 time in 14 days. There are 3 methods:

1. Pour water into a pot - the liquid is poured around the edges. Watering should be plentiful. Residual moisture flows out through the holes.
2. Lower the pot into water - immerse the entire pot to the brim for 30 minutes. Then they put it so that the water is glass.
3. Spraying - the whole plant is treated, except for the inflorescences. From the presence of water, they fade, fade, spots appear. It is necessary to ensure that water does not stagnate in the leaves.

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

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

Plant transplant

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 should feel care, warmth, calm atmosphere in the house. Then she will delight with excellent flowers and become a good luck talisman for her mistress or master. Caring for an orchid is no different from other flowers, it's just special.

See video tips for growing orchids at home:

Orchids, according to experienced flower growers, are demanding plants for care and growing conditions. FROM

leaving soil, lighting, method of watering - you need to take into account many nuances when deciding to plant this plant at home beautiful flower.

Not every variety of orchid is suitable for growing at home, since many of them are wild or “used” to special climatic conditions.

Orchids do not have pollen to attract pollinating insects. Not every species even has nectar. Their main advantage is their beautiful appearance and aroma.

What type of orchid can be grown at home?

Orchids come in a variety of sizes, colors, and petal shapes. In total, there are more than 20,000 of their species. In our climatic zone, it is quite possible to breed dozens of varieties, but many of them require special conditions of detention, which are almost impossible to create at home, except perhaps in greenhouses.

best view orchids suitable for home growing – Phalaenopsis. The plant blooms for a long time and beautifully, it comes in different shades. An excellent “place of residence” for him will be the window sill. It is not difficult to get seed material - you will find it in any horticultural market.

Phalaenopsis

Already not a novice in this business and successfully growing a Phalaenopsis orchid? Then you can try to plant a different kind of flower - more "complex". For example:

Orchid Dendrobium. Coolness is required for the active growth of a beauty. Blooms no more than a month.

Orchid Cattleya. The plant likes a warm, but not hot climate. Flowers can reach 20 cm in diameter.

Orchid Wanda. Heat-loving species with a powerful root system. The flowers are large and become brighter as they develop.

Orchid Zygopetalum. A plant with beautiful fragrant inflorescences. Petals two or three colors. Representatives of this species do not like the scorching rays of the sun.

Growing an orchid at home is much easier by rooting a cutting. The seeds of the plant are so small that they look like light dust. seed propagation orchids are a complex technology that requires special skills and experience. This method of cultivation is suitable for breeding new hybrids and cultivation in greenhouse conditions. That's why, We will give preference to high-quality cuttings purchased from local flower growers and specialized nurseries.

Soil preparation and containers for growing orchids

The main task of the container for planting orchids and the soil mixture used is to support the flower in an upright position, ensure oxygen access to the roots and remove moisture from them. If there is a wet substrate in the container, the roots of the plant will die.

There should be a lot of voids in the soil, which garden soil cannot provide - it is too dense. Therefore, the substrate for growing orchids either does not contain earth at all, or contains it in small quantities. Novice flower growers are advised to buy in the store already ready mix for rooting cuttings. Do you want to do everything yourself? Then stock up on time and patience. There is several options for preparing the substrate for growing orchids:

Pine bark (for small flowers - a fraction of 3-6 mm; for large flowers - a fraction of the bark 6-10 mm).

Fern + peat + leaf soil + pine bark + charcoal (3:3:2:1:1).

Pine bark + coal (10:1).

Before soil preparation pine bark dry, otherwise mold quickly forms in the substrate. Additionally, moss is used, but it is not added to the mixture itself, but the upper roots are covered with it.

As a growing container orchids fit plastic pots, nets, wire planters. Experienced flower growers use special purchased blocks, which can consist of bark, cork and snags.

Orchid planting: blocks, pots, baskets

When the container and substrate are prepared, a high-quality stalk is bought, we proceed to planting the orchid. The key to success is quality planting material. The stalk should be without signs of disease, not shrunken. Sterilize cuts with fungicides, garden pitch, or charcoal before planting.

Landing rules, taking into account the selected capacity:

Pot. Fill the container by 1/3 with drainage (broken shards or bricks, expanded clay, polystyrene). Place an orchid on the drainage, the roots of which need to be fixed to the wire base with nylon thread or soft wire. Cover the plant with the prepared substrate so that the horizontal part of the stem remains on the surface of the soil.

Basket. In this case, a drainage layer is not needed - oxygen will flow freely to the roots anyway. At the bottom of the container, fix the wire mesh (often replaced with a layer of bark or moss). Place the roots of the cutting along the grid. Pour the substrate on top. To increase the moisture capacity of the soil, the slots of the basket can be closed with moss.

