Trade-off of Water in Orchid cultivation

Water is the source of life.

Water: the most common compound of hydrogen and oxygen. Chemical formula H2O. Colorless, odorless, tasteless. There are three kinds of accumulation states in nature: solid state (ice), liquid state (water) and gaseous state (water vapor). The air contains water vapor, and sometimes a large amount of water accumulates in the soil and rock layers. Water is an indispensable part of animals and plants. At 101.325 KPA, the boiling point of water is 100 degrees and the freezing point is 0 degrees. The density of water reaches its maximum at 4 degrees (1 g / ml). When water freezes, its density decreases and its volume increases, so the ice always floats on the surface. Among all the solid and liquid substances, water has the largest thermal solubility, which is of great significance for climate regulation. Water can dissolve many substances and is the most important solvent.

Orchids are no exception. Only with the nourishment of water, "she" has been able to multiply endlessly. The Koran spectrum mentioned in the records that "falling water" is the best for orchid growth, "river water" is the second, and "well water" is not used. This should have been advocated in the environment at that time, when the forest cover was wide, there were almost no industrial exhaust gases, and other impurities in the atmosphere except dust and smoke should be said to be very rare (analysis). The environment in which people choose to live is inseparable from the source of water, and of course there is garbage pollution in their daily life. therefore, the ancients believed that "falling water" was the cleanest water. Avoid using well water, which is a clear answer from the practical experience of the ancients. Well water "cold" contains "alkali" heavy, it is naturally not suitable for the growth of orchids. Boiled porridge in well water generally shows the color of vegetable soup, with a cooked lotus root flavor, which is due to excessive alkali content, which is not good for the human body, so now people do not advocate drinking well water.

From the analysis of the works of Duoben Gulan, the ancients have made countless practices on the choice of "water" in the cultivation of orchids, and only then did they demonstrate and choose and clearly define it as "heaven falling water is the best, river water is the second, and well water is forbidden to use" and registered for the record.

Nowadays, with the development of science and technology and the rapid development of industry, mining, chemical industry and motor vehicles, the pollution of water and air has become unprecedentedly active. Under the temptation of money, it artificially (can be said to be destructive) destroyed the air purifier-- the forests and green spaces were indiscriminately cut down (developed), destroying the ecological balance of the earth. As a result, an "acid rain" was reported somewhere today, a "salty rain" was reported somewhere tomorrow, and a "mud rain" or even a "black rain (composition of smoke and dust)" was reported the day after tomorrow. There is a flood here this year and a drought somewhere next year. At the same time that the pollution has not been effectively controlled, some people say that this is a law of development. Only when economic development comes up, can we make greater efforts to control the environment. Why? The availability of funds makes it possible to solve the problem, so we will wait and see.

At present, there are still many new "orchid works" that still advocate the ancient water use standard, "it is better to fall into the sky." For this reason, I once did a stupid thing when I was just playing with orchids (as far as I know, many orchid friends have done this stupid thing), that is, collecting "snow falling" in winter, people clear the snow, but I collect it home. Really, in this cold weather, I was sweating all over my body, and my hands were hot as if I were practicing kung fu. The neighbors thought I was stupid or out of my mind. Why? In order to collect "falling into the water" and grow my beloved orchids! For this matter, my wife also laughed at me for being cute and foolish. Is there something wrong with the "second section management"? My answer is that I am willing to exercise. In this way, I occupied all the pots or buckets that could be "empty" at home, large and small.

Wait! Wait, wait, Poor me, I really look forward to it three times a day! Looking forward to the end of the plum rain season, the result is a pot of cold water to wake up, what "stem rot, soft rot" are a large number of occurrence, I can not control really heavy losses ah! Every time I remember it, it is still fresh in my memory, just like having a "nightmare". This lesson is really too profound.

Before using it, I didn't think of using the test paper to test the ph value of "falling into the water" (it is impossible to find out the content and types of fungi without equipment). In addition, orchid books are really ancient works that all say that "falling into the water" is good (now many orchid friends have summed up the advantages and disadvantages of "falling into the water"), what reason do I have to doubt? It is true that real knowledge comes from practice, but my "true knowledge" is exchanged for a great loss.

I would like to sum up that there are two unfavorable factors in "falling water (snow water)".

1. "Tianluishui (snow water)" has a large mixture of bacteria, dust and acidic substances (of course, it is also rich in trace elements), and the storage time is too long to form a veritable "stagnant water".

2. This "falling water (snow water)" storage time is too long to make the water form a "chain", so it is not easy to be absorbed by the orchid root system when the "water" is irrigated. There is a poem saying: "for there is a source of water to come." Therefore, I say that hoarding "snowfall water" is a big misunderstanding.

Up to now, some orchid works still say that "snow water" is "expensive". I really don't understand "where is snow water precious?" If you use "snow water" without hoarding, how can you use it?

Originally, it was intended to "make the past serve the present", but it has become a reality of "eating the past without changing the past". Yeah! The ancient "heavenly falling water (snow water)" is not the ratio of "heavenly falling water (snow water)". It is not just wishful thinking to consider the content of trace elements in "Snow Water" and go astray.

The use of water in orchid cultivation is important, but not important. For this reason, many orchid friends (especially beginners) choose a wide variety of "water", such as "nourishing water, pure water, mineral water", and even using cold boiled water, distilled water and so on. It sounds ironic, but those of us who have been there understand how they feel now. Whenever I encounter such a problem, I always say, "tens of thousands of good or tap water is the best!" Because tap water is prepared in accordance with human drinking standards is very strict, in which the ph content is suitable for orchid growth, but also contains a variety of trace elements. On the contrary, the trace elements in pure water and distilled water are filtered out together with impurities, which will cause deficiency in orchids if they are used for a long time, and the high cost is considered undesirable. For example, many of our big orchid growers install a sprinkler on the tap pipe and come directly to spray water to water the orchids. Their orchids grow very well. Nothing bad happened. Admittedly, they have done very strict work on the prevention of germs. Small-scale orchids, such as growing orchids in balconies, can be better used after storing tap water in buckets for one or two days to disperse chlorine (I personally advocate this).

Finally, may all the novices in the world get out of the misunderstanding of using "water" in the cultivation and management of orchids in the future.

At the same time, may your orchids grow better!