Discussion on the required dry humidity of Orchid

Some people say that it is good to cultivate orchids by wet method, while others say that it is good to raise orchids by dry methods. Does the "wet" and "dry" requirements of the "wet method" and the "dry method" refer only to the dry humidity of the air or the dry humidity of the soil, or the dry humidity of both the air and the soil? These two formulations are ambiguous and vague in nature, which makes people feel that the meaning is not clear enough and is easy to be confused. Orchids involve the requirement of dry humidity. It should refer to the two aspects of air humidity and soil humidity, and orchids have different requirements for dry humidity in these two aspects. If the dry and humidity of these two aspects are generally maintained by "wet method" or "dry method", it is very disadvantageous to the growth of orchids. From the actual situation, the requirement of dry humidity of orchids requires higher air humidity on the one hand, and "moist but not wet", "dry but not dry" and "moderate dry and wet" on the other hand, and some orchids are "superior". Why do you see it? Try to discuss it from the following angles.

From the structural characteristics and functions of orchid organs.

The root of orchid is one of the important organs of orchid. It uses fleshy root and is composed of root quilt, cortex and central column. It has no fibrous root and no root hair. The function of Langen is to absorb and store water and nutrients and supply them to leaves. It is precisely because of the unique structural feature that Langen belongs to fleshy root, Langen likes to be loose, permeable and breathable. If the basin soil is wet for a long time, the breathing of Langen will be affected, and a large number of bacteria in the air will multiply for a long time, and poor ventilation will cause Langen black and moldy. Orchid root is a fleshy root, with strong water retention, if the basin soil is dry and can not get water supplement in time, causing water reverse osmosis in the root for a long time, the orchid root will gradually atrophy and dry up and lead to empty root, and the leaves will be dehydrated due to lack of water.

The pseudobulbs of orchids are hypertrophic and short, and their function is to store and transport water and nutrients. There is a thick cuticular layer on the outside of the pseudobulb, which can effectively prevent water loss. The leaves of orchids have a thick stratum corneum on the outside, and the stomata on the back are dense and slightly sunken, which can slow down the rate of water transpiration, breathe gas and carry out photosynthesis. These unique structural characteristics of orchids show that orchids can withstand drought, do not need too much water, pot soil should not be too wet, too wet and easy to rot roots. However, because the orchid root does not need root, no root hair, the area that can absorb water is limited, and the orchid leaves are clustered, and the area of transpiration water is larger, which needs higher air humidity to make up. Everything needs to have a limit, too bad, too inferior is not good. In my humble opinion, the dry and humid soil of orchids should be "moderately dry and wet, dry in the wet". Wet and dry, conducive to ventilation, conducive to the growth of orchids.

From the ecological environment of wild orchids.

Wild orchids have neither temperature and humidity control in greenhouse nor artificial fresh water fertilization, but wild orchids thrive and thrive. Why is that? This is related to the fact that the natural ecological small environmental conditions of wild orchids are in line with various habit requirements, such as "like moist but afraid of dampness", "like to be happy but afraid of dryness", "like the sun but afraid of summer", "like wind but afraid of cold", "like rain but afraid of leaving" and so on.

Lansheng is born in deep mountains and valleys, either in the cracks in the rocks, in the shade of trees, or halfway up the mountain stream. The valley wind is customary, the running water is gurgling, and the fog is thick, forming a superior natural ecological environment with high air humidity. Halfway up the steep slope of Lansheng, when it rains, most of Rain Water is lost down the slope, and part of the water seeps into the soil layer, so that the soil is moisturized without stagnant water and no accumulation of moisture. The humus of wild orchids is rich in nutrients, loose and breathable, and has a certain degree of moisture retention. In case of drought, the soil will not dry out quickly. These superior natural ecological environment is the inevitable result that wild orchids can thrive and thrive. For domestic orchids to grow well, plant material is the foundation, and water management is the key. The selection ratio of plant materials should take into account not only loose air permeability, but also drainage and moisturizing properties. In different seasons, different weather and different growth stages of orchid plants, orchid seedlings have different requirements on soil humidity, which can be solved by different water management. Generally speaking, keep the basin soil moist in spring. The temperature is high in summer and the water evaporates quickly, so it is advisable to water more. As the temperature drops in autumn, the growth of orchids slows down, watering them when they are dry and letting them get wet. The winter temperature is low, the orchid enters the hibernation period, the basin soil should be a little dry, the basin soil is too wet easy to cause frost damage. In addition, more water should be watered in sunny days and not in rainy days.

Different kinds of orchids have different requirements for dry and humidity of pot soil.

There are many kinds of orchids, and different kinds of orchids have different requirements for dry humidity of pots. In order to grow and cultivate orchids, the treatment of dry and humidity of basin soil should vary from species to species, and should not be maintained by wet method or by method. The practice shows that the orchid grows well and weakens when the dry and humidity of the pot soil is handled properly.

Orchid is a mesophyte, on the whole, most orchids are drought-tolerant and do not need too much water, and the basin soil should not be too wet. However, different types of orchids have different requirements for dry humidity. Spring orchids are taboo to dry, like yin and wet, not heat-resistant; orchids are dry-resistant and cold-resistant; orchids are rough and easy to raise, both dry and slightly moisture-resistant, with strong adaptability; cymbidium is more drought-resistant and cold-resistant than other orchids; and cold orchids, especially pure cold orchids, have more stringent requirements on air humidity and basin soil humidity, air humidity should be high, basin soil should be too wet, dry and wet, too wet is easy to rot roots. Practice has proved that for orchid species with thicker roots, such as the original varieties of Cymbidium, Phnom Penh, Silver Needle, etc., because the roots are plump and thick, and the water stored in the roots is relatively large, it is better to keep the basin soil wet and dry. Practice has also proved that for orchid species with thick cuticular layer and good gloss, such as iron bone, watering must be controlled because of small water evaporation. It is observed that the rate of decay of Langen due to wet basin soil is faster than that of Langen which shrinks and dries up to form empty roots due to the dryness of the basin soil.

As mentioned above, the hairy view is not necessarily correct. I hope the Fang family will not hesitate to give us advice.

Author: Zhang Bingfu, Longyan, Fujian

Communication Office: Dongxiaoxi Liansheng Yuan Cuo, Longyan City, Fujian Province

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