The harm of orchid plant material and water too alkaline and acid!

Northern orchid friends to raise orchids, there is an easy to ignore the problem, that is, the acidity and alkalinity of orchid pot plant materials and the PH value of water usually poured orchids! When some orchid friends find that orchids grow poorly or wither, they often find reasons from fertilizer, ventilation, light, diseases and insect pests, etc., often ignoring the pH of basin soil and water. According to the relevant information and the practical experience of Lan Jia, the PH of orchid basin soil and water should be 5.5~6.5. This is also a principle that Lanyou must follow.

I. What is PH value?

PH is the negative logarithm of the concentration of hydrogen ions in water. PH value less than 7 is called acidic water, PH value equal to 7 is called neutral water, PH value greater than 7 is called alkaline water. PH determination method is very simple, mainly A: stone core test paper and color plate. B: PH tester or pen.

II. Plant materials and water are too alkaline and acid hazards:

Orchids grow well in slightly acidic soil (plant material). pH 5.5 - 6.5 is recommended. Excessive acid or alkali is unfavorable to the growth of orchids, and serious cases can also lead to the death of orchids. So why do plant materials and water over acid or alkali affect orchids and harm them?

1. Plant materials and water too alkaline, that is, PH value greater than 8 above will have the following undesirable phenomena:

A; too much alkali in plant materials and water will make the living environment of orchids symbiotic with fleshy roots poor, reproduction decline, and the balance between orchids and orchids will be destroyed. causing orchids to grow poorly.

B: Plant materials and water too alkaline will reduce the availability of trace elements such as copper, zinc, manganese and iron in the matrix, and it is difficult for the roots of orchids to absorb them. Orchids that do not get trace element nourishment will lead to root growth obstacles and easy to die.

C: Plant materials and water too alkaline easy to make the ammonia nitrogen in the matrix easier to form ammonia and volatilize, both resulting in white fertilizer, but also so that the orchid root does not get due nutrition and poor growth.

D: Plant material and water too alkaline will make a large number of phosphorus elements in the matrix easy to combine with calcium and reduce the absorption of phosphorus by roots. The root system was hindered by phosphorus deficiency.

2. Plant materials and water too acidic, that is, PH value less than 5 below will have the following adverse phenomena:

A: Too much acid in plant materials and water will increase the availability of trace elements such as copper, zinc, manganese and iron in the matrix, and poison the roots of orchids.

B: Plant materials and water too acidic will make the three elements in the matrix nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and calcium, magnesium become insoluble. The root system cannot absorb it, resulting in early senescence and yellowing of orchid plants due to starvation.

C: Plant materials and water too acidic will make the phosphorus element in the matrix easy to combine with iron and reduce activity, affecting the development of roots.

D: Too acidic plant materials and water will reduce the activity of nitrifying bacteria in the substrate, resulting in limited nitrification of ammonia nitrogen, resulting in root poisoning, resulting in short and thick roots, and brown rot. PH value is less than 5 in the acidic environment, blight, white silk disease and other acid-loving fungi, easy to reproduce harm and disease.

Understanding the harm caused by too much alkali and acid in plant materials and water, we will pay attention to the frequent determination of the pH value of the matrix (preferably once every 3 to 6 months), and correct it in time when it does not meet the requirements, so that the orchid plant has a suitable environmental condition for growth.

For planting materials, special orchid planting materials should be used, such as planting stone, fairy soil, peat soil, red brick particles (southern), etc., can meet the requirements.

For orchid irrigation water, southern rain water can meet the requirements of many places to avoid acid rain harm. With less rain in the north, Lanyou more use tap water (groundwater) irrigation orchids, and tap water quality is mostly alkaline, it is required to treat water, you can use appropriate amount of vinegar, hydrochloric acid, acetic acid, potassium dihydrogen phosphate (sodium) or citric acid mixed with the water has been dried to meet the requirements for irrigation, but also to adjust the PH value of the plant material, I often use citric acid to treat PH value, the effect is very good. Of course rain is the best! PH value is less than 5, can add sodium bicarbonate, lime and other alkaline substances to adjust to meet the requirements.（jjh）