"icing on the cake" how to raise crab claw orchids?

Crab claw orchid belongs to the epiphytic succulent plant of cactus family, also known as Christmas cactus, crab orchid, icing on the cake and so on, often cultivated in indoor potted plants and park flower beds. So, what are the growth habits of crab claw orchid? What is the breeding method of crab claw orchid? How to raise crab claw orchids?

1. Growth habits of Cymbidium sinensis

Crab claw orchid belongs to tropical and subtropical plants, like warm climate, strong drought tolerance should pay attention to shade in summer. The suitable temperature for growth is about 20-25 degrees, and the dormant period is about 15 degrees. Soil requires loose soil, good drainage and high soil fertility. Crab claw orchid is a short-day plant, if you can ensure 8-10 hours of sunshine every day, it can blossom in about 3 months, so the cultured crab claw orchid can adjust the flowering period by controlling the light.

Second, the propagation method of crab claw orchid

1. Cutting

Choose the strong and thick branches of the crab claw orchid, cut off 2 sections, cool in the shade for two days, wait for the incision to dry before inserting into the sand bed, the ratio of peat to sand is 4:1, and the temperature is controlled at about 15-20 degrees. In addition, the soil of the bed should not be too moist, otherwise it is easy to cause incision decay. It began to take root about 3 weeks after planting, and it can be transferred to the pot for pot planting after a month.

2. Grafting

Grafting is usually carried out in June or October, rootstocks can choose the quantity of days, and so on. Scion to choose the same year's strong stem nodes, generally a rootstock can be grafted 3-4 scions, grafted in a semi-shady place for maintenance, to maintain air humidity above 60.

3. Sowing seeds

Crab claw orchid needs artificial pollination, the optimum temperature for germination is about 23 degrees, the soil is a mixture of peat, rotten leaf soil and coarse sand, and the soil is disinfected at high temperature before sowing. Crab claw orchid needs to keep the soil moist after sowing. It can cover the mouth of the basin with a layer of plastic film and sprout about a week after sowing. It should be noted that the growth of crab claw orchid seedlings is relatively slow, so it should be managed carefully.

Third, how to raise crab claw orchids?

1. Upper basin

When the crab claw orchid seedlings on the pot, first put 1-2cm thick broken tiles or ceramsite at the bottom of the basin as a filter layer to prevent stagnant water to rot the roots, and sprinkle a layer of fully rotten organic fertilizer as base fertilizer, the thickness is about 1-2cm, to provide nutrients for the basin. Then cover a layer of soil, you can use a more fertile mixed soil of rotten leaves, peat and coarse sand, the pH should be kept between pH5.5-6.5. then put into the plant to separate the fertilizer from the root system to avoid burning roots or rotting roots.

2. Watering

Watering should vary according to different seasons. although winter is the growing season of crab claw orchid, due to low temperature and less evaporation, watering should not be too much, as long as you keep the basin soil moist and water once every 4-5 days. The summer temperature is high, although there is shade, but the temperature is high and the evaporation is large, the basin soil is easy to dry, and it is usually watered once in 1-2 days. Water twice a week in spring and autumn, depending on the weather, just keep the soil moist.

3. Fertilization

Fertilization is mainly carried out before flowering from September to October and after flowering from April to June, and the feces of mature people can be applied once every other week. In terms of season, fertilization in spring is to promote multiple branches and leaves, mainly nitrogen fertilizer, not suitable for fertilization in summer, otherwise it is easy to cause decay, fertilization in autumn is mainly phosphate fertilizer, which can make flower bud differentiation. Need to pay attention to stop watering before fertilization, so that the basin soil to keep dry is conducive to the absorption of fertilizer, do not use strong chemical fertilizer.

4. Temperature

The suitable temperature for the growth of crab claw orchid is 15-25 degrees. It should be shaded and protected from rain in summer. It is best to put it under a well-ventilated windowsill or eaves corridor. After autumn, it can be transferred to an indoor place with sufficient sunshine to promote photosynthesis. The winter temperature is about 15 degrees Celsius. It is easy to grow poorly or even stop growing when it is lower than 5 degrees.

5. Lighting

Crab claw orchid like light is also shade-resistant, light requirements are not high, put crab claw orchid indoors can meet its lighting needs, it is necessary to pay attention to summer shade, to prevent direct sun damage crab claw orchid.

6. Diseases and insect pests

Usually pay attention to ventilation and light transmission, create a relatively dry small environment, can reduce the probability of the occurrence of diseases and insect pests, if necessary, you can use medicament control, such as the use of methyl topiramate 800x liquid or can kill 1000 times liquid, spray every 7-10 days.

The above is the little knowledge about how to raise crab claw orchids sorted out by Tuliu.com for you. Do you know all about it?