What’s better than an orchid to make the house bloom in winter? You can have 2 for the price of 1, let’s find out how! If phalaenopsis is so successful, it is thanks to its ability to adapt to the constant temperature (between 18 and 20°C) of our interiors.
Have an orchid at home
It is satisfied with a bright position , without direct sunlight, less than one meter from a window. And, what’s more, he likes to be watered and fed at the same rate in any season! However, with a little attention, you can widen your choice to other genera: Zygopetalum, Oncidium, Miltoniopsis, Cattleya… These orchids have swellings or pseudobulbs at the base. These produce leaves and accumulate reserves from spring to autumn to flower in winter and stop their growth. You must therefore reduce watering and eliminate fertilizer when the profusion of flowers could tempt you to do the opposite!
Excess water is the main cause of orchid death. Their roots, like sanitary pads, absorb the liquid even if it is too much for them! You need to give them time to dry and learn how to dose by weighing the crop pot: if it seems light, water it, if it seems heavy, wait.
Don’t forget to feed your orchids : all year round for phalaenopsis and from spring to autumn for the others. A simple method is to add fertilizer every 15 days to the watering water, alternating one fertilizer for growth and another for flowers.
How to get two orchids from one plant?
To propagate your orchid, use only clean and alcohol-disinfected tools (garden shears, sharp knife). Clean the orchid’s roots thoroughly. Cut the bottom part of the roots with a sharp, sterile tool.
You will be left with one rooted orchid and one unrooted orchid.
Plant both sides in individual pots with new substrate and fresh moss.
This is what the cut part with the roots looks like in the pot. Water both orchids using the water immersion method.
Take care of your orchids!
In a short time the orchid will develop its first leaf and the old orchid will develop new roots.
The right gestures to take care of orchids
1- Immerse the culture vessel, when the substrate is well lightened, for approximately 10 minutes. in non-calcareous water, then let it drain.
2- Spray water, if the ambient temperature is above 20°C, around the plants. The water must not stagnate at the base of the leaves.
3- At less than 60% humidity, place the pots on a large airtight tray lined with moss or damp clay pebbles
Credit: Home Remedies