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Phalaenopsis cultivation methods and precautions, high temperature will affect growth

Phalaenopsis, also known as Phalaenopsis or Taiwan Phalaenopsis, is an ornamental plant suitable for indoor cultivation. Its flowers are graceful, elegant and colorful, and its shape resembles a butterfly, earning it the reputation of "the queen of orchids". So how do you cultivate spider orchids? What are the good methods for cultivation? What matters need to be paid attention to in cultivation? Please read on with me with your questions!

Phalaenopsis cultivation methods (basic knowledge): Best breeding time: Phalaenopsis is suitable for planting in spring.

Best soil for growth: Phalaenopsis has high requirements for soil, which needs to be breathable, rot-resistant, slightly acidic, and water-permeable. Generally, pine needles, peanut shells, bark silk, clay balls and other materials are selected as the substrate for growing Phalaenopsis. If you cannot prepare these materials yourself, you can directly go to the flower market to buy Phalaenopsis-specific soil.

Growth humidity requirements: The optimal relative humidity range for Phalaenopsis is 60｛bf｝～80｛bf｝RH. The relative humidity needs to be increased in a high temperature and low humidity environment.

Optimal growth temperature: Phalaenopsis is a tropical high-temperature orchid, and the suitable growth temperature is 20-30℃, with the daytime temperature controlled between 25-28℃ and the nighttime temperature controlled between 18-20℃. If the temperature is below 15℃, it will enter dormancy, and it is easy to die if it is below 10℃. However, high temperatures above 35℃ affect growth and are prone to disease.

Best growth light: Before and after the flowering period of Phalaenopsis, appropriate light can promote the flowering of Phalaenopsis, making the flowers bright and long-lasting. Generally, it should be placed in a place with scattered light indoors, and avoid direct sunlight.

Precautions for breeding Phalaenopsis: Fertilization: Phalaenopsis should be fertilized throughout the year, and fertilization should not be stopped unless the low temperature lasts for a long time. During the spring and summer, which is the growing season, thin liquid fertilizer can be applied every 7 to 10 days. Organic fertilizer is suitable, and special nutrient solution for Phalaenopsis can also be applied, but do not apply when there are flower buds, otherwise the buds will fall early. In summer, when leaves grow (i.e. after the flowering period), nitrogen fertilizer and potassium fertilizer can be applied. Phalaenopsis fertilizer can be used during the growth period of flower stems in autumn and winter, but it should be thin and applied about once every 2 to 3 weeks. Fertilization should be applied after watering in the afternoon. After fertilizing several times, rinse with plenty of water to prevent residual inorganic salts from harming the roots.

Watering principle: The principle of watering Phalaenopsis is to water when it is dry and wet. When the surface of the cultivation medium becomes dry, water it thoroughly. The water temperature should be close to room temperature. Phalaenopsis should be watered more during the period of vigorous rooting and elongation, and less watering during the dormant period after flowering. Water once around 5 pm every day in spring and autumn. In summer, the plants grow vigorously, and water them once at 9 am and 5 pm every day. In winter, the light is weak and the temperature is low, so water them once every two weeks, preferably before 10 am. When the indoor air is dry, you can use a sprayer to spray directly on the leaves until the leaves are moist, but do not spray the water mist on the flowers. Tap water should be stored for more than 72 hours before watering.

Breeding tips:

1. Seed propagation: Bamboo containers, porous ceramic pots or special orchid pots should be used for planting Phalaenopsis. It is best not to use ordinary plastic pots. The planted seedlings should not be placed on the ground, but should be hung or placed on a shelf to facilitate the extension and growth of aerial roots and the absorption of air nutrients after the substrate in the pot dries. Be careful to avoid water accumulation due to blockage of the bottom holes, which may cause root rot or even death, or underground pests that drill into the pot and harm the plants.

2. Seedling propagation: Phalaenopsis is a monopodial orchid, which only produces one main stem and one growth point in its lifetime. Seedling propagation mainly uses tissue culture, sterile sowing propagation and pedicel germination propagation methods.

Pruning tips: The flowering period is generally around the Spring Festival, and the viewing period can last up to 2 to 3 months. When the flowers wither, they must be cut off as soon as possible to reduce nutrient consumption. If the flower stems are cut off from the 4th to 5th nodes at the base, they can bloom again after 2 to 3 months. However, this will consume too much nutrients for the plant, which is not conducive to its growth next year. If you want to bloom again next year, it is best to cut the flower stems from the base. When the substrate ages, it should be replaced in time, otherwise the air permeability will deteriorate, which will cause root rot, weaken the growth of the plant, or even kill it. It is generally advisable to change the pot in May when the new leaves grow.

Pest and disease control:

Common diseases and pests of Phalaenopsis include: soft rot, brown spot, anthracnose, sooty mold, virus disease, scale insects, red spider, etc. The principle of prevention is mainly adopted, and cultivation management measures are strengthened, ventilation conditions are improved, placement density is reasonably controlled, and the environment is kept clean.

Spray insecticides and fungicides regularly. If diseased plants are found, the source of infection should be removed in time, and the diseased leaves and residues should be removed. Plants with severe disease should be isolated or destroyed to prevent the spread of diseases and pests. In addition, appropriate pesticides can be used for prevention and control. During the disease period, 60% carbendazim or 80% thiophanate-methyl can be used; scale insects and red spiders can be controlled with 40% omethoate or 80% dichlorvos diluted 1000-1500 times.

Tips for growing Phalaenopsis: 1. Phalaenopsis is delicate, so choosing a ventilated environment will be more conducive to its growth. In winter, the temperature is low, so you should use the noon time to ventilate it, but do not let the wind blow directly towards the orchid.

2. A hot and stuffy environment is not suitable for growing Phalaenopsis, especially in the summer in the south, you should pay attention to shading the Phalaenopsis.

3. Phalaenopsis needs to experience a month of low temperature of 15-18℃ to promote flower bud differentiation, after which the temperature returns to between 20-30℃.

4. After the flowers wither, cut off the small stalks at the top, leaving the forked joints, then spray the plants once a week with Huabao No. 2 or 500-1000 times potassium dihydrogen phosphate fertilizer solution. Keep the room temperature above 20°C and provide sufficient light. This will promote the formation of new flower buds at the joints of the pedicels and bloom again.

5. Winter is the period of flower bud differentiation for Phalaenopsis. Stopping fertilizer can easily lead to no flowers or few flowers.

There are two common methods of fertilization:

1. Apply thin fertilizer frequently. Do not apply fertilizer in bad weather or when the root circle is too wet.

2. When applying fertilizer and water, maintain air convection to prevent the root circle from being immersed in water for too long, which will cause suffocation. Forced ventilation should be carried out when there are still water droplets on the leaves around 4:00 pm.

3. The roots and leaves of orchids can absorb fertilizers. It is best to wet the orchid plants when fertilizing.

4. A small amount of adhesive can be added to water-soluble fertilizers to increase the adhesion of the fertilizer.

How do spiders reproduce?

Spiders have a very strong reproductive capacity. After mating, the female spider stores semen and lays eggs every 25-30 days when conditions are good. It can lay 5,000 eggs in a lifetime. Each nest of spiderlings takes about 12-14 days to hatch and live together for about 14 days. Then they pull a thread from their belly and float with the wind. The place where the spider thread lands is their foothold. They weave webs at the foothold and start a new life.