Understand the high-yield cultivation techniques of orchids and how to water orchids with the coming of hot weather.

Water is the source of life for orchids and the root of their growth. Watering orchids is the most important part of orchid cultivation management. The ancients said,"raise orchids a little, water three years of work." This is quite reasonable, it shows that watering orchids is a very deep knowledge, need to go through long-term practice and exploration to master. The accumulation of previous practical experience and modern scientific exploration provide us with a shortcut. Their understanding of orchid watering is worth learning, thinking and studying.

Water is the source of life for orchids.

First of all, water is an important component of orchid protoplasm. The water content of orchid protoplasm is generally above 80%. If the water content decreases, life activities will be affected. If protoplasm loses too much water, it will cause protoplasm destruction and lead to plant death.

Second, water is the raw material for the metabolism of orchid plants. Assimilation and dissimilation in orchid plants need water molecules to participate, such as photosynthesis, respiration, hydrolysis and so on.

Thirdly, water is the medium for the metabolic process of orchid plants. The nutrient elements in the culture medium can only be absorbed by the orchid roots if they are dissolved in water, and various metabolites must also be transported to various parts of the orchid plant with water.

Fourth, water can keep orchid plants in their proper shape. Only when the cells of the orchid plant contain a lot of water can the cells expand, the plant stands upright, and it is easy to accept light and gas exchange. Once the orchid plant loses water, it will wither.

Fifth, water regulates the temperature of orchid plants. Water has high vaporization heat and specific heat, but also has high thermal conductivity, which is conducive to maintaining body temperature and heat dissipation of orchids, watering orchids, one of its important functions is to regulate the body temperature of orchids.

In short, water is the source of life of orchids, is the root of orchid growth, properly meet the needs of orchids for water, is the most important condition for orchid growth.

Two ways to supply water to orchid plants

There are two ways to supply water needed by orchid plants: one is to absorb water from plants by roots and transport it to whole grass through vascular vessels; the other is to absorb water from air by orchid leaves for metabolism of orchid plants. If you understand this truth, you will know how to supply water to the orchid plant.

3. The method of watering orchids

There are three ways to supply water to the roots of orchid plants: irrigation, sprinkling (drenching) and immersion. "Irrigation" is to use a kettle to inject water along the edge of the pot. The advantage of this method is that the water will not reach the center of the leaf. The disadvantage is that the watering speed is slow and it is difficult to irrigate thoroughly. It is necessary to repeatedly irrigate many times to achieve the effect of watering thoroughly. "Sprinkle" is to sprinkle water with a watering can or shower head, spray the whole orchid environment wet, let the water seep from the soil surface to the orchid root, wet the orchid basin, the advantage of this method is that the water can be poured through the whole orchid basin, the disadvantage is that the water is easy to splash into the leaf center, be careful to use, otherwise it will rot the heart. "Immersion" is to immerse three-quarters of the orchid pot together with the plant material in water. The advantage is that the water can be soaked. The disadvantage is that it is easy to spread bacteria and it is time-consuming. Orchid masters often mix these three methods, the effect is very ideal.

To orchid leaves water supply methods are: spray, humidify two kinds. "Spray" is to spray fine mist with a sprayer, scattered directly on the orchid leaves, so that the orchid leaves absorb into the body through pores. "Humidification" is to increase the humidity of the air so that the orchid leaves can absorb it. There are also several ways to humidify: one is to use a humidifier to increase the humidity of the space; the other is to increase the water surface, set up more basins under the orchid frame, and increase the humidity of the space by moisture volatilization; the third is to artificially simulate rainfall, splash water mist, and increase the humidity of the air; in addition, there is also an aeration pump to help volatilize moisture in the basin.

IV. Water quality for orchid plants

Wild orchids are grown by rain, so the water used to cultivate orchids should be natural and pure, clean and slightly acidic (ρη value is about 5.5), usually rain is best, river water is excellent, tap water is second, well water is not available. "Rain" in the fertilizer components are many and complete, of which spring rain is particularly good, thunderstorm is preferred, autumn rain is second, artificial rain taboo, acid rain harmful. "River water, pond water" is a collection of rainwater, beneficial to orchids, but by industrial waste water pollution of the river is not available;"tap water" if taken from underground is not available, such as taken from the river in nature is still rainwater, but after processing by the water plant, disinfection, purification agents exist, which is harmful to orchids, can not be directly applied, there are two solutions: one is to use several tanks filled with tap water, exposed to the sun, stored for many days, recycling use; Second, put a small amount of peel such as orange peel, apple peel, etc., stored for one or two days before use, which is effective in changing the quality of tap water. "Well water" is underground water, one is low temperature, sudden irrigation is unfavorable to orchid growth, the other is alkaline, well water contains calcium, magnesium salt more, regular irrigation is harmful to orchids.

