A tender and bright orchid is not uncommon in home floriculture, but not everyone is familiar with the intricacies of caring for it. The article will focus on feeding a tropical guest, as well as the rules for its maintenance.

Proper Orchid Care

First of all, for an orchid you need to choose a comfortable place. The best option, depending on the variety, will be windows of the western, northeastern and eastern directions. Lighting is necessary 12-15 hours a day, in winter, daylight hours are prolonged using fluorescent lamps.

Important! It is undesirable to place the plant on the south side under direct sunlight: they will leave burns on delicate petals.

The temperature regime ranges from + 15 ° С to + 32 ° С, the recommended humidity is 60–70%. Spraying orchids is recommended to be carried out as rarely as possible, while you can not get on the petals. It is better to maintain the necessary level of humidity with the help of water tanks located nearby or with household humidifiers.

The frequency of watering depends on the drying rate of the soil. Despite the fact that most species come from the tropics, at home, excess moisture is harmful to them. The next watering is carried out only after the soil has completely dried.In order to observe the state of the root system, including determining the time of irrigation, the orchid is grown in transparent containers made of plastic. The fact is that the roots of the plant, saturated with moisture, take a bright green hue. By the color of the roots, you can determine whether the plant needs watering.

Particular attention should be paid to the aerial roots that form epiphytic orchids. They should not be deepened into the ground. Those roots and leaves that have darkened or dried out should be trimmed.

What is top dressing and why is it needed?

Fertilizing or fertilizing plants - the introduction into the soil of nutrients needed at different stages of development. Fertilizers can be mineral and organic, liquid and dry (powder, granules, sticks).

Did you know? Vanilla, which is often used in cooking, is the fruit of the orchid family creeper.

In the natural environment, the root system of herbaceous and woody plants receives everything necessary from the soil. In indoor growing conditions, in a limited pot space, flowers need additional nutrients. Without fertilizer, the soil is rapidly depleted, which leads to a lack of growth and flowering, disease damage and death.

General feeding rules

The development and flowering of orchids largely depends on the nutritional value of the soil in which it grows.

It is advisable for an inexperienced grower to familiarize themselves with the rules for fertilizing:

1. The specimen just purchased in the store begins to feed after flowering.
2. With repeated flowering from sleeping buds, they are fertilized directly during this period.
3. It is necessary to use special compounds for the orchid family, in which the balance of minerals is observed.
4. You should not use fertilizers in sticks or tablets: they are unevenly distributed in loose soil, as a result, they can burn the roots.
5. It is undesirable to overfeed the plant, correctly when applying, reduce the dosage of fertilizer by half.
6. Fertilizing is desirable to combine with watering.

The frequency of fertilizing depends on the growth of the flower: while the leaves are growing, fertilizing is needed. As soon as growth has stopped, top dressing is excluded. In spring, the amount of top dressing is 2-3 per month, in winter - no more than 1 time per month. At the time of flowering, after the appearance of the first flower, fertilizers are not applied, otherwise the buds will fly around.

Important! You can not fertilize newly transplanted or diseased specimens, the root system will not be able to absorb the mixture. As a result, mineral salts will be deposited in the soil, which will lead to a deterioration of the flower.

How and when can I feed an orchid at home?

As mentioned above, it is recommended to use balanced mineral compositions for orchids. It should be borne in mind that each composition is designed for a certain period of flower development.

The best compositions and rules for their use:

• succinic acid - stimulates the growth of roots, foliage, the formation of buds. It is used in any period of development, as well as for recovery after illness, both by the root and extra-root method. To prepare the solution, take 1 g of the substance per 1 liter of water;
• "Compo" - capsules with liquid fertilizer, stimulate flowering and strengthen the root system. The capsule is inserted into the soil, with a cut off end, gradually (over 48 hours) the top dressing is absorbed. Apply once a month before the flowering period;
• "Crystal" - composition for growth and long flowering. For use by root dressing, 1 ampoule is diluted in 1 liter of water. Spring-summer period - 2 times a month, foliar top dressing - 1 time in 10 days, in winter for both methods - 1 time 3 weeks;
• Fasco - strengthens the immune system and root system. During the growth period, they are fed once a month, during the flowering period - 2 times a month. One cap of the liquid composition is diluted in 1 liter of water.

Features of feeding

Root and foliar top dressing have their own rules and application technology.

Root dressing

This method is recommended directly for saturation of the soil with minerals necessary for the entire development period.

Application technology:

1. Spend after watering in moist soil.
2. The solution is diluted in warm water in the required concentration.
3. A container with a flower is lowered into a vessel with clean water at room temperature.
4. From above, fertilizer is distributed on the ground.
5. The pot is left in the water for 15-20 minutes.
6. After the container with the plant is removed, excess moisture and the solution drain through the drainage holes.

Foliar top dressing

Apply for recovery from illness or transplant.

Application Scheme:

1. Apply the solution diluted in the required proportions by spraying.
2. The procedure time is evening, perhaps morning, but on a cloudy day.
3. Spray the leaves, trying not to get on the petals and buds.
4. Then place the flowerpot in a dry place to dry the solution.

During flowering

For flowering orchids, root dressing is prohibited. Before laying the peduncle and buds, the plant took the amount of nutrients necessary for flowering. If during this period you make nutrition for the roots, flowering may stop, buds will fly around. The flower will begin to actively absorb nutrition.

But you should not completely abandon fertilizer: spending energy on flowering, an orchid weakens immunity. Therefore, top dressing is carried out, but exclusively on the leaves, in a foliar way.

Did you know? One of the most expensive orchid varieties is called Kinabalu Gold. starting price — from $ 5,000.

Signs of improper fertilizer

Errors in the dosage or choice of fertilizer method can lead to the death of the plant, so it is important to notice a change in its condition in time.

Symptoms of improper use of top dressing:

• dull leaves and elongated stems;
• slow growth;
• rotting of the roots;
• the appearance of yellow spots on the foliage;
• refusal to form peduncles;
• dropping buds;
• fast withering inflorescences.

Useful Tips

In order for the orchid to develop and bloom in due time, it is necessary to adhere to the rules of fertilizer. Key recommendations from experienced gardeners:

1. Use exclusively liquid formulations that are evenly distributed in the soil.
2. The fertilizer procedure should be carried out after watering.
3. Carefully read the instructions that accompany the drug (for what period of development is it intended).
4. Do not exceed the dosage, it is better to halve.
5. Both during irrigation and during feeding, warm water is used to prepare the solution.
6. You can not water the soil during flowering, only spraying.
7. Fertilizing a sick specimen will only aggravate its condition.

A home flower can forgive a lack of nutrients, but its excess will be detrimental. In order for the orchid to please with a long and bright flowering, you need to carefully consider the tips on the procedures for caring for it.