How to feed an orchid at home?

Orchid is an extremely beautiful, but whimsical flower. Usually, flower growers-amateurs already acquire a flowering plant that pleases the surrounding with its appearance, but often after the end of flowering they do not know how to handle it properly. Improper care can lead to disease or even plant death. The inexperienced owners of orchids have many questions concerning the care of the plant. The most common of them: "How to feed an orchid?"

All the procedures for flower care, according to experts, are fairly simple and does not require any special skills or means. But do not buy an orchid until you get the necessary information on care. Experts recommend that you first thoroughly get to know how to properly take care of a new inhabitant of a flower garden.

Features of care

Although care for the orchid is not particularly difficult, experts recommend that you follow all of its rules and perform the necessary procedures in a complex, otherwise the efforts will be in vain. When handling orchids, remember:

• The plant does not tolerate even minor movements, which are stressful for him. Some growers manage to "deceive" the pet: since the orchid reacts to the position relative to the light source, the movement of the flower is made so that its location with respect to it remains unchanged.
• Special attention is paid to the roots of plants, because they are directly involved in photosynthesis. In order to ensure the inflow of sufficient light to the roots, it is recommended to plant the orchids in special transparent pots in the summer (always with smooth walls, so that the roots do not grow to them).
• In winter, it is necessary to ensure a shortage of light for the plant with the help of special lamps. Especially necessary is the light support for the orchid that has bloomed in the cold season.
• To stimulate the formation of buds, flower growers are advised to recreate the necessary temperature drop. It is recommended to reduce it to 4-5 ° C with the help of special appliances sold in flower shops.

Sometimes beginners are surprised that the ideal conditions created for the plant do not give proper results - the orchid does not bloom. This is explained by the fact that the flower, most likely, sent all the forces into growth. In this case, it is recommended to apply the creation of a stressful situation for him, that is, to accelerate the flow of flowers by cutting irrigation or transferring the orchid to a cooler place.

The guarantee of success in the care of the orchid experienced flower growers consider the humidification of air. For this procedure, there is no need for special devices. It is enough to spray the space near the flower with a spray gun. You can also put a small container with water next to it.

During watering, water should be poured directly onto the roots of the flower. Watering is recommended several times a week, but not abundantly. You just have to watch the state of the earth: it should not dry up, but it should not be too wet. When watering and humidifying the air, care should be taken to ensure that moisture does not flow down the leaves to the core of the flower.

Often beginners ask a question: whether it is necessary to feed an orchid? Experts believe that it is necessary to fertilize an orchid, but it should be done correctly.

On the Importance of Feeding

Feeding of orchids using fertilizers is considered by specialists to be a necessary component of the process of caring for plants. Nutrients contained in the substrate are usually pulled out by the root system. In addition, they are washed out during irrigation, flowing through drainage holes with water, located in a pot or planting tank. Therefore, plants that are grown at home, including orchids, need periodic feeding with a variety of mineral and organic fertilizers. The instructions explaining what to feed an orchid are quite simple. The most important thing: for feeding orchids it is recommended to use nutrients with a minimum content of nitrogen, as they inhibit the development of flower buds.

"Golden" rules for fertilizing

• It is strictly forbidden to feed orchids during and immediately after transplantation!
• Fertilize the plant should be during its vegetation.
• Florists, wondering what and how to feed a flowering orchid, experts explain that it is forbidden to feed a plant during the active flowering period. Violation of this rule can cause a shortening of the flowering period.
• You can not fertilize orchids not only during flowering, but also weakened by insect pests or sick.
• Feeding can not burn the root system of the plant.
• It is considered optimal to apply top dressing immediately after watering.
• In spring and autumn, orchids should not be fertilized more than once in 2 weeks. In summer and winter - once a month.

How to feed an orchid at home?

Owners of orchids should focus on those fertilizers that are rich in potassium or phosphorus. These substances stimulate the nucleation of the kidneys and ensure the appearance of healthy flowers. Those who are interested in what to feed orchid at home, it must be remembered that fertilizers must meet several basic requirements:

• Acidity (pH) should be between 5 and 7;
• The concentration of top dressing for orchids in relation to fertilizers for other indoor flowers should be small;
• In fertilizers must necessarily contain substances that interfere with the deposition of trace elements and salts;
• Fertilizers must necessarily contain the necessary vitamins and qualitative amino acids, ensuring the optimum degree of nutrient absorption by the plant;
• Feeding should provide stimulation of the immune system of indoor plants.