5. Timing of watering orchids

And the old saying is,"Fear and fear, fear and fear, fear and fear." "Wet","moist","dry","dry" are different degrees of difference, too moist is wet,"wet" for too much water, will make orchid root suffocate rot death; too dry is dry,"dry" for too little water, will make orchid wilting, growth frustration, even dry to death; and "dry" and "moist" for moderate moisture, is the favorite state of orchid growth. To understand the key problem of "dry" and "moist", we must carefully observe and experience it in practice, and gradually accumulate experience to truly master it. There is no quick way, and it must be "three years of work". Generally speaking, when the pot surface is dry but not dry, and the pot bottom hole is moist but not wet, it is the best time to water the orchid plant. Do not have to wait for the pot soil completely dry and then irrigate, otherwise the growth and development of orchids will cause adverse effects.

6. Watering orchids depends on natural factors

Different water management measures should be taken according to various natural factors such as humidity, temperature, light, wind, season and weather, which affect transpiration of orchid plants.

First, look at humidity. If the humidity in the air is low and transpiration is strong, it is necessary to water more; on the contrary, if the humidity in the air is high or even saturated, transpiration is almost stopped, it is necessary to water less or even no watering.

Second, it depends on the temperature. The transpiration is accelerated when the temperature is high, the water demand is large, and the watering frequency is correspondingly increased; on the contrary, the temperature is low, the water molecule activity is slow, the diffusion force is weak, and the water demand is less.

Again, look at the light. Light strong transpiration speed up, accelerate the diffusion of water molecules, more water demand; on the contrary, less water demand, so different light, different shade, different management of water, more irrigation by the sun, less irrigation back to the sun.

Fourth, look at the wind. Strong wind water evaporation fast; weak wind water evaporation slow; dry southwest wind will enhance evaporation, on the contrary, humid southeast wind will lead to relatively weak transpiration; placed in the tuyere of the orchid basin by the wind more water evaporation fast, leeward by the wind less orchid basin water evaporation slow.

Fifth, it depends on the season, the season is different temperature, humidity, light are different, orchid transpiration is also very different. More watering in summer with hot and dry climate; less watering or no watering in rainy season; no watering in winter with low temperature; less watering in early spring with low temperature; more watering in late spring with mild climate; more watering in dry autumn.

Sixth, it depends on the weather. The weather in nature is changeable. Different weather, light, temperature and humidity are different. The transpiration of orchid plants is also very different. The basic practice is: sunny more watering, cloudy less watering, about to rain do not have to irrigate, rainy (snow) days do not irrigate.

Therefore, it is difficult to have an accurate and unified management method for watering orchids. The so-called "watering once a few days" is lack of scientific basis.

7. Watering orchids should be based on orchids

To orchid watering, the general principle is "do not water, water is watered thoroughly." However, in daily management, the situation is complex, and it should be analyzed and treated according to the specific situation of orchids.

First of all, according to the orchid growing season. Orchids should be watered more in the growth period or budding period, less or no watering in the dormant period, more watering in the germination period, less watering after germination, more watering when flower buds appear, less watering in flowering period to prolong flowering period, stopping watering for several days after flowering, letting them rest and then watering again.

Second, it depends on the growth of orchids. Orchids grow strong more watering, poor growth less watering, sick plants do not water, orchids need to be rescued less watering or not watering, pot plants more watering, less watering.

Thirdly, according to the moisture retention of the cultivation substrate. Substrates with fine particles and strong water retention capacity consume slowly (such as sawdust, etc.), and need to reduce watering times; on the contrary, substrates with coarse particles have weak water retention capacity (such as fairy soil), and need to increase watering times.

Fourth, it depends on the texture and size of the bowl. The tile basin with strong permeability should be watered more, the purple sand basin with poor permeability and plastic basin should be watered less. The small basin is easy to dry, the large basin is difficult to dry, and the number of watering is also different.

Generally speaking, watering orchids should be treated in a specific way and should not be simplified uniformly.

