Fertilizing, a double-edged sword for orchid cultivation

Orchids are born in mountains, forests and valleys, with suitable natural environment, loose humus soil, sufficient soil fertilizer and comprehensive nutrients, so they can grow very strong, but after going down to the yard and balcony, the environment has changed greatly, nutrients are not as abundant as they were on the mountain, and the good orchid grass is unlikely to be as strong as the mountain grass, so we should try our best to create a suitable environment for the orchid. And good cultivated soil.

Now many people use hard plant materials (immortal soil, gold plant stone, ceramsite) to plant, including my orchid plant material, the fertilizer in the plant material is difficult to meet the needs of orchid growth, if it is not fertilized in time according to the orchid growth cycle, then the orchid plant sprouts less, grows slowly, rejuvenates slowly, and blossoms and appreciates flowers in the distant future. Therefore, timely fertilization is absolutely necessary. However, it is important to understand when to apply fertilizer, the concentration of fertilizer, what kind of fertilizer is applied in different growth periods, and the preference of different bluegrass for fertilizer.

Fertilization is a double-edged sword, nutrition on the one hand and poison on the other. The appropriate concentration, it is a nutrient element, can make the orchid thrive, and too strong, it will become poison, so that bluegrass seedlings, rigid seedlings, rotting roots and even wiped out. My orchid plant material is to plant gold stone and fairy soil. The following is an introduction to my understanding of different fertilizer elements and how to apply fertilizer.

1. Fertilizer elements

There are 16 essential nutrient elements for orchids. Except for carbon, hydrogen and oxygen absorbed from the air, all of them need to be fertilized to meet the needs of normal growth of orchids. According to the nutrient demand of orchids, there are a large number of element fertilizers, including nitrogen fertilizer, phosphate fertilizer and potassium fertilizer; medium element fertilizer, including calcium, magnesium, sulfur fertilizer; trace element fertilizer, including chlorine, zinc, boron, manganese, molybdenum, iron, copper fertilizer; in addition, there are some beneficial element fertilizers such as silicon fertilizer, rare earth fertilizer and so on.

1. Nitrogen fertilizer nitrogen is the main element of protein composition, and protein is the basic substance in cell protoplast composition. The application of nitrogen fertilizer can promote the formation of protein and chlorophyll, make the leaf color dark green, increase the leaf area, promote carbon assimilation, increase the yield and improve the quality.

2. Phosphate fertilizer: phosphorus is an indispensable element for the formation of nuclear protein, lecithin and so on. Phosphorus can accelerate cell division, accelerate root and aboveground growth, and promote flower bud differentiation.

3. Potash fertilizer: the nutritional effect of potassium can improve the intensity of photosynthesis, promote the formation of starch and sugar in crops, enhance the resistance and disease resistance of crops, and improve the absorption and utilization of nitrogen.

4. Magnesium: one of the elements that make up chlorophyll, promoting the process of photophosphorylation.

5. Calcium: one of the main raw materials for constructing cell wall.

6. Sulfur: an essential component of some amino acids.

7. Chlorine: it bears certain physiological functions, such as participating in photosynthesis, regulating cell osmotic pressure, maintaining ion balance in the body and so on.

8. Iron: one of the elements that make up chlorophyll, which is involved in metabolic processes such as photosynthesis and respiration, and is also one of the components of nitrogenase.

9. Zinc is a necessary element for the synthesis of tryptophan, which is the precursor of indole acetic acid.

10. Copper: is one of the raw materials for the synthesis of chloroplast protein.

11. Boron plays an important role in physiological and biochemical processes, it participates in protein metabolism, pectin decreases when plants are boron deficient, and boron participates in the formation of trace elements and lignin necessary for the development of vascular bundles.

12. Molybdenum: it plays a certain role in plant metabolism and respiration. Molybdenum is also related to plant phosphorus metabolism. Molybdenum deficiency is not conducive to the transformation of inorganic phosphorus to organic phosphorus. In addition, molybdenum can also improve the ability of plants to resist diseases.

The above are the elements needed for the growth of orchids. Nitrogen, phosphate and potash fertilizers are familiar to everyone, while trace element fertilizers may be unfamiliar.