Most often, flower growers, engaged in the cultivation of indoor plants such as orchids, prefer high-quality mineral fertilizers. Organic substances are usually used in connection with the overabundance of nitrogenous compounds, as well as in the presence of difficulties in carrying out their correct dosage.

How can you feed an orchid?

For top dressing of indoor orchids, it is recommended to use fertilizers containing special notes on the package. Usually there is a label "For Orchids". For the flower growers, who are interested in what to feed the orchid, experts explain that fertilizers intended for other indoor plants have a slightly different composition of nutrients. In addition, their dosages are higher than required for orchid feeding. The main components of fertilizers are potassium, nitric and phosphoric and constituents. The manufacturer on the label always indicates the quantitative content of these substances with the letters NPK

For beginners who are interested in how to feed an orchid to blossom, it should be remembered that the stimulation of orchid flowering is best accomplished by fertilizers with an NPK equal to the ratio 4: 6: 6. To increase the green mass of plants, substances with an NPK level of 4: 3: 3 should be used.

The arsenal of experienced florists, as a rule, contains varieties of fertilizing, among which there is a composition with a high level of nitrogen required for the growth of leaves, as well as fertilizing containing a high level of phosphorus, which allows the plant to grow flower stalks to improve the flowering process. To feed orchids experts strongly recommend during its vegetation.

The best fertilizing

Those who are interested in how to feed an orchid at home should take into account that the best fertilizers for orchids are the following concentrated fertilizers: Ideal, Rainbow, Bona Forte, Garden of Wonders, Oasis. Any of these means provides an effective root feeding or foliar top dressing in the form of spraying. Experts recommend strictly adhere to the instructions for the use of such drugs. Extremely dangerous for any kind of orchids is a high concentration of fertilizers in the substrate.

About root top dressing

The method of root top dressing is intended for qualitative replenishment of a stock of microelements and macroelements in orchids. Before applying top dressing the root system of the flower is recommended to be thoroughly moistened. In pure tap water of warm temperature, the fertilizer is diluted to obtain a concentration solution indicated on the label. A flower pot with a plant is recommended to be slowly immersed in a container of clean water, while pouring it on top of the resulting solution. In this position, the plant is left for 20 minutes. The surplus solution flows into the pallet.

About foliar top dressing

The method of foliar fertilizing is recommended for use in the period of active plant growth. In addition, experts recommend it also apply in the presence of significant signs of chlorosis, which is the result of a lack of trace elements. Foliar top dressing is also used for damage to the root system. Leaf feeding of orchids is carried out in the mornings or in cloudy weather. This is necessary to prevent direct sunlight from reaching the flower leaves. With careful spraying of the plants, irrigation with fertilizers of air roots and leaves on both sides is provided. Flowers buds are recommended to protect from getting a solution. Otherwise, there may be a threat of decay and even death on the flower growth points. After the fertilizing, the plant must be carefully inspected and dried.

Other recommendations

To flower growers, who are interested in how to feed an orchid, experts recommend that the concentration of the feeding solution, indicated by the manufacturer in the instructions, be reduced tenfold. For 1 liter of water it is necessary to dissolve about 1 ml of liquid fertilizers or in the same amount of the following mineral mixtures:

• "Agricola." It is a mineral fertilizer, specially developed for feeding orchids. The introduction of the means provides an improvement in the appearance of plants and contributes to its qualitative growth. The advantages of fertilizer are the ease of dosing, as well as the ability to ensure its qualitative dissolution in water.
• Doctor Foley. The drug for foliar dressing. It is convenient to use, contains vitamins, essential acids and trace elements.
• Brexil Combi. It is a cocktail of trace elements, necessary in the presence of a lack of iron-containing substances in the plant.
• «Bona Forte». A popular liquid complex fertilizer. The composition of the drug contains a complex of substances necessary for a full-fledged nutrition of the flower. The product is conveniently divorced, affordable.
• "Pokon". Fertilizer (sticks) is developed in Holland. It is recommended to use it for fertilizing 2 times a month. The drug is convenient to use and affordable.
• Fasko fertilizer , as well as the primer "Fasco Flower Happiness" is specially designed for growing orchids. The active substances that make up Fasko contribute to the growth of the green mass. Soil "Flower happiness" is also very convenient. Its composition is as close as possible to the ideal.

Artificial feeding is not vital for the growth and development of orchids. The plant is able to independently obtain a significant volume of microelements from the environment. However, experts recommend regularly and correctly fertilize the orchid to accelerate its growth and improve flowering.