Block. There should be a hook at the top of the block to attach it to the wall. If this is not provided for in the purchased material, do it yourself fastener. When growing an orchid in normal humid conditions, a moss substrate will be required under the stalk. Attach the plant to the block (be careful not to break the roots!), Cover them with moss on top. Attach the orchid to the block with a fishing line, wire or nylon thread.

Do not water the planted orchid for several days. Further, growing a flower will consist in proper care for it - watering, creating good lighting and ventilation, maintaining a normal level of humidity.

We create suitable conditions for growing orchids

Be careful about creating suitable conditions for your orchid, otherwise the plant will not take root. Conditions for growing and caring for a flower:

Lighting. Indoor orchids need partial shade. If the pot with the plant is on the windowsill, remove it from there by noon. The orchid takes root well and with artificial lighting- white light bulbs are used. At autumn bloom, provide her with additional lighting so that the buds do not dry out and have time to bloom. In winter, the flower should be lit for at least 12 hours.

Temperature. The flower tolerates elevated temperatures better than cold. The optimal temperature range for growing orchids is 28-30 ˚С. To stimulate flowering, it can be kept at 12-15 ° C for a couple of weeks.

Humidity. The optimal level of humidity when caring for an orchid is 60-80%. At lower rates, provide for your beauty a special tray with a grate, on the bottom of which water is poured, and a drainage layer is poured on top. Place a tray under the plant so that the evaporating moisture feeds the plant.

Ventilation. The constant movement of air is especially important for cold-loving orchids. But the plants will not tolerate drafts! If the room does not have good natural ventilation, sometimes you can turn on the fan.

Watering. AT normal conditions an orchid can go without watering for 2 weeks. Water the plant when the substrate is dry. Orchids love abundant watering. The quality of moisture can be judged by appearance root system. If the roots turn green, there is enough moisture in the soil. But their brown color indicates excessive waterlogging. Water the settled orchid tap water(22-24 ˚С). Try not to let water get on the leaves - you can infect it with rot. Although occasionally (especially in hot weather) you can spray orchid leaves from a spray bottle. During the period when you place the orchid in a cool room to stimulate flowering, watering should be reduced.

Fertilizer. Feed plantings with liquid fertilizers designed specifically for orchids once every 3-4 weeks. Feeding can be done independently. The plant responds well to the application of nitrogenous fertilizers during the growing season.

Under good growing conditions and regular feeding, the orchid will bloom and grow actively. Gradually root system the flower grows strongly, displacing the substrate from the pot. It's come time to transplant beauty in another container. It is done like this:

Remove the plant from the soil.

Carefully free the roots from the remnants of the substrate. If they are not cleared of small pebbles in any way, place the root system in warm water for about 20-30 minutes - the adhering soil will be washed off. Dead roots can be cut off so that they do not inhibit the growth of the orchid in the future.

Dry the orchid (at least 6 hours).

Prepare in advance new pot larger diameter than before.

The planting scheme is the same as when rooting the cutting.

The main task when transplanting a plant is not to injure the roots. If some roots were removed, the plant in the first months after the change of "residence" will require special care - additional support for the trunk, shelter with polyethylene to create greenhouse effect.

orchid transplant

From what pests and diseases to protect the orchid?

Together with the purchased seedling, uninvited "guests" can also be brought into the house - pests that can eventually destroy the orchid. We list the most dangerous insects for a flower:

Shchitovka. small insect feeding on plant sap. In the process of its vital activity, mucus is formed, which destroys the living tissues of the orchid. A sign of damage to the leaves by the scab is dark spots on the leaves. It is not easy to cure a plant - remove all pests from an orchid, spray special tool, change the substrate, wash the leaves with water every five days for a month.

shield on an orchid

Scarlet. When affected by a small "fluffy" insect, the orchid begins to turn yellow and leaves fall off. To detect a worm, regular inspection of the plant is necessary. It is easier to prevent its spread - remove dried leaves in time, regularly wipe the leaves with water. Found pests on an orchid? You will have to remove each of them with a stick, treat the plant with a special composition.

worm on orchid

Whitefly. The larvae of this butterfly suck the juice from the orchid, which can lead to the death of the plant. The whitefly is clearly visible - you will immediately see it on the flower. If a pest is found, rinse the flower with a solution laundry soap(1:6), treat the substrate and the plant with a special agent, regularly wipe the leaves with water.

Orchids, even if they live indoors, can also be affected by diseases.

the following "infections" are characteristic:

Anthracnose. Brown spots appear on the leaves of the orchid, darkening with time. The cause of the lesion is high humidity, abundant moisture of the substrate. To cure the plant, it is necessary to cut out the affected areas, and treat the cut site with wood ash. If afflicted large plots, treat the plant with special biological preparations.

anthracosis on an orchid

Powdery mildew. The plant is covered with a whitish coating, which leads to the drying of the affected area of ​​the plant. The cause of the disease is excessive humidity, high temperature. For treatment, you can spray the orchid with a solution of colloidal sulfur. Water the substrate well a couple of hours before the procedure.