8. Time for watering orchids

Watering orchids is scientific in timing. Generally speaking, morning watering is better. Generally speaking, late spring and summer and autumn orchids in the outdoor, watering in the morning is appropriate: first, after a night of cooling, the temperature of the plants in the pot in the morning is relatively low, watering at this time will not hurt the seedlings; second, watering thoroughly in the morning, turning moist in the evening, no waterlogging in the empty pot at night, air circulation in the pot, conducive to the orchid root respiratory cycle, conducive to orchid growth. Third, such as watering in the evening, water evaporation at night is slow, easy to cause waterlogging, and transpiration in the day when the basin has been moistened, resulting in "waterlogging in the basin when it is dry, water shortage in the basin when it is moistened" situation; Fourth, the temperature of the orchid basin is still high in the evening, sudden cooling with cold water irrigation will affect the root water absorption and interfere with physiological balance; Fifth, the temperature at night is low, the cell activity of the orchid plant is weak, too much water will cause the reproduction of germs, but also breed snails and slugs. And winter and early spring orchids indoors, watering time is appropriately postponed, to the morning after the temperature rises around 9 o 'clock or noon watering is good.

About watering time, the principle that grasps on the whole is: orchid watering is good in the morning, when the temperature is high, irrigate earlier, when the temperature is low, irrigate later.

9. The amount of water given to orchids

"Water is water" is a measure of how much water orchids. What is "doused"? The criterion of "pouring through" is not only to make water flow out of the basin bottom hole, but also to soak all the plants in the basin. Often pour water, although there is water flowing out from the bottom hole, still can not reach the standard of "through", in order to make the pot plant material wet, can be divided into several times or use the dipping pot method watering, for dry particle plant material, non-dipping pot can not be poured through, but use the dipping pot method do not use continuously, must interval a certain time, let orchids have breathing time. In addition, winter and early spring, water consumption should not be too large, to moisten as well.

Ten, to the orchid watering several points of attention

There are a lot of caveats to watering orchids:

First, pay attention to the water temperature. Do not irrigate with cold water in winter, the water temperature should be close to room temperature, 8 - 10°C is appropriate. Summer do not use hot water irrigation, such as water tower storage, need to prevent high water temperature damage orchid, orchid root, water temperature can not exceed 25 - 28°C, can not suddenly use cold water irrigation, so as not to hurt orchid.

Second, pay attention to humidity. Air humidity is too large, up to 90--100 degrees, never watering, spraying, humidity during the day to 70--90 is appropriate, humidity is too large to weaken the role of roots to absorb water, affect the number of roots, so that the orchid plant loses its motive force.

Again, care must be taken to protect the sprouts. During the bud opening period, it is appropriate to implement root watering, and minimize watering and spraying, otherwise water irrigation will cause waterlogging and rot, resulting in losses.

Fourth, pay attention not to pour half water. Some people mistakenly believe that orchids can not be watered more, so dare not water, often pour half water, pot material long-term wet under dry, resulting in dry roots due to lack of water.

Fifth, pay attention to less pouring static water. Water tower storage, standing time is too long, water molecules into chains, the longer the time is difficult to disassemble, difficult to participate in metabolic activities, adverse orchid absorption.

Sixth, pay attention to pouring "soul water". After fertilization in the evening, orchid plants through a night of absorption, can effectively absorb most of the nutrients, at this time most need water, just like people want to drink tea after dinner, so the next morning need to pour "soul water". There are two functions: one is to wash off the fertilizer splashed on the leaves; the other is to wash away the residual fertilizer in the basin to prevent fertilizer damage.

Seventh, pay attention to watering not too often. Orchids are tolerant of water and are relatively drought-tolerant plants. A little drying has little effect. On the contrary, wet can not, water 24 hours will cause suffocation, daily cultivation, the vast majority of people love orchid too much, watering too frequently, causing root rot, resulting in plant death.

Eighth, pay attention to "acid rain". If rain is used, there are two kinds of rain that cannot be used. One is acid rain. Water cannot be used to irrigate orchids. The so-called "acid rain" refers to sulfides, fluorides and other acidic substances suspended in the air, which fall down with rainfall to form "acid rain". This water must not be used to irrigate orchids. Second, artificial rainfall water contains chemical substances. These substances are dissolved in rainwater and used to irrigate orchids will also corrode orchids.

Ninth, be careful not to spray water arbitrarily. "Spray water" is necessary, in addition to supplementing water, but also to keep the orchid leaves fresh, conducive to orchid leaf respiration and photosynthesis, but also can not spray water at will: strong sunlight can not spray; high temperature weather can not spray; no wind difficult to dry less spray; impurity water can not be sprayed; rainy humidity is too high, can not spray and so on.