Orchid is a plant of the Orchid family, which is one of the most widespread in the world. The family contains more than 25,000 species of flowers, they are found on all continents except Antarctica. The indoor orchid, or phalaenopsis, has gained immense popularity among gardeners for its exotic beauty.
Conditions for keeping indoor orchids
Many believe that phalaenopsis requires some specific conditions of detention and that it is difficult and costly to take care of them at home or in an apartment. This is a myth, in fact, orchids are completely unpretentious, they just need, so to speak, in a specific setting. Good lighting is vital for orchids. Light for them is almost more important than good feeding and regular watering. If phalaenopsis tolerate a lack of moisture with ease, a lack of light is destructive for them.
Lighting is a decisive factor in keeping indoor orchids. Placing the pot in a bright room is not enough. Orchid daylight hours should be at least 12-15 hours, which means that in winter you need fluorescent lamps.
Keep in mind that direct sunlight also negatively affects flowers, so if your greenhouse or greenhouse windows face south, orchids will need to be moved to partial shade in summer. Phalaenopsis do not like heat. The optimum air temperature for them is 20-23 ° C.
Yellowed or withered leaves indicate an excess of bright light, dark ones - about its lack.
Necessary care, problems and nuances
Orchid roots quickly absorb moisture and are able to retain it for a long time. Nevertheless, high humidity and abundant uniform watering are important for orchids. Spraying the leaves is also recommended (it is highly desirable that the spray does not fall on the flowers). The ideal time for water treatments is morning / first half of the day. Water should be at room temperature, it can be either boiled or rainwater. In summer, phalaenopsis are watered twice a week; in winter, watering is not required.
Watch out for root rot. In the case of orchids, it is always better to underfill than overflow.
As for feeding, orchids need it only during the growth period. You should purchase a fertilizer suitable for your orchid variety from a specialty store and follow the instructions on the package. It is enough to feed once every two to three weeks. You can do without feeding at all, but in this case, you will have to periodically change the substrate. An ideal substrate for orchids has the following composition: pine bark, sphagnum (moss) and coal in a ratio of 5: 2: 1. The soil must "breathe" and in no case contain calcium.
