Phalaenopsis orchid - the butterfly flower needs special care

Butterfly flower is loved by many growers. In order for the bush to delight its beauty, Phalaenopsis orchid at home requires specific care. The plant epiphyte develops in conditions that are easy to create. Fulfillment of all maintenance requirements will be the key to long-blooming orchids.

Phalaenopsis orchid care for home maintenance

Creating the conditions for proper root development is important for plant development. Looking for transparent pots and a special substrate. There are no trifles in the content of the orchid, only the right agricultural technology will create a picturesque indoor garden:

The location for the flowerpot is the shaded side of the apartment. Direct sunlight and the southern window of the orchid are not suitable. Placement of a plant is possible far from a window, but with illumination. Day length is crucial. Phalaenopsis orchid blooms only when illuminated for at least 12 hours.

The temperature of for caring for Phalaenopsis orchid at home depends on the season. In the summer, when the flower arrows strike with their beauty, the shadow should be 18-25 ° C. At higher temperatures, flowers can quickly begin to crumble. In winter, if flowering is not expected and the plant is resting, coolness is needed, about 15 degrees.

During the rest period, when flower buds are laid, the nighttime temperature should be 4-5 degrees lower than the daytime.

How to water the orchids phalaenopsis at home? Fleshy roots nourish the plant, but with stagnant moisture they can rot. The roots must be in an ultra-light substrate and not only supply the plant with nutrients, but also produce chlorophyll under the action of light penetrating through the transparent walls of the vessel. It is important to saturate the substrate with moisture after drying by immersion for 30 minutes. Do not wet the leaves. It is possible to determine whether the soil in the pot has dried by weight, with a moisture indicator, each one finding its own method of control. With a lack of moisture, the plant will throw flowers, with an excess - it will rot.

The microclimate for a flower - butterflies are created by all available means. Orchid does not require regular spraying, the accumulation of water in the leaf axils can cause rot. Humidity 40-45% is considered optimal for the plant.

Soil for orchid phalaenopsis is selected with the expectation that the plant is epiphyte. The substrate is made from a mixture of bark of coniferous trees, charcoal, sphagnum moss and shells. The bark is taken from old fallen trees, soft, after boiling. In the lower part, like drainage, pebbles are poured with the addition of bark and coal. Acidity should be 5.5-6.0.To keep the acidic medium in, add a little peat to the substrate, or pour water with acidified lemon juice. But it is better to do the transplant in two or three years and not to use acidulants.

For long-term flowering when taking care of Phalaenopsis orchid, do not change the place of the pot and maintain a uniform temperature in the room. Fertilizers for orchids have a specific composition and concentration, they should be used once a month in the recommended amount. Root feeding for a healthy flower is preferable.

Leaves care required. It is necessary to rinse them, then wipe, so that there are no drying droplets. If the old lower leaves began to dry, they need to be cut off. Also observe the condition of the air roots, removing damaged parts. Place the cut must be covered with coal or cinnamon powder.

How to properly transplant phalaenopsis orchids at home?

Orchid roots are not long, not branched, it is important that there are many of them, and they hold the plant firmly in the soil. Swing bush should not. In order for the root system to be healthy, the orchid needs to be properly transplanted after it has faded.

The steps involved in transplanting include the following operations:

• remove the plant from the container with minimal damage;
• soak a clod of earth and wash it off with a stream of water;
• remove damaged roots, sprinkle the cut points with coal dust or cinnamon powder;
• cutting dry leaves and arrows should be left hemp;
• dry the flower 3 hours before planting.

The composition of the soil is boiled and left in water until it cools. Filter the solid part, rinse on the sieve with hot water and put to dry to a loose state. To process a drainage structure as well. In the center, place the prepared dried plant and sprinkle the roots with the substrate, without bristling the socket along the neck. Pour warm water and let the filtrate drain. The compacted and settled soil is brought to normal level by bedding. There should be no moisture on the leaves and in the sinuses after transplantation.

The transplant operation is necessary in order not to impoverish the mineral supply of food, not to increase acidity and not to use peat and acidified water, which will poison the plant. You can get acquainted with phalaenopsis orchid transplant at home on the video, which will help not to make mistakes.

Orchid breeding methods at home.

Seed orchid phalaenopsis is propagated in special conditions. At home, you can get a new copy formed by an embryo with aerial roots formed on a otzvetstoy arrow. This is the easiest way to get a new plant.

There is another, more time consuming method - cutting the faded arrows. Cut off arrows cut into fragments, each of which contains a sleeping kidney. They germinate cuttings in the substrate in a moist environment, and not every cutting will give a new baby.

The block-culture method — the reproduction of phalaenopsis orchids at home, like epiphyte, is applicable on a wooden base, if you can create a moist air environment. Moss or similar material that holds moisture is attached to a piece of vine, a tree branch. On this surface pinch baby Phalaenopsis orchids. In order for the roots in the upper layer not to dry, the environment needs to be wet.

Non-communicable diseases arise from improper care, then a weakened plant affects insects and fungal and bacterial diseases. When you take care of phalaenopsis orchid at home, yellowing leaves may become the first signal of trouble.

Yellow indicates abnormal temperature of the content, lack of light or moisture. But the worst will be steaming or prolonged overcooling of the plant. Vegetative buds die and the plant dies. Elongated leaves signal a lack of light and become vulnerable.

Viral diseases include all sorts of small spots and mosaics. They are incurable. Therefore, if a specialist diagnoses a viral disease, the plant must be destroyed by burning. Viruses spread insects, and inevitably the disease will pass on to other flowers.

Bacterial spotting manifests itself as dark spots, softened with leaves and roots. Sick spots are cut to healthy tissue, burned with iodine, powdered with coal dust. In advanced cases, leaves and roots are treated with fungicides.

Anthracosis, powdery mildew, rust are fungal diseases, are transmitted by spores or with the soil. Preventing these diseases is easier than curing. To do this, ventilate the room, avoid excessive moisture, do not leave water droplets on the leaves. Various rot appear in violation of the temperature regime, especially with the greenhouse effect. A black fungus develops on the sweet secretions of insect pests.

A weakened plant can inhabit aphid, mealybug. With proper care, the mealybug will not start. Aphids need to be washed off with soapy water. After treatment, wash the leaves with soft water and dry. For the destruction of insects use only recommended preparations for orchids.

Successful experience growing orchids at home - video