On the Skills of Using Plant Ash in Orchid Cultivation

During the process of potting or turning the pot, the initial substrates of our domestic orchids are prepared to adapt to the orchid growth pH value of about 6.6 (substrate manufacturers will also pay attention to this important point, so most orchids do not need to retest this point). With the accumulation of cultivation and management, the use of acidic organic fertilizers and chemical fertilizers and pesticides, the culture medium of orchids changed from the initial pH content to partial acid or extreme over-acid, resulting in the breeding of a large number of slightly acidic fungi. We know that things will be reversed at the extreme, so the ecological balance in the basin will be destroyed, and they will do harm to plants in the environment of high temperature and humidity, causing a variety of harmful diseases, such as stem rot, soft rot, white silk disease and so on. After the emergence of these diseases, we often use a variety of pesticides (synthetic chemicals), but most of them are not satisfactory. Therefore, many orchid friends will shout: "Why in the case of reasonable water pipe alternative use of medicine can not cure stem rot, soft rot, white silk disease."

"Prevention is the main cause of all diseases, and treatment is a remedy." If the above disease cannot be prevented until it occurs or gets out of control, it will cause varying degrees of "yield reduction" in the season of rapid growth of orchids with high temperature and humidity, which is the result that Orchid you do not want to see.

The fact that "things match each other" in nature has been recognized by people, such as venomous animals such as venomous snakes, puffer fish and so on. Why do they carry great poison but not be poisoned? They must have a similar antidote in their bodies (the fact that things are compatible with each other has been recognized by today's scientists. It is said that Japanese scientists are looking for an antidote to it in puffer fish and list it as a key project. If people succeed in eating puffer fish, they do not have to eat puffer fish, but their hearts will be poisoned.) it is just that our science and technology has not yet been able to extract the antidote for this poisonous animal. However, we human beings have been able to use the role of nature to find similar substances in the outside world, such as fungi that like to live in an acidic environment with alkaline substances, and bacteria that like alkaline substances against it with acidic substances, so as to balance the reproduction of two different types of bacteria, so as to achieve the purpose of increasing crop production, income and efficiency.

The following is what I have learned from the use of plant ash for Lanyou's reference:

First, the choice of plant ash

It is better for plant ash to be fully carbonized (rice bran ash can also be fully carbonized) and fully carbonized to ink black. The whiteness of plant ash is due to excess in combustion, which is light and undesirable (specifically refers to the amount of potassium and alkali).

Second, all kinds of scientific use of plant ash

1. When putting on the basin, 10% carbonized plant ash was directly added to the substrate, but the effect was very little. It can be said that this kind of usage has fewer advantages and more disadvantages. Disadvantages: it can only neutralize in a short time, but the acidity of the new matrix will not exceed the standard, because in the daily pipe water, coupled with the light specific gravity of plant ash and small volume, it will soon be washed away by water (here, it refers to the cultivation of granular matrix). The acidity will rebound when the plum rain season is high temperature and humidity, so the harm is the same.

2. In the rainy season, plant ash is sprinkled directly on the basin surface and pipe water gradually seeps into the basin to neutralize the acidity in the basin to suppress fungi that depend on the acidic environment. Advantages: it can greatly reduce the survival of acidophilic bacteria, and make the orchid safely through the hot and humid plum rain season. But this is not the best approach. Disadvantages: difficult to fully infiltrate, polluting, plant ash everywhere with the flow of water.

3. In the rainy season, plant ash is directly mixed with water or soaked in the basin to achieve the purpose of neutralizing acidity. But this method is not very good either. Advantages: short-term neutralization. Disadvantages: the alkaline substance of plant ash is washed away by pipe water in the future before it is fully decomposed, so the effect is very little.

4. The clarification solution leached with plant ash is sprayed 500 times with water in the plum rain season with high temperature and humidity, and this effect is very good. Advantages: spray even contact with a wide range of plants. Disadvantages: cure the symptoms rather than the root causes.

5. The clarification solution leached with plant ash is mixed with water 500 times and poured or soaked twice in the plum rain season with high temperature and humidity, and this effect is also very good. Advantages: it can thoroughly neutralize the acidity in the matrix and achieve the purpose of suppressing acidophilic bacteria. Disadvantages: it still fails to cure both the symptoms and the root causes.

6. the clarification solution leached with plant ash mixed with water 500 times in the hot and humid plum rain season to take the double attack of "land-air combination", so that the acidophilic bacteria have no place to hide, in order to achieve most of the suppression or killing. Through spraying and pouring (at this time, the soaking basin is upper, the soaking basin can be used in a small area, and it is better to choose irrigation in a large area), the matrix in the basin and the whole orchid plant and the equipment of the orchid field and orchid room can be fully contacted, so as to achieve the purpose of comprehensive prevention. Taking the same work twice throughout the rainy season can make the orchid safely through this dangerous and exciting growing season. The last point is that work is the most effective and well-tried.

Objective: may the majority of orchid friends lose a little less and gain more in the hot and humid plum rain season, and those who are interested will know the truth without a visit.

Note 1: high-quality plant ash leaching solution to soak 12Mel 24 hours is better, soak in order to achieve clean leaching solution must not be dispersed, wrapped with gauze not to let plant ash spread freely, so that the clarification of plant ash leaching solution is easy to take, more convenient for the back of the spraying work (here refers to the requirements of small area use, large area is another matter).

Note 2:1 kg of plant ash add water 10 times the original solution, but in practice, most of the system is based on feeling, the specific gravity is a little bit unguarded, which will not produce a reaction. But in the process of use, it is important to keep in mind that it should not be mixed with acid pesticides or fertilizers. As with the above experience, Lanyou can apply it boldly.

Note 3, solemnly declare that the above prevention and control methods are not omnipotent, not all diseases can be prevented, such as "anthrax" can not be prevented (and alkaline-loving bacteria). The scientific management method should be the prevention and treatment of alternate drug use. In the final analysis, "prevention is the main cause of all diseases" can not wait for the disease to be treated later. In order to avoid misleading Lan you, make a statement first. (Wan Yunkun)