Indoor orchid is one of the favoritesmany indoor flowers, which are distinguished by a variety of colors, long flowering and unpretentiousness in care and maintenance. This plant impresses with its bright appearance - you want to admire it constantly. Perhaps this is why all those who once bought an orchid, forever become fans of this plant. Today, breeders continue to develop new varieties of orchids, distinguished by special colors and unique shapes, and care for a particular type of plant is also different. The orchid color palette is extensive. It can be snow-white color, smoothly turning into light yellow, or orange, which gradually turns pink, passing through the terracotta range. The flower amazes not only with unique colors, but also with amazing patterns: openwork and filigree stripes on the petals, thin veins, flowers in speckles or dark colors look unique and mysterious. Indoor orchids are also called phalaenopsis or butterfly orchids. Its flowers resemble moths that live in the tropics. So, miniature varieties of the plant, which in terms of the duration of their flowering will not be inferior to larger varieties, can be suitable for decorating a small room. And caring for such an orchid is quite simple, which we will discuss in more detail below.
Rules of basic care
Despite the fact that an orchid is a flowertropical, it is easy to maintain and caring for it does not involve buying super expensive products. The plant is not particularly capricious. The most suitable room temperature for phalaenopsis is 20 degrees. The only thing that should be emphasized is high-quality soil and sufficient lighting. Orchid flowers should receive maximum light, but direct rays should not fall on them - it is very important to care for the plant correctly. It is better to water once a week, using water at room temperature. Many people immerse the orchid pot in a special container filled with liquid. It is worth noting that the roots of phalaenopsis are hypersensitive, so they rot very quickly. Accordingly, try not to over-moisten the soil. Proper care also implies good fertilization. Root feeding is best for orchids, as well as preparations that need to be used to moisten the soil. Add such fertilizers to the water in order to moisten the substrate, and use every third watering. For feeding, complex fertilizers that are specially designed for epiphytes and phalaenopsis are best suited. If the air in the room where the flower is located is dry, then spray the plants every morning from a spray bottle - this care will ensure good moisture. There comes a time when the plant finishes blooming. This is when you need to prune. But remember that you should never cut the flower stalks completely, at the root. It is enough to simply shorten them above every second dormant bud, which is a small thickening on the stem of the plant. Usually, a new flower appears from such a bud. How long does the period last before new buds open and bloom? About three months. If you suddenly notice that the flower stalk dries out and turns brown, be sure to remove it. Additional care is important here. What kind of soil should be used for an indoor orchid? It should be, first of all, hygroscopic and breathable. As a rule, the soil mixture for phalaenopsis consists of pieces of bark combined with charcoal and expanded clay, moss and earth mixed with sphagnum. It is worth noting that moss laid on the soil not only looks very impressive, but also prevents the plant from drying out. Now about fertilizers, without which good care of the orchid is impossible. In this case, it is necessary to purchase balanced fertilizers, in which nitrogen predominates. This will allow the plant to grow better and bloom brighter. Be sure to use all fertilizers and fertilizers according to the instructions, otherwise you can only harm the plant. As soon as the plant's dormant period begins, it is better to reduce the feeding.
Flowering orchids
At the beginning we already said that orchids are loved forvery long and spectacular flowering. The flowers of the plant are quite dense and strong, so they can please with their appearance for almost a whole month, and sometimes two. The flower stalks themselves live even longer. When can phalaenopsis bloom? At absolutely different times of the year. If you properly care for the plant, the flower stalks branch out, develop, and the same flower stalk can bloom several times. If the orchid is already an adult, strong, then it can even release about three flower stalks during one year. But you should not assume that phalaenopsis does not need special conditions for its development and flowering - care must be thought out. If the orchid is large-flowered, then the flower stalks will appear seasonally, but their flowering can be regulated by changing the ambient temperature. So, in order for the buds to start growing, try to ensure that the daytime temperature for three weeks is not higher than 18 degrees, and the nighttime temperature is 12. This is all explained by the tropical origin of phalaenopsis - this is what a monsoon climate is. In our climate, phalaenopsis with large flowers and their varieties begin to form peduncles in the fall, and the process itself continues until summer. The older the plant, the denser its flowers become and the more peduncles are formed. Each new peduncle is longer, accordingly, even more flowers appear on it. Please note that summer orchids need to be cared for a little differently. At night, the temperature should not be lower than 18 degrees, and during the day - 26 and above. If phalaenopsis grows in such conditions, then the development of peduncles will proceed successfully throughout the year. It is also worth mentioning orchids with so-called growing peduncles. The situation is the same - the older the plant, the more flowers will grow. So, if you do not cut the flower stalks of such orchids, then after flowering they will develop again and bloom again. Often, airy "children" are formed on them, which also need to be looked after. But more on that below.
Reproduction of phalaenopsis
In indoor conditions, orchids reproduce vegetatively. This occurs in the following ways:
- Airborne babies forming on peduncles. It is necessary to wait until the sprout starts releasing its roots, and after that you can start the planting in the ground.