Pests and diseases are not always the cause of wilting orchids - flower growers themselves, due to lack of experience in breeding these whimsical flowers, make mistakes.

If you properly care for an orchid, it will delight you for many years.

Phalaenopsis will become a real decoration for your home. Growing orchids at home is carried out according to specific rules, which will be described in detail in this article.

What type to choose for the house

You can grow orchids at home in a variety of ways. However, it is important to choose the right variety so that in the future you do not have problems caring for the flower. After all, each type of plant has its own set of requirements for growing conditions. If everything is organized correctly, then caring for orchids in a flower pot will be simple.

For growing orchids at home, the following varieties are suitable:

• Phalaenopsis. It is Phalaenopsis at home that is grown more often than other types of plants. This flower is different long flowering, and its flowers can have a wide variety of colors. Growing any phalaenopsis at home will be possible even for a beginner;
• Dendrobium. Orchids of this species grow in coolness. The duration of flowering is more than one month;
• Cattleya. Growing conditions for this variety require a warm but not hot microclimate. The formation of rather large flowers is characteristic;
• Wanda. This is a heat-loving plant that has a powerful root system. As they develop, the flowers become brighter;
• Zygopetalum. This variety is characterized by the formation of fragrant inflorescences.

With the orchids listed above at home, there should be no problems. However, in order to achieve long-term flowering from them, you need to know the types of orchids and the secrets of growing each individual variety.

Soil and capacity

To understand how to grow your favorite orchid in a house or apartment, you need to know the features of choosing a container and soil for planting a flower.

Plants are grown in a pot, which must meet the following requirements:

• able to support the flower in an upright position;
• provides access to the roots of oxygen and moisture;
• contributes to the effective drying of the substrate.

Plastic pots, wire planters and nets have the necessary characteristics. The Phalaenopsis orchid and its other varieties are most often planted in pots with transparent walls so that the roots can participate in the process of photosynthesis.

In order to grow orchids at home, you need to choose the right substrate. These indoor flowers are planted on a special substrate, in which there is no earth at all. It may include the following components:

• pine bark;
• peat;
• fern;
• charcoal;
• leaf land;
• pine bark;
• sphagnum.

The ratio of the components of the substrate is determined depending on which plant variety is planned to be grown in houses or apartments. The substrate can be prepared by hand. But many growers go to buy soil in specialized stores. In the same place, the seller will tell you how to grow 100 or more specimens from one orchid by buying only one flower. To do this, you just need to know how this or that orchid is grown.

Comfortable conditions

Home care for Phalaenopsis involves compliance with certain parameters of temperature, humidity and light. Let us consider in more detail what kind of care, and what parameters should be observed when growing these flowers. The secrets of growing orchids will be available to you.

Lighting and temperature

Phalaenopsis loves partial shade. When placing flower pot on the windowsill, direct sunlight should be avoided. Artificial lighting for orchids is allowed. To do this, you can use special phytolamps, which are designed for additional illumination. indoor plants. This lamp is for indoor orchids sold in specialized stores.

Additional illumination should give white light. This is the kind of light you need to indoor variety grew and blossomed. Backlighting is often used in winter, when daylight hours are the shortest. In the cold season, flowers should be illuminated for at least 12 hours. For this, a phytolamp for indoor orchids is placed above the pot.

In addition to the light regime, a certain temperature is needed for orchids. These houseplants are characterized better tolerance elevated temperatures. Optimum temperature color content is in the range of + 28–30 degrees.

For any gardener who has grown Phalaenopsis at home, it will be useful to know that the plant must be at a temperature of + 12-15 degrees for several weeks to stimulate flowering.

Watering

An important point on how to grow orchids in an apartment is to comply with water regime. Watering the flower is carried out only when the substrate dries. Regarding how to correctly determine the degree of dryness of the substrate, there are several ways (poke into the soil with a finger or stick, etc.). Water the plant only with settled warm water.

Humidity

These plants should grow at 60-80% humidity. In order to achieve this level, the plant is periodically sprayed with water, and also ventilated. Ventilation is important for cold hardy varieties.

How to care for a particular species, you can find out from the seller, who will tell you all the wisdom of its breeding. Also, experienced flower growers can give advice on breeding.

Pests and diseases

These indoor flowers most often affect the following ailments:

• anthracnose. The appearance of brown spots is characteristic;
• powdery mildew. A white bloom forms on the flower.

How to grow Phalaenopsis without diseases and pests? You just need to properly organize care for the plant. This is easy to do, because you only need to create the right water and temperature conditions, as well as lighting.