2. The fertilizer I use

(1) Fertilizer: I like magic fertilizer, magic fertilizer is nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and magnesium compound fertilizer, it is slow-release fertilizer, according to the concentration of fertilizer in the soil, it does not hurt the root, does not hurt the bud, the magic fertilizer touches the root and the new bud, and has a remarkable effect on promoting flowering. I have used it for many years, about 20-30 grains in a pot.

(2) quick-acting compound fertilizer: usually used Huabao is nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium compound fertilizer. According to the different proportion of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium needed during the growing period of orchids, Huabao is divided into 1-5, which can be applied to different types of Huabao according to different growth periods. Huabao can be effective, but it is not easy to melt. When in use, the unmelted ones should be thoroughly filtered so as not to burn the new buds and cause grass falling. Huabao I only use Huabao 4, the ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium of Huabao 4 is 25 ∶ 5 ∶ 20, the aqueous solution is purple, and it has the special effect of strong root, stem and leaf, promoting the increase of bud and root group, and the strong effect of stem. The concentration I use is 3000-4000 times, which is very light, usually once every 10 days. After the Spring Festival, the temperature rises, everything recovers, and it can be applied after March. Huabao No. 4 can promote budding, promote the increase of root groups, and the effect of strong bulbs is also good. Huabao 5: the ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium is 30-10-10, which promotes the rapid growth of all kinds of seedlings, and the high nitrogen formula promotes the rapid growth of Guolan at the initial stage of new buds. Huabao No. 5 uses less, blue bud can be used after opening, foliar spraying and root irrigation, high nitrogen formula, so that the rapid growth of new seedlings, bluegrass green, broad. Huabao 3: the ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium is 10 ∶ 30 ∶ 20, the content of phosphorus is very high, and the aqueous solution is grayish black, which can mainly promote the flowering of orchids. Fish essence fertilizer: organic fertilizer, high phosphate fertilizer, promote flowering.

(3) Biological bacterial fertilizer: Zhiquan and Xishuo not only contain nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, but also contain more comprehensive trace elements, living bacteria and so on.

3. How to apply fertilizer

①, fertilization form: base fertilizer with magic fertilizer, put on the top of the basin. When topdressing, foliar fertilizer and root irrigation were carried out at the same time, not foliar fertilizer alone.

②, fertilization method:

1. Fertilizing according to the growth period of orchids: after spring, everything begins to recover, and orchids also begin a new round of growth. at this time, the fertilizer used to promote the differentiation of leaf buds is about 3000 times for Huabao 4 and about 2000 times for planting, once a week. After the bud is unearthed, the nutrition needed is mainly nitrogen fertilizer. I still give priority to Shihuabao No. 4, and I can apply less fertilizer such as Huabao No. 5 and Liwei Green. Now this season is the season of bud formation, many of my orchids have come to the bud, such as not yet to the bud, in the buckle water on the basis of phosphate and potassium fertilizer, such as fish essence fertilizer or Huabao 3, potassium dihydrogen phosphate, such as grass strong, should come to the bud. Orchids raised at home can be in different growth periods at the same time, and different fertilizers should be applied according to different periods. It is hot in midsummer, if there are no cooling measures, fertilizer should be stopped. Orchids are dormant in winter, so it is appropriate to stop fertilizing. The fertilization of orchids should be thin and diligent.

2. Fertilizing according to the growth of orchids: orchids grow well, have good roots, and fertilize normally; orchids do not grow well, and their roots are poor, and fertilize less, and then apply fertilizer normally after the roots are put down.

3, according to the variety of orchids: I mainly planted spring Huilan, Huilan long and wide leaves, strong roots, can be applied a little more. Chunlan fertilized less than Huilan.

4. the relationship between fertilization and watering: the plant material is too dry, fertilize before watering, the fertilizer concentration must be light, return water after fertilization, and wash away the fertilizer in the bud and plant material.

5, the relationship between fertilization and sterilization: fertilization and sterilization can be carried out at the same time, most fungicides and bacteria can be mixed with fertilizer, read the instructions before use, but do not mix with biological fertilizer. After using fungicides, biological fertilizer can be applied to supplement living bacteria.

6. Soak the bluegrass in about 500 times of the whole plant for 30 minutes when ramet, which can take root and sprout earlier.

4. Necessary tools for fertilization

Fertilizer concentration must be accurate, Huabao has a tablespoon, a tablespoon of 1 gram, water bucket to measure water.

Medical syringes for liquid fertilizer should be measured accurately, and medical syringes should be equipped with 5ml and 1ml.