The plant belongs to the family orchidaceae (orchidaceae). In native lands (Australia, Indonesia, Indochina, the Himalayas) deciduous species of phalaenopsis are found.
Of orchids, this is the most unpretentious of the species. A cultivated plant under conditions of controlled care enters flowering at any time, and pleases with beautiful buds up to three times a year. The reproduction and care of phalaenopsis requires special conditions, which you will need to familiarize yourself with further.
Botanical certificate of the plant
Phalaenopsis has leathery and fleshy leaf plates, placed singly and in small quantities. Over the entire growing season, only 2-3 leaves are formed on short shoots. They persist for a long time - up to two years and die off as new ones appear. The minimum leaf length is 10 cm, but depending on the species, it can reach 100 cm. Color tones from light green to dark green. Sometimes leaf plates are covered with specific spotted patterns, which gives the plant an even greater decorative effect.
The stem of an orchid often releases aerial roots:
- Some of them firmly dig into the substrate with the help of thin hairs, through which the plant receives the necessary amount of vitamins and minerals. This is the main plant nutrition.
- The other part is airy, often capable of photosynthesis. Externally, the root processes are covered with velamine - a specific substance that absorbs water vapor from the air. During growth, the tips of the roots acquire a pointed shape and a bright green color. If the root system is damaged, it may happen that phalaenopsis becomes ill and stops flowering.
Flower buds are hidden in the axils of the leaves. Their awakening occurs in the same sequence as the formation and development of leaves. First of all, flower stalks are formed from under the old leaves. In order for the plant to fully develop buds, care and reproduction of phalaenopsis are necessary under optimal conditions. As a rule, no more than one kidney is formed, from which the peduncle develops, and on it are located:
- buds;
- sleeping buds from which new peduncles develop;
- sleeping kidneys, from which vegetative offspring (babies) are formed without which the reproduction of phalaenopsis would be impossible.
Growing peduncles tend to deviate towards the light source.
Temperature mode
The optimum temperature is 28-30 ° C. Under such conditions, the flower feels comfortable, although the permissible temperature range ranges from 16 to 32 ° C.
In order to stimulate flowering in phalaenopsis, the flower is placed in a room with a temperature on the verge of 12-15 ° C, gradually increasing it to 18-24 ° C.
Phalaenopsis is less sensitive to elevated temperatures outside the normal range than to lower rates.
Features of indoor humidity
With permissible humidity in the apartment where the plant is grown from 30 to 100%, the optimal humidity level is 50-80%. This is the best microclimate for the reproduction of phalaenopsis.
With low humidity within 25-30%, a negative effect of the microclimate on the plant and a decrease in flowering are noted. Spraying the flower is not recommended. Often this leads to the development of fungal diseases and bacterial diseases. Remember: spraying and humidity do not mean the same thing.
An orchid needs a constant source of moisture, therefore it is better to keep phalaenopsis in a shallow pan with gravel filled with water, provided that the pot should not stand on the bottom in the water. The constant evaporation of water from the sump provides a moist microclimate around the plant.
Important! Phalaenopsis does not tolerate drafts, including the flow of cold air from the air conditioner.
Watering a plant
Frequency of watering - regular wetting with interruptions for easy drying of the substrate.
Small flowers with enough light, but in the absence of direct sunlight, can feel comfortable without watering for up to 14 days.
Important! Keep track of the condition of the plant, since at low temperature and insufficient light, diseases of domestic plants actively develop.
The roots of phalaenopsis feel great in a waterlogged environment and even grow in water.
In the period of stimulation of flowering, with the onset of a period of relative dormancy (from June to July), the air temperature is deliberately reduced, the number of irrigation is reduced as in the propagation of phalaenopsis. The photo clearly illustrates how a healthy flower looks.
An indirect sign of lack of moisture is the lethargy of the lower leaves, which are the first to react with insufficient care. For irrigation use warm tap water with a temperature of 22-24 ° C. Mandatory condition: when watering, the water should be 2-3 ° C warmer than the air in the room. Make sure that water does not fall on the leaves of the plant, otherwise it will begin to rot. It is acceptable to wash the plants with warm water once a week.
Often, excessive watering leads to the death of an orchid, therefore, doubting the need for watering, it is better not to water it.
The soil
Remember that the root system needs air, and when watering, water displaces oxygen from the substrate. Therefore, in wet soil, remaining without air, the roots "suffocate" and the plant quickly dies. It is appropriate to add coarse particles to the substrate in order to lower the density of the soil. The formation of voids to some extent saves the situation. A light and moisture-proof mixture can be prepared.