Transplant Secrets

Transplantation should be done in spring or summer. This procedure consists of the following steps:

• during the day the plant is well watered;
• then the flower is taken out of the pot and placed in water to soak from the roots of the substrate;
• then all rotten roots are removed;
• the plant is placed in a selected pot and covered with new soil;
• after 1-2 days, watering is carried out.

In the implementation of these points lies the secret of a successful flower transplant.

Now you know the secrets of growing and caring for indoor orchids.

Video "Growing orchids at home"

This video will show you how to grow blooming orchid at home.

Watching television programs about tropical flora, we are always surprised by the riot of colors and forms of plants growing in those latitudes. Did you know that there are many plants from tropical latitudes that can be quite successfully kept at home, and they will please no less than those on the TV screen? In order to prove this, let's take, for example, an orchid, a flower that amazes with its originality and at the same time ease of cultivation.

How to grow an orchid at home

Although they are considered capricious plants, many flower lovers, both professionals and amateurs, grow on windowsills without any labor. For the successful cultivation of orchids at home, you need to initially prepare well, and then everything will go according to the "knurled" and will be simple and easy. It is necessary to prepare a few things: soil, flower containers, fertilizers. All this is in most flower shops in abundance. You also need to study information about watering, lighting, transplanting. It is not necessary to go into details, but general information needs to be studied.

What should be the lighting

What always attracts us in any flowers is, of course, the flowering itself. So how to grow an orchid at home, and even so that it blooms? This requires a lot of light. And lighting plays a major role here. The most important thing is to find golden mean because if there is too much light, the flower will just burn, and with a lack of light, the plant will not bloom at all. The question immediately arises, how to determine this golden mean. Here the flower itself will tell you. With a lack of light, the leaves will be dark green (should be light), and if you overdo it with lighting, the leaves will begin to turn yellow.

Features of watering a plant

Along with lighting, watering is also important. In nature, orchids never grow in water, their roots cannot stand an excess of moisture and stagnant water, so extreme care must be taken with watering. The frequency of watering is influenced by factors:

• daylight hours;
• the size of the container in which the plant is located;
• watering and fertilizing;
• others external factors such as air dryness and ambient temperature.

The plant will immediately react to a lack of moisture with dark green leaves, and to waterlogging yellow leaves and rotten roots.

Frequent watering is required only during rapid growth or flowering. Watering should be carried out as follows. It is necessary to water the plant under the shower with warm water so that the soil is completely wet and the water completely flows out through the drainage holes. Only after the complete flow of water can the plant be put back into the pots.

Choice of soil and capacity

Choosing a pot is important favorable growth flower. Mainly used:

• transparent plastic containers;
• clay pots;
• baskets.

Some types of orchids from the epiphyte family are planted on a block. The block can be a piece of bark, and in order for the roots not to dry out, moss is used to retain moisture. Mostly miniature species or seedlings are planted on the block.

Now consider the ground. The choice of substrate depends on which variety you want to grow. If it is an orchid from the epiphyte family, then the soil will mainly play the role of supporting the plant in an upright position, protecting the roots from excessive moisture and providing them the right amount air. The substrate should consist of pieces of tree bark, coal, cork, moss, clay in granules and absolutely no garden soil, in general, from those components that do not retain moisture. Also possible adding coarse sand.

As a flower pot, any container that can hold the substrate of the required composition is suitable. For growing terrestrial species, we need a substrate of the same composition as for epiphytes, but with the addition of a small amount of garden soil and dried leaves. All components must be well ground. As a pot, it is best to use plastic transparent containers with drainage. To hide the slovenliness of the containers, you can always put the flower in a decorative planter. It's both beautiful and practical.

For beginners, it can be recommended to buy ready-made soil in stores, and not cook it yourself. On the packaging, sometimes they even write for what kind of this or that substrate. After gaining some experience, you can try to prepare the soil for ground orchids yourself from the soil mixture for epiphytes, moss and garden soil.

The optimum temperature for the plant

Most plants require daytime temperatures from +18 to +27 degrees, and at night from +13 to +24 degrees. One of essential conditions for flowering is the difference between night and day temperatures. At central heating transferring a heat-accustomed plant overnight to a cooler location can produce good results. The plant can start up a peduncle. Orchids prefer 60-80% humidity.

If these figures are lower, then they can be achieved by placing a tray with a grate under the pot. Such pallets can be purchased either at garden stores, or you can make it yourself by pouring water on the bottom and laying a large layer of gravel on top. The main thing is to ensure that the roots do not touch the water.

In dry weather, spraying from a spray bottle will be useful. Only it is worth calculating the time so that the plant has time to dry out by night. Plants are very air movement is important. Especially for cold-loving species. An electric fan can be used for this. But it is worth protecting the plant from strong drafts. While blowing the plant, it is worth increasing the frequency of watering the flower.

