Orchids
Orchid, which always makes you feel special with its thin and elegant appearance, is a plant variety whose history goes back to ancient times. Orchid, which is the most diverse plant after Asteraceae (Daisyaceae), is a perennial plant and blooms at least 1-2 times a year. When it comes to orchid, everyone thinks of the type with white flowers (Phalaenopsis). Apart from that, red and purple orchids are one of the reasons why people prefer them due to their beautiful colors. Orchid flower has more than 28 thousand varieties, mostly in tropical climates. Although many species are grown commercially, the most cultivated species are; cymbidium, paphiopedilum, phalaenopsis, miltonia. Among these species, Phalaenopsis is the most admired and adorned variety. This orchid species is preferred by everyone because it can easily live in the home environment without expecting much attention.
What Should We Pay Attention To When Buying Orchids?
Maybe it is a very nice gesture to send an orchid to make yourself happy, maybe to please someone. However, there are some conditions that you should pay attention to when buying orchids for your home or workplace.
When choosing orchids, if possible, you should prefer the less bloomed ones. Considering that it blooms 1-2 times a year, keep in mind that if you choose an orchid that has bloomed a lot, you will not be able to benefit from its beautiful appearance for a long time. Prefer those with 1-2 blooms and abundant oil lamps.
If possible, it is useful to choose an orchid whose roots are not blackened and which looks healthy. When you want to send orchids to your spouse or friend, you can contact the institution and ask them to consider these issues while shopping online.
Easier than you think: How to Care for an Orchid?
If you have chosen the right orchid for yourself, it's time to take care of it.
First of all, the most important issue in orchid care is site selection. Orchids should not be exposed to direct sunlight. For this, you can choose the parts around the window that do not receive sunlight at any time of the day. An orchid flower exposed to sunlight will not be productive and will eventually have to dry out.
The ideal room temperature is 18-25 degrees. Ambient temperature in this range is ideal for these plants.
In addition, we should not remove an orchid that likes its place, unless it is necessary. This is very important for orchids.
The roots of your orchids should receive sunlight, even if not directly. For this, having your orchid in a transparent pot is very important for its development and health.
Care should be taken to ensure that the pot it is in is small and well-drained.
Most Asked: How to Water?
Orchid plant is a plant that grows in its natural environment in tropical climates. Over time, this plant has been recognized and studies have been made to keep it alive outside its own climate. One of the most important of these is the relationship between orchid and water. In order to care for an orchid in your home, you must meet its water needs correctly. Orchids are not very water-loving plants. However, they are not accustomed to thirst, as they like a humid environment by nature.
They should usually be watered in 4 to 7 days. However, you should determine this irrigation process yourself according to your climate.
The soil should generally be neither too moist nor too dry. In this case, irrigation can be done once in 7-10 days in winter and once in 4-5 days in summer, depending on the temperature.
Irrigation with Ice
It is worth repeating that orchid does not like too much water. If you say that you cannot adjust the water setting correctly, you can use a special irrigation method. For this, you can perform irrigation with ice. 1-2 ice cubes that you will leave on the soil of the orchid will melt slowly and mix with the soil more easily and will also ensure that the soil remains moist for a certain period of time.
Immersion Method
An irrigation method that is as efficient as the ice method is the "immersion method". For this irrigation method, add enough water to exceed half the height of your flowerpot in a container that your flowerpot can easily fit into. And the flower is kept in this water for an average of 2 minutes. However, it should not be forgotten that the container to be immersed and the water used are sterile. After the immersion process is over, the pot is removed and all water is expected to drain from the drainage holes. Make sure all water is drained.
Considerations with Orchid Watering
Orchids are more sensitive than other plants. If it is not irrigated with a sterile water (rain water, etc.), it can become very easy for the roots to get sick.
The water you use should be neither hot nor cold. If possible, wait a few hours before the water reaches room temperature in the same environment as the orchid.
If the leaves of our orchid get wet after watering, they must be dried with a napkin.
Irrigation should be done in the morning or at noon if possible. Evening watering can cause the roots to become wet and rot due to the falling temperature and humidity.
Care After Flower Drop
Orchids bloom 1-2 times a year. The Phalaenopsis species, which is usually found in our homes, blooms in spring and offers us a beautiful view. After a certain period of time, the flowers begin to dry and fall. There are a few details that need attention after the flowers are poured.
The first is to keep the orchid in a cooler place after the flower has fallen. Keeping it at 18 degrees and below will allow your orchid to recover after flower fall.
A second detail is the stems that turn yellow after the flower has fallen. These stems should not be cut immediately, they should be waited for a while. Pruning should be done when the stems turn dark brown.
Orchid's Soft Underbelly: Orchid Pruning
As with almost every perennial plant, orchids are pruned for a certain part of the year so that they develop more efficiently and healthily. After the flower has fallen, the dead parts on the branches are trimmed and both shaped and prepared to bloom again in a healthy way. Care must be taken to ensure that the products used during these processes are sterile. Orchids, which are very sensitive to bacteria, can be damaged in this process. Pruning scissors etc. If necessary, the product should be cleaned with a disinfectant such as bleach.
Yellowed leaves and dried flower stalks should be cut close to the stem. Antibacterial products such as cinnamon and charcoal powder should be sprinkled on the cut stems to prevent the formation of microbes.
What is Keiki?
An orchid species, such as Phalaenopsis, which is usually found in everyone's home, provides reproduction by giving keiki (Hawaiian baby) from flower stalks. This formation takes place with the accumulation of growth hormones in the flower inside the flower stem of the mother orchid. They generally occur at the tip of the flower stalk. And they perform the formation of new baby orchids.
After the end of the flowering period, any pruning, branch cutting should not be performed.
At the end of this period, taking the orchid to a more shaded area for keiki formation may help it to produce new offspring. Orchids can create a new offspring (keiki) because they think that it will die in a completely shaded area.
It should not be forgotten that the formation of keiki in orchids is an event that your flower can create itself. By following your flower in such periods, you can observe the formation of keiki. This formation may cover periods such as 10-12 months, depending on the flower.
