How to grow orchids on the roof so that they can thrive? What should you pay attention to when growing orchids on the roof?
1. Pot soil requirements: Neutral to acidic soil containing a large amount of humus, loose and well-drained is preferred. The pH value is generally around 5.5 to 6.5.
2. Proper shading: Most types of orchids are afraid of direct sunlight and require proper shading. Orchids can be removed from the nets and windows opened in early to mid-April to get more sunlight to promote their growth. In May, it can be exposed to 6 hours of sunshine except for noon sun; from June onwards, it can be shaded all day long; after October, it can be fully open for maintenance except for mid-day sun.
3. Place for placement: Orchids can be grown outdoors and on the balcony in spring, summer and autumn. It is required to choose a place with good ventilation, humid air and no environmental pollution. It is of course good to be close to a pond or riverside. At least there should be trees or bamboo forests and sunshade nets to reduce sunlight and lower the temperature.
4. Proper watering: It is better to water orchids with rainwater and spring water. Tap water or rice water needs to be used overnight. When watering, water from the edge of the pot, not into the flower buds. The amount of watering should be determined according to the temperature, the dryness and humidity of the pot soil and the growth condition of the orchid. Water most of the leaves and less if the leaves are thin. From April to May, the new buds have not grown into the soil, so the pot soil should be dry. If the new buds are too wet, they will easily rot. From June to September, the new orchid buds will grow, so the amount of watering should be increased. Watering should be done every morning or once a day on sunny days. Avoid watering in the hot sun at noon. water. In autumn, the amount of water should be reduced. You can use foliar spray water to keep the pot soil moist. In winter, the amount of water should be controlled to keep "80% dry and 20% wet".
5. Reasonable fertilization: Fertilization depends on the selected pot soil and growth conditions. Those that grow vigorously and have no disease can be fertilized, while those that grow poorly should not be fertilized or fertilized in small amounts. Newly planted orchids with incomplete roots in pots need to wait 1-2 years before fertilizing. Generally, from June to July, when the orchid leaf buds extend about 1.5 cm, apply decomposed liquid fertilizer (the concentration should be dilute, about 10%) every three weeks. Avoid using chemical fertilizers. It is not advisable to fertilize during high temperature seasons. Apply diluted liquid fertilizer every two to three weeks from August to September. Fertilizing orchids should be done in the evening each time, and water should be poured in the morning, which is called "return water".
6. Protection from wind and rain: It is normal for old leaves to turn yellow during the "February ghost wind", and dead branches and leaves can be cut off. Orchids can be exposed to light rain, but avoid mildew rain, heavy rain or continuous rain, otherwise they will easily rot their hearts and leaves. In seasons with heavy rainfall, a small amount of plant ash can be sprinkled appropriately.
7. Spray in the evening: Orchids originally grew in an environment with humid air, so in the dry season, in addition to shade, they must also be sprayed in the evening to increase air humidity and lower the temperature; you can also spray the orchids on the ground ( Watering on the countertop), "one cold and one hot" can stimulate the growth of orchids.
8. Pruning and picking flowers: In orchid cultivation, yellow, broken and diseased leaves should be frequently cut off. To facilitate ventilation. For rare orchids, if there are too many flower buds, only strong buds should be left. It is appropriate to have 1-2 flower buds per pot. Spring orchids should be removed half a month after they bloom, and precious orchids should be removed within 7 days. The spring leaf buds will grow strong and bloom well next year. When the last flower on the summer orchid inflorescence has been open for one week, cut it 3 cm away from the pot surface.
9. Protection from cold and warmth: Orchids have different varieties, different origins, and different cold resistances, so the time to enter the house in winter and the location where they are placed indoors are also different. Cold orchid, autumn orchid, and annual orchid grow in the south. They should be brought indoors (or the windows closed) when the temperature is 5°C, and placed in a sunny place in the south as much as possible. However, spring and summer orchids have strong cold resistance and can be placed in the room until 0℃. They can be placed in the northeast. Around noon on a sunny day with no wind, open windows facing the south or southeast and draw a net for ventilation. Qiulan should not open the windows on sunny days at 1-2°C. Of course, if there is a greenhouse, it can be heated with electric light.
10. Prevention of diseases and insect pests: Pot soil generally needs to be sterilized (exposed to the hot sun is also acceptable) to prevent the occurrence of diseases. Orchids are most susceptible to vitiligo in rainy and high-temperature seasons. A small amount can be brushed off with a damp cloth. For large pots, 500-800 times Bordeaux mixture or thiophanate can be used and sprayed every 7-10 days. The most common pests are scale insects (commonly known as "blue lice"). During the incubation period, use 1% omethoate and 25% dimethoate EC 1000 times, spray once a week. To treat the symptoms, we must treat the root cause. The pots and bowls should be appropriately dense and placed at high and low levels to increase ventilation and reduce the occurrence of diseases.