Orchids: 12 Simple and Effective Tips to Revive Orchids
Among the most beautiful plants that we all want at home are orchids. But who after buying them has really managed to keep this plant alive and in good condition? Because the most difficult thing is to maintain flowering for as long as possible and to be able to give birth to new buds.
Orchids are one of the most common and beloved flowers. They have striking and exotic colors , and give class and personality to the places where they are located. It is a tropical and perennial plant, but it needs proper treatments.
The orchid is one of the most elegant and refined houseplants and many people despair when the foliage begins to lose its luster and the plant begins to wilt. But we must not lose hope. To make an orchid bloom, it’s simple: you just need to know how to do it!
In the rest of the article, you will see how to take care of orchids thanks to 3 effective and easy tips, even for those who, unfortunately, do not have a green thumb.
1) Check the roots before watering
To find out if your orchid needs watering, look at the appearance and color of the roots. When these become opaque and grayish, it means that irrigation can be done. If they are bright and green, then they don’t need water.
2) Beware of dripping
The number one cause of orchid growth failures is overwatering. This causes the roots to rot and therefore the death of your plant. Water generously, once a week and following the first tip. But above all, drain the pot well, never leave water in the saucer and avoid watering the heart of the foliage as much as possible.
3) Spray the leaves
Remember to spray your orchid’s leaves frequently with a sprayer. If you can, do it once a day. By doing this, you maintain a moist atmosphere near your plant that is very beneficial to it.
4) Use a humidifier tray
To properly moisten the ambient air, you can put a bed of clay or gravel beads on a tray and place the pot of your orchids on top. Make sure there is always a little water at the bottom of the tray. Clay or gravel prevents the roots from getting soaked in water so they don’t rot.
5) Fat in moderation
Orchids don’t need a lot of nutrients. Of course, you can use a special orchid fertilizer, but a homemade organic fertilizer will work just as well. On the other hand, pay attention to overdose, it is necessary to dilute the fertilizer and not give it more than once every fifteen days.
When your plant is in the growth phase, that is, it produces new leaves, give it a nitrogen fertilizer. While if your plant is in flowering, help it by giving it potassium-rich fertilizer. If you can’t tell if your orchid is blooming or growing, add these two types of fertilizer alternately.
6) Clean the leaves
It’s important to clean the leaves of your orchids from time to time because they’re often covered in dust or stained with limescale from the water you use to spray them. To do this, simply use a damp cloth. Be careful, do not use polishes for green plants because they do more harm than good.
7) Be careful with heating
Orchids love humidity and hate hot weather. Therefore, heating in winter is not very popular. In fact, it dries out the air in our house. In winter, avoid putting your plants in overheated rooms or near a heat source.
8) Change them
Orchids are grown in pots. Therefore, it is very easy to move them according to the season to always offer them the best location. For example, you can place your orchids in your living room from April to October and put them in the bathroom in winter so that they don’t have to withstand the dry, hot air of living rooms.
9) Let them sit
Let your orchids rest from time to time. When you see that your plant is healthy, but has not bloomed for 3 or 4 months , place it in a cool room at about 15°C for 3 weeks and reduce the frequency of watering. Your plant will thank you very quickly by making new flowers.
10) After Flowering
After flowering, when all the flowers on a stem have wilted, cut the stem above an “eye” to induce another bloom. Often after the second bloom, the stems dry out completely, consider cutting these stems at the base.
11) Replant
You don’t need to repot your orchids every year. Do this only when you see that the roots of your plants are growing far beyond the pot. This happens about every two to three years. Never repot during the flowering period and in summer.
12) What to Do About Dry Roots
When you see dry roots, you should cut them cleanly with a clean, well-cut instrument. Take special care not to damage the living parts of your plants.
It’s your turn…