Option 1. The roots of fern - 3: 1, peat - 3: 1, leafy soil - 2: 1, pine bark - 1: 1, charcoal - 1: 1.
Option 2. As a substrate, it is appropriate to use boiled pine bark in crushed form. For small plants, the bark fraction is from 3 to 6 mm, for larger plants, from 6 to 10 mm.
Option 3. Chopped and boiled pine bark mixed with charcoal in a proportion of 10: 1.
Before applying the bark, it is dried, otherwise mold may form. They do not add moss to the composition; they simply cover the surface roots of the plant. Before applying the mixture, it is sterilized.
Such top dressing has a good effect on the state of phalaenopsis (orchids) during care and reproduction in room conditions.
Fertilizing and fertilizing
You can buy ready-made liquid fertilizer for orchids, or you can prepare the fertilizer yourself, observing some rules. Phalaenopsis positively perceives fertilizing with nitrogen fertilizers during the growing season. For fertilizer, a solution is prepared at the rate of 1 gram of fertilizer per 1 liter of water, fertilizing flowers 1 time in 14 days after watering.
Lighting
Phalaenopsis feels best in partial shade. Bright diffused light is the best option for the plant. Efficiency and prolonged flowering is given to growing a houseplant under artificial lighting (with illumination of 15,000-20,000 lux). For this, LD or LDC lamps are used that give white light.
In winter, phalaenopsis requires a lot of light, so you have to resort to the use of artificial light because of the short duration of the day. At this time, the flower needs up to 12 hours of full light for the normal growth, development and reproduction of phalaenopsis.
When the plant is re-illuminated in the summer, small leaves form in it. As a result of summer glut, in the winter, the plant lacks light.
How to check the correct lighting level
To check the light level, place your hand between the light source and the plant. The fuzzy reflection of the shadow from the hand means that there is enough light. When reflecting the sharply defined outline of the shadow, it means that the light is too bright for the plant.
From morning to 10 o’clock, let the orchids get saturated with light, then, throughout the day, keep in partial shade. The dark green saturation of the phalaenopsis leaves means that the flower receives enough light. When yellowing leaves - excess light.
Plant transplant
Transplantation during the destruction of an earthen coma is painful. This is due to ruptures of root hairs that are responsible for plant nutrition with water and nutrients from the soil.
Therefore, if there is no salinization of the substrate, loss of its structure, it is better to transship in a pot of larger capacity, adding voids with a new soil mixture.
Important! When transshipment, the orchid is not buried.
The best time for a transplant is the end of spring or summer. At the end of flowering phalaenopsis.
Reasons for plant transplantation:
- the old pot is too small for the plant;
- complete replacement of the substrate is necessary due to soil salting or unstable holding of the phalaenopsis in the pot.
A transplant often initiates a phenomenon such as a flower growth cycle.
Features of plant propagation
During vegetative propagation at home phalaenopsis, the stem is divided into several parts:
- A cut across the stem.
- Section along the axis of the stem.
- The combination of longitudinal and transverse sections.
Propagation is permissible during flowering and during the vegetative growth of phalaenopsis. For propagation in the home environment, the optimal plant life cycle coincides with the transplant period.
In order to perform reproduction, in this method, using a sharp knife, the phalaenopsis trunk is divided into three or more parts, each of which must have at least one leaf and at least one root process.
Technology of vegetative propagation
The method of propagation of the phalaenopsis orchid includes the following steps:
- Preparing the plant for division. The essence of the procedure is that in the process of flower development, the lower leaves fall, and the roots rise above the leafless area. Therefore, the preserved lower leaves must be removed.
- Sterilization of sections by treatment with fungicide (captan) or charcoal.
- In care, it is important to ensure optimal conditions: temperature, humidity, lighting. The maximum allowable top dressing with nitrogen fertilizers for the Phalaenopsis orchid. Propagation at home requires a cut below the new roots, forming above the leafless area.
- Slices are again sterilized with fungicide (captan), charcoal or garden var.
- The treated cut stalk is placed in a soil substrate.
- The newly planted plant is not watered for two days. This will allow the slices to dry.
- It is important to ensure optimal care for the new young Phalaenopsis flower.
- After 45 days, new plants will begin to grow from the “hemp”.
- A young peduncle appears, as a rule, six months after planting.
Important! The phalaenopsis orchid used to propagate the orchid plant in the home microclimate must be absolutely healthy. Any deviation from optimal care reduces the chances of growing a full flower.
Now, knowing everything about the orchid, about the propagation of phalaenopsis, for you as a grower to grow a flower on the windowsill - it will not be difficult.