Growing an orchid at home is not for the lazy. This flower requires careful handling and constant care. It is recommended for novice growers to grow the Phalaenopsis orchid, as it is less whimsical and adapted to being kept at home.
Phalaenopsis content
In natural conditions, the orchid lives, as a rule, in trees, so it is necessary to plant it not in the ground, but in a special substrate, bought in a store or prepared on your own. In order to prepare a substrate for phalaenopsis, it is necessary to boil dry pine bark, then dry it and boil it again after a couple of days. After boiling again, the pine bark should be cut into small pieces of about 2-2.5 cm in size. The resulting pieces of bark must be mixed with pre-dried crushed sphagnum moss, after which the substrate will be ready for use.
An orchid pot should be chosen white or transparent, because the roots of the flower will not overheat in the sun. The pot should have holes that provide ventilation and prevent stagnant water.
It is recommended to place drainage at the bottom of the pot, which is necessary to move the water. Use small pieces of styrofoam as drainage and should take up a quarter of the pot. On the remaining three quarters, it is necessary to lay out the substrate and only after that the orchid should be placed.
It is recommended to transplant an orchid no more than once every three years.
Lighting for Phalaenopsis
The orchid is a light-loving plant, but does not tolerate direct sunlight. The best option for an orchid would be a west or east window.
If the leaves of the flower become dark, then the plant does not have enough light, and if they turn yellow or become covered with spots, there is an excess of light.
Watering and feeding Phalaenopsis
In the summer, the orchid should be watered every 2-3 days, in the winter - once or twice a week. It is imperative to ensure that the orchid substrate dries sufficiently between watering. Orchids don't like over-watering.
The orchid should be watered in this way: the flower pot is placed in a bowl of water for 10 minutes, the substrate collects water through the holes in the pot. Use lukewarm standing water for irrigation.
The orchid should be sprayed with warm water once a week during daylight hours.
In addition to regular watering, it is recommended to additionally feed the orchids with special fertilizers. During the growth and flowering of the plant, top dressing should be done once a week, the rest of the time - a couple of times a month.