Choice of fertilizers

For abundant flowering regular, balanced feeding is necessary. It is best to do it once every two weeks. It is best to use specialized fertilizers for orchids, which can always be purchased at flower shops. The rules for preparing top dressing are usually written on the packaging.

In no case should you use fertilizers that are intended for other plants. This can lead to disease or even death of the flower. It is also worth remembering that during the dormant period reduce the frequency of feeding. Sooner or later, the plant will need to be transplanted into a new pot. It is best to do this after the plant has faded and rested a little. The signal for this is the green part of the plant that has grown beyond the pot. It is important to remember that you do not need to transplant if the root system just protruded above the surface of the container.

Not everyone decides to propagate orchids at home, as this is associated with a number of difficulties. There are two ways to propagate a flower - this is division during transplantation and seeds. Reproduction by seeds is considered to be impossible, since in a plant they are the size of pollen and require absolutely sterile conditions for germination, since even the smallest microbes can ruin them. Therefore, if you do not have a mini-laboratory at home, then you should not try. Reproduction by division is also difficult, but still quite real. And if a new plant develops a system of roots and leaves, then in a year it will delight you with flowers and become a wonderful decoration for your home.

Gardening in Russia is a hobby that ends with the onset of cold weather. And only breeding indoor flowers can be practiced all year round. One of the most spectacular and popular is the orchid. Few plants can compare with her beauty, elegance of form and variety of colors. But growing a tropical beauty is a rather complicated process, which should be taken on only after a thorough study of the theory.

flower selection

The easiest way to start a plant is to buy it in a specialized store. Today, the assortment in them is the widest, so it is not surprising to get confused. When choosing, you should be guided not only by the beauty of the flower, but also by a number of other signs.

The health of the orchid will also depend on the condition of the roots. They should be developed, gray or green. The growing flower has a bright green root tip. The leaves are dense, without signs of lethargy. If they have a sticky coating, white or yellow spots, then you should refrain from buying.

To check how healthy the roots are, you can simply shake the plant pot.

For growing orchids do not use the usual garden soil. The soil should consist of a mixture of moss, bark, perlite, sand, cork.

An adult plant that can reproduce and bloom will cost more. The young seedling has few leaves and does not yet have a peduncle. He will release a flower only after a few years. If there is no desire to wait, then it is better to take a formed orchid.

The necessary conditions

In order to properly grow an orchid, a number of prerequisites must be observed: properly prepare the soil, maintain the light regime, humidity, and replant the flower on time.

Since the orchid has a very long stem, then the pot should provide her with reliable support. The soil consists of a mixture of moisture-retaining components, tree bark, a mineral-rich substrate (vermiculite), and literally a handful of earth is added. The soil retains moisture for a long time, supplies the plant with minerals.

The pot should be elongated, not too wide, with large quantity holes. It can be replaced by an ordinary plastic container, which is placed in a decorative planter. But it is desirable to have a transparent pot itself - this will allow you to control the degree of soil moisture, to monitor the development of the roots.

A container with a growing seedling cannot be placed on the south window! Leaves will receive sunburn. It is better to move it to the center of the room, place it on a table or stand. But you can place an orchid on the north or east window.

Temperature and watering

AT natural conditions the orchid managed to spread all over the globe and feels great in different climatic zones, up to the Arctic Circle. But most varieties still come from warm countries: Australia, South America, Malaysia, Brazil. To better grow this delicate flower, you should find out from which climate zone he is born.

The optimum temperature is considered to be 18-27°C during the day, at night - up to 24°C. Ideally, in the dark, you need to transfer the plant to a cooler room. This will allow him to develop faster. By the way, it perfectly tolerates small differences. temperature regime. Only in case of a cold snap it is necessary to reduce watering (and vice versa).

There is original way glaze. A larger container is taken, water with fertilizer is poured into it. Then a pot with an orchid is immersed there. Within 15 min. the soil should be saturated with moisture, after which the plant is taken out.

• Like many other flowers, the orchid does not tolerate direct sunlight well, it needs diffused lighting.
• There is no need to fill the pot, this can lead to irreversible consequences - wilting. Slightly increase the amount of water should be during the onset of the growth phase. But after flowering and in winter, watering is reduced.

It is necessary to fertilize orchids constantly - it is better to do this with the help of specially created fertilizers. They should be diluted and applied according to the instructions. Tight strong leaves, gray-green color of the roots indicate that watering is not yet required. But if the container is small, the moisture from it will evaporate faster. Therefore, the frequency of watering is determined by the situation.

