Wild orchids and care for them

Wild orchids are exotic plants that have been growing on Earth for many millions of years. Until now, they are striking people with their extraordinary beauty. But few people are ready to start this beautiful exotic plant at home. And why? The reason is hidden in the lack of knowledge and misunderstanding of the philosophy of this beautiful flower. Of course, wild orchids are very demanding, especially in the period of the beginning of growth. But the grown plant is not so difficult to care for, and if you understand what it needs for flowering, then it will be just as easy to care for as ordinary grass.

Orchids: caring for them

Unconscious people usually make the most common mistake, over-watering plants. Of course, many people are guided by the fact that orchids grow in a warm, humid climate, and therefore they require a lot of water. But these concepts are slightly different. Plants require a moist environment, that is, the air must be moist, but they should not just stand in the water. For orchids, it is simply a fatal amount of water. The amount of water depends entirely on the ambient temperature. How can you estimate the correctness of irrigation and determine the right moment for it? The most effective tool is the thumb. He needs to be leant to the ground, he will show the need for irrigation. Most often it is enough once a week, but in summer time it is necessary to water more often, and in winter - less often. Wild orchids are very demanding of such attention, so you can even have a watering calendar to know exactly when you did it.

Another important part of the care is the fertilizer system. You need to be sure of using that fertilizer, the formula of which was developed specifically for orchids. It should be accompanied by a detailed instruction for use. With a small or greater amount of fertilizer, it is possible to disturb the balance, which will affect the health of the plant in a negative way.

Another factor to which wild orchids are very demanding is the amount of light. If it is not enough, then they will not blossom. Some orchids require a lot of light, so they need to be located on the south side, but they should not be under the scorching sun rays, and some need a more subdued light, so they can be placed on other windows or put a protective screen. The flower itself serves as an indicator of the amount of light: if the light is not enough, then it acquires a green tint, and if there is a lot of light, it will become a reddish shade. The length of the light day should be, on average, twelve hours.

If you constantly care for orchids, they will grow throughout your life, so it's worth thinking about how and where to transplant them, especially if there are a lot of them. If the plant grows in the garden, then you need to wait until a shadow appears in this place. The pot should be chosen a little higher than the one in which the orchid grows , the transplant is carried out every two to three years. The period after flowering is considered the optimal time for this. After the procedure, the plant needs to be left alone for a while, so that it is used to a new place. It must be kept in relative dryness, so the wounds on the roots will heal faster. And a week later you can carry out planned fertilization and irrigation.

Orchids: care after flowering

A special period in the life of the plant is the period after flowering. Usually it falls on winter time. At this time orchids need to ensure peace for six to eight months, watering them once a week and introducing a minimum of fertilizers.

We can draw some conclusions. While orchids are very beautiful plants, they do not impose special requirements to care for themselves, so do not be afraid if you want to grow them. If you learn to correctly determine the optimal ratio of fertilizer and irrigation, you can admire the beauty of these plants for many years.