- Sockets. Then, when the orchid formed several rosettes together with the roots, you can start planting the plant. Each of the outlets is placed in a separate pot, where the temporary primer is poured first. Once the plant has grown and grown stronger, it is transplanted into a more suitable substrate.
- Division of the stem. In this case, part of the plant is cut from above and produces re-rooting. The stalk of the plant is planted in a special soil, after which it is covered with a transparent container. This provides good care and a special microclimate. "Penek", which remained, during the time will also begin to develop shoots and actively bush. Typically, this method is used to rejuvenate the plant.
- The simplest method is division in dishes. Cut off the roots, and leave the plant in the container for about 5 weeks. During this time, the places of fresh slices will heal, after which the formation of new shoots will begin.
The last method is the most gentle and suitable for indoor orchids.
Formation of children in orchids
It has already been said that for phalaenopsisTemperature is of great importance. It affects not only the flowers, but also the formation of aerial babies. If you constantly increase both humidity and temperature, this will contribute to the development of not flowers, but daughter plants. This is a feature of all orchids, however, it is most clearly manifested in certain species, in particular, in Shilleriana. If you do not transplant babies from plants of this species, then soon they will grow into bright specimens, distinguished by cascades of branches strewn with flowers. Of course, special care is needed here: periodic watering, spraying the branches and flowers themselves, the petals on them. All this will ensure a long life of the orchid.
Orchid: varieties, hybrids
There are a huge number of species of phalaenopsismany. First of all, it is worth mentioning the “mix” type, which many gardeners consider to be a special hybrid of the same trade mark found in online stores. In reality, plants with the “mix” label on their packaging do not at all imply the possibility of selection by either variety or color. Of course, all sellers will promise to take your needs and desires into account as much as possible, but this does not mean that in your order you will receive exactly what was in the picture. Therefore, know that the “mix” orchid is not a hybrid and certainly not a variety, it is a simple trade mark. In general, all varieties of phalaenopsis are divided into two main types: hybrid and species. If we consider indoor collections, then here you can most often find medium-sized species: Phalaenopsis Pleasant, as well as Phalaenopsis Schiller and Stewart. Of the mini categories, it is worth highlighting the pink orchid. But Phalaenopsis gigantea is a large species of domestic orchids. Hybrid varieties are obtained by breeders in the process of intergeneric and interspecific selection, in the process of which standard hybrids are distinguished. Previously, orchids with dense peduncles and large white or pink flowers were highly valued. In order to create such a hybrid, natural species were used, the flowers of which are quite large. Perhaps, this is why such a stereotype arose that phalaenopsis have flowers of white, pink or soft purple color, and its petals have a rounded shape. A little later, some species were bred, the flowers of which are even larger and reach about fifteen centimeters in diameter. Of course, they are even more impressive and amaze the imagination, but they do not have the amazing elegance and delicacy of a traditional orchid. And caring for such a flower is even more difficult. Then, species with bright colors and variegation were gradually involved in hybridization. It is due to such hybrids that phalaenopsis acquired a variety of colors, ranging from raspberry-red, bright, to neutral shades of peach and gold. It is worth saying that among orchid cultivation there are also trendsetters. Thus, today Taiwan is a country where phalaenopsis is grown on a grand industrial scale. Taiwanese species are distinguished by relief, spotted or simple single-color petals - they are the ones who made a kind of revolution in the world of orchids. There are also special types of hybrids in Taiwan, for example, novelty phalaenopsis, which are clones of hybrids selected according to special characteristics. Today, the most popular types of orchids are the following:
- Dracula
In total, this genus has about one hundred species.They grow, as a rule, in the west of Ecuador, as well as in Colombia, Honduras, Costa Rica, Peru and Mexico at altitudes of about 2,000 meters. The plant received this name due to the fact that its flowers resemble the mouth of a dragon - it looks very impressive!
- Bulbophyllum
This species numbers approximately one and a half thousand.species that grow in the tropics. The genus is distinguished by the presence of bulbs that bear a pair of apical leaves, the shape of which can be completely different, but, at the same time, the leaves are soft. Caring for bulbophyllum involves good indoor lighting, fertilizing several times a month and high humidity air.
- Dendrobium
An equally popular type of orchid, diversityits species are huge - about 2,000! It grows in the south and east of Asia, as well as in Australia and on the islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. This species is one of the most extensive. Dendrobium flowers have a bright purple color and wide leaves. How to care for dendrobium? Provide the plant with abundant watering during growth and purchase a good substrate. Do not forget to use fertilizer complexes, without which proper care of this plant is impossible. You can also please yourself with the Vanda orchid, which has a delicate purple color and incredibly beautiful flowers of a special, round shape, or Diaphananta. It is impossible to single out any specific species of this magnificent plant - each is beautiful in its own way. It is thanks to the interest and enthusiasm of breeders that the number of orchid species is increasing rapidly, and in the near future there will be an incredible number of them. Among the variety, you can choose both medium and mini orchids, as well as specimens with large flowers. This is truly a living miracle! Proper care of the plant, good nutrition and care are the guarantee that the orchid will delight you for many years!