Reproduction and transplant

If the growth is correct, it is time for a transplant. This is often not recommended because it stressful situation for the gentle potter. After a change of residence, growth may briefly stop. But once every 3 years it is necessary to do this, best time- Spring. You will need a pruner, a new soil mixture. The instrument must be disinfected to prevent infection.

• The pot should be slightly crushed in the hands - so the rhizomes are more easily separated from the walls. They need to be cleaned of old soil.
• After a thorough inspection, remove insects, damaged areas of the root system, lower leaves.
• The flower must be dried for several hours.
• Before planting an orchid in a new pot, it must be treated with an antiseptic. The growth point is left on the surface.
• It is not necessary to compact too tightly - the soil should be airy.

Everyone who has managed to achieve flowering from a young flower will want to get a few more. In order to grow an orchid at home, there are several options.

Some species reproduce in the only way - lateral shoots, or bulbs. But the simplest method is division. Therefore, beginners should choose a variety for which it is suitable. Common and cuttings.

It is better to cut off the shoots that were closer to the base - the plants that appear from them will be the strongest. On each separated piece, 2-3 kidneys are left, no more is needed. Slices must be treated with crushed coal. Then the planting material is placed in tree bark or sphagnum moss (they must first be moistened). Cared for like a regular orchid. The first roots will appear in a month.

By dividing the bush, only those specimens that have reached the age of several years and have grown strong enough are propagated at home. Necessarily it is necessary to have aerial roots , at least three, and it is better if there are also new ovaries. Sections are treated with crushed coal, then planted in new pots, the soil is changed. After a while, the flower will grow.

Rarely, but some species give additional shoots. Small shoots appear slightly away from the main root. The shoot is carefully removed after abundant watering, planted in a separate container. Grow as usual.

Growing orchids from seeds at home is an impossible task! Many novice flower growers take on it, but to no avail. It is much more reliable to plant cuttings or divide an already mature plant. These are proven methods that many hobbyists use successfully.

Starting with just one flower, you can gradually increase your collection. If home conditions are favorable, the orchid will bloom for a long time and reproduction will be successful.

orchid diseases

They are divided into several types. Treatment is usually long and not always effective, so it is better to strictly follow all the requirements so that the plant grows healthy.

Orchids captivate with their gentle beauty many lovers. Many people think that growing them at home is only possible experienced gardeners, but it's not. If you take the necessary measures in time, following the rules, you will not only grow an orchid and achieve its flowering, but also propagate the plant.

Attention, only TODAY!

Before you buy tropical beauty Orchid must be familiar with the rules of its cultivation. For most widespread species, they are not particularly difficult. At the same time, it should also be remembered that growing orchids at home should begin with the selection of a suitable place.

Growing conditions

Growing orchids at home is possible only if the appropriate conditions are created. Failure to comply with at least one of them will lead to a lack of flowering, and possibly even to the complete death of the plant.

Lighting

Orchids - tropical plants, so they need high level illumination. But since they are in vivo located in the lower tier of the rainforest, then the light for them should be diffused. On average for full development they require at least 16 hours of daylight. Therefore, in winter time for them it is desirable to organize the backlight from special phytolamps.

Temperature

The optimal temperature for growing orchids is 22–27 ° C during the day and 18–22 ° C at night. Lowering the temperature below +18° is not recommended. Orchids are able to withstand slight deviations from the temperature regime indicated above, but it is better not to abuse this. Such conditions for the plant will be stressful, so it can get sick.

Soil and pot selection

In nature, orchids are epiphytic plants. This means that for full growth and development they do not need the presence of a normal soil mixture. For normal life, they need a special substrate, consisting of pieces of bark and moss. Experienced flower growers prefer to make it themselves, but this requires certain skills. Therefore, it is easier for beginner orchie growers to purchase a ready-made version.

The main purpose of an orchid pot is to keep the plant upright and retain moisture. Therefore, any suitable container can be used as it. The main thing is that it has a large number of holes for air access and the drain of excess water during irrigation. And also the pot should be transparent. This is due to the fact that the process of photosynthesis takes place in the roots of orchids, and light is needed for it.

Features of growing in a closed system

Recently, the cultivation of orchids has become popular in closed system. For this, special flasks and vases are most often used. Orchids of the most various kinds. This method of growing has a lot of disadvantages. The most important of them is the difficult care and high risk of fungal infections. Of the advantages, it is worth noting that an orchid in a flask or a transparent vase will become a stylish interior decoration, and also that this method of growing will provide significant time savings when watering.

Growing in water

In addition to the usual substrate for growing orchids, it can also be used water environment. It is quite consistent with their natural needs. Growing orchids in water involves the use of the hydroponics method. Of its advantages, it is worth noting the lack of need for watering. This orchid growing technology has its own characteristics, so at home it is used by the main experienced flower growers. Also, the hydroponic method of cultivation is very often practiced in industrial cultivation and breeding.

