Effect of soil moisture on national orchid

Water is an important component of plants. It accounts for about 70%-90% of the fresh weight of Chinese orchids. It is an indispensable factor for various physiological activities of Chinese orchids. If there is no water, various physiological activities of orchids will stop and orchids will die. Soil humidity and air humidity were the main factors affecting the growth and development of Chinese orchid.

When watering, it is first absorbed by the plant material particles in the pot into the interior of the particles, called adsorption water, it can not be used by plants, continue watering, water is adsorbed on the surface of the particles and gaps, called capillary water, it can be used by plants, after watering, the free flow of water in the soil is called gravity water, in the case of good drainage can quickly flow away. After the gravity water in the soil is drained away, the water content is called the water holding capacity between pots. In the cultivation of Chinese orchid, it is appropriate to keep the humidity of the plant material at 60%-70% of the water holding capacity between pots. When it is greater than 80%, the space contained in the plant material is reduced, the root respiration of the orchid is blocked and stops growing, and it is easy to rot. When the soil moisture is too high, the concentration of the soil solution is too high, and the root cells occur reverse osmosis and die.

In cultivation, soil temperature is generally controlled by watering times, which has different effects on different varieties, different leaf qualities, different plants, different growth periods, different temperatures, etc. For example: the fine leaf orchid water requirements are relatively small. And broad-leaved orchids should have more water; thick and wrinkled leaves can be watered less, improve air humidity can be thin and flat leaves should be given more water, should be placed in a more shady place, strong and more roots, water absorption, can be given more water; weak roots less, too wet is not easy to grow roots; bud growth period, physiological activity exuberant, should be watered more; adult flowering period, should be watered less, can promote flower bud differentiation; high temperature period should be watered more, compensate for water evaporation, low temperature period should be less water. (Wu Pinglang)