Care

The main secrets of growing orchids are to follow the rules of care. Healthy, well-developed plants are almost immune to disease and very rarely attacked by pests. They bloom without problems almost throughout the year.

Watering

Irrigation mode largely depends on temperature conditions. In this case, the following rule applies: the lower the ambient temperature, the less often watering. But you should also take into account the size of the pot and the condition of the plant. If the orchid is at rest, its watering should be reduced to a minimum. It is resumed in full only after the start of active growth.

Water for irrigation must be soft and settled. Watering directly from the tap is unacceptable. It contains a lot of different impurities, including chlorine. And they, in turn, will contribute to the salinization of the substrate.

Widespread species of orchids adapt well to room conditions. Therefore, spraying for them is not a mandatory procedure. It can be quite successfully replaced with a warm shower, which is carried out once every two weeks. It effectively removes dust and other contaminants from the surface of their leaves.

Transfer

Orchid cultivation technology does not require a mandatory annual transplant. It is carried out only in case of emergency. For example, the reason for its implementation may be a bay or damage by pests.

But also a transplant is possible with the intensive development of the plant. In this case, the root system no longer fits in the pot, and some of the roots begin to hang over the edges. Orchid roots are very fragile and break easily, so transplantation is in most cases carried out by transshipment.

To do this, the plant is carefully removed from the pot. From its roots, that part of the substrate that falls off on its own is carefully removed. After that, the orchid is placed in a new pot. Its size should be slightly larger than the previous one. After a careful distribution of the roots, the gaps between them are covered with a fresh substrate. The first two after transplantation, it is not recommended to water the orchid. Then watering is gradually resumed.

Top dressing

Growing orchids requires fertilizing. Without this, abundant flowering will not work. It should be borne in mind that orchids are very sensitive to even a slight excess of fertilizers. Especially for them, a large amount of nitrogen is scary. Even a single application of too much of this element can lead to the complete death of the plant.

For feeding orchids, only specialized formulations should be used. In them, the balance of essential nutrients is at a level that is comfortable for plants. There are a fairly large number of liquid top dressings designed specifically for orchids. Before using them, be sure to carefully study the attached annotations.

Pest and disease control

Growing a phalaenopsis orchid, although not particularly difficult, sometimes certain problems can still arise with this. Of the most common pests of orchids, the following should be especially noted:

• whitefly;
• mealybug;
• spider mite.

The fight against the first three species on the list is exactly the same. To destroy them, systemic insecticides are used. For home conditions, the most applicable is Aktara. It is odorless and has a long-lasting protective effect. It comes in the form of a water-soluble powder. 10 days after the first treatment, additional spraying is mandatory. This allows you to almost completely eliminate the possibility of re-spreading the pest.

Important! The destruction of the spider mite should be carried out using special preparations - acaricides. Conventional insecticides are ineffective against it.

The following drugs are suitable for the destruction of spider mites:

• fitoverm;
• actellik;
• commander;

They should be bred and used in strict accordance with the attached annotations. After 10 days, the treatment must be repeated. To be as effective as possible with a tick before use chemicals the plant is recommended to first thoroughly rinse under running water running water, and replace the substrate in the pot with a fresh one.

Spider mite on an orchid

Diseases

The most common orchid diseases are rots of various origins. They occur most often in violation of growing conditions. For example, even a single bay can damage the root system. And also in orchids, the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe root neck is very often affected.

The fight against rot is the use of fungicidal preparations. In doing so, they act as follows:

1. The plant is removed from the pot.
2. All damaged places cut out with a sharp knife.
3. The cut sites are treated with charcoal powder, bark or foundation.
4. The plant is transplanted into a fresh substrate.

It is impossible to water the orchid at this moment. First, the sections obtained as a result of processing must dry out. Usually the first is carried out not earlier than in a week. So that during this time the plant does not lose the precious supply of moisture from the leaves, it is placed in a small greenhouse. At the same time, it must be aired several times a day.

Conclusion

Caring for orchids is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance. The main thing is not to violate the basic rules of cultivation. And then the orchids will surely thank you with abundant and long flowering.

Sakura is most often associated with Japan and its culture. Picnics in the shade flowering trees have long been an integral attribute of the meeting of spring in the Land of the Rising Sun. The financial and academic year here begins on April 1, when magnificent cherry blossoms bloom. Therefore, many significant moments in the life of the Japanese pass under the sign of their flowering. But sakura also grows well in cooler regions - certain types can be successfully grown even in Siberia.

Agriculture refers to such types of human activity, the successful outcome of which is not always directly proportional to the efforts made. Unfortunately, nature does not necessarily act as our ally in growing plants, and often, on the contrary, throws up new challenges. Intensified reproduction of pests, abnormal heat, late return frosts, hurricane winds, drought ... And one of the springs presented us with another surprise - a flood.

Let me confess my love today. In love with... lavender. One of the best unpretentious, evergreen and flowering shrubs which can be successfully grown in your garden. And if someone thinks that lavender is a Mediterranean or, at least, southern inhabitant, then you are mistaken. Lavender grows well and in more northern regions, even in the suburbs. But in order to grow it, you need to know some rules and features. They will be discussed in this article.

Having once tasted such an invaluable product as a pumpkin, it is already difficult to stop looking for more and more new recipes for serving it to the table. Pumpkin in Korean, despite its pungency and spice, has a fresh and delicate taste. After cooking, you will need to cover the salad and let it brew for at least 15 minutes. butternut squash very juicy and sweet, so there is no need to crush it. If the pumpkin is of a different variety, then you can knead it with your hands so that it slightly releases the juice.

Salad, as the earliest and unpretentious green culture, has always been held in high esteem by gardeners. Spring plantings most gardeners usually start by planting lettuce, parsley, and radishes. Recently, the desire for healthy eating and big choice greens in supermarkets make gardeners wonder which of these plants can be grown in their beds? In this article we will talk about the nine most interesting, in our opinion, varieties of lettuce.

Pollock is best cooked in the form of a casserole, separating the fillet from the skin and bones. Pieces of fish are mixed with a colorful vegetable set, poured with a sauce of cheese, sour cream and eggs. This fish casserole has a presentable appearance, and its taste is a bizarre mixture of subtle nuances. Vegetables and fillets will be soaked in sour cream, the cheese will harden with a golden crust, eggs will bind all the ingredients together. Pieces of fish are abundantly sprinkled with Italian herbs, and pollock acquires an unusual piquancy.

Despite the fact that the calendar spring begins in March, you can really feel the awakening of nature only with the advent of flowering plants in the garden. Nothing testifies to the arrival of spring as eloquently as clearings of blooming primroses. Their appearance is always a small holiday, because winter has receded, and a new garden season awaits us ahead. But, besides spring primroses, there is still something to see and admire in the garden in the month of April.

Growing rapidly and turning into wild thickets, hogweed disrupts the existing ecosystem and suppresses all other plants. Essential oils, contained in the fruits and leaves of hogweed, cause severe forms of dermatitis. At the same time, it is much more difficult to deal with it than with other common weeds. Fortunately, today a tool has appeared on the market that can short term rid your site of most weeds, including hogweed.

Carrots come in a variety of colors: orange, white, yellow, purple. Orange carrots are dominated by beta-carotene and lycopene, yellow due to the presence of xanthophylls (lutein); white carrots are high in fiber, while purple ones contain anthocyanin, beta and alpha carotenes. But, as a rule, gardeners choose varieties of carrots for sowing not by the color of the fruit, but by the timing of their ripening. About the best early, middle and late varieties we will tell in this article.

Recommend Enough easy recipe pie stuffed with delicious chicken and potato filling. Chicken and potato open pie is a great hearty dish that is suitable for a hearty snack, it is very convenient to take a couple of pieces of this pastry on the road. The cake is baked in the oven for one hour at 180 degrees. After that we put it on wooden surface, after releasing it from the form. It is enough to slightly cool the pastries and you can start tasting.

The long-awaited spring for many houseplants is the period of the start of active vegetation, and for the majority - the return of their decorative effect. Admiring the young leaves and emerging shoots, you should not forget that spring is also a big stress for all houseplants. Sensitive to changes in conditions and versatile, all indoor crops are faced with much brighter lighting, changes in air humidity and temperature conditions.

You can easily cook homemade Easter cake with cottage cheese and candied fruits, even without any confectionery experience behind you. You can bake Easter cake not only in a special form or in a paper mold. For the first culinary experiences (and not only), I advise you to take a small cast iron pan. Easter cake in a pan will not turn out as high as in a narrow form, but it never burns and always bakes well inside! Yeast curd dough is airy and fragrant.

It is also interesting in that its fruits (pumpkins) are used as food by young, not ripe ones (zelenets). This means that you do not have to wait for the harvest to ripen, and from late spring to autumn you can have fresh vegetables on the menu. In your beds, it is better to grow varieties and hybrids of zucchini that are resistant to disease and change. weather conditions. This eliminates unwanted treatments and allows you to get a crop in any weather. It is about such varieties of zucchini that will be discussed in this article.

AT middle lane April is the time when the first flowering of plants in gardens and parks begins. The constant soloists of the spring that has come into its own are bulbous primroses. But also among ornamental shrubs you can meet those that will delight you with fragrant flowers that enliven a still inconspicuous garden. The main riot of flowering ornamental shrubs falls on the month of May, and most of them, as a rule, bloom in mid-May.