How to grow orchids using the wet method

Orchid Planting Environment

When using the wet method to grow orchids, the temperature and humidity must be properly controlled.

It is best to use a fully enclosed or semi-enclosed orchid shed with good ventilation and lighting, and try to avoid various pollution sources such as oil smoke, dust, etc.

Choose a basin

Clay pots, ceramic pots, wooden pots and plastic pots are all ideal pots for growing orchids, especially plastic pots. Because the wet method of cultivation is adopted, the orchid pot selected should be thin and small.

A suitable flowerpot is one that allows most of the orchid's roots to extend naturally in the pot, with the pseudobulb slightly lower than the pot surface. Of course, if the orchid plant is particularly tall or there are too many seedlings, the pot should be enlarged appropriately. For orchid species with relatively fine root systems such as spring orchids and winter orchids, the height of the orchid pot can be appropriately reduced, or the thickness of the water filtration layer at the bottom of the pot can be increased.

Selection of planting materials

The planting material used in wet orchid cultivation is mainly coarse planting material, and its preparation should strive to be "loose, breathable, water-draining and moisturizing". The general preparation ratio is: 50% leaf mold, 15% granular bark, 15% granular burnt soil, 10% foam plastic particles, 7% granular red clay, and 3% snake wood.

Moisture Management

The "wet" in wet orchid cultivation refers to the emphasis on water management: first, appropriately increase the air humidity, second, increase the amount of water supplied, and third, increase the frequency of watering. In water management, heavy water management is advocated, and the air humidity should be around 70%; water thoroughly when watering. Under normal circumstances, the planting material in the orchid pot is moist at any time; the frequency of watering should be increased.

The wet management method has higher requirements on water quality than the dry management method. Fresh rainwater is the best water for watering orchids. It is not advisable to use tap water directly for a long time; when using well water, a small amount of oxalic acid should be added to precipitate calcium ions.

Fertilizer management

It is extremely important to apply fertilizer at the right time. Generally, light, thin and frequent fertilizer application is recommended. You can use homemade organic fertilizers, or you can directly apply commercially available orchid fertilizers, such as Magic Fertilizer, Gaocui, Orchid King, etc.

Lighting and ventilation

Increase the amount of light appropriately to meet the temperature requirements of orchids. Appropriate light can enhance the plant's resistance to stress, kill harmful pathogens, and promote the normal germination of leaf buds and flower buds and normal flowering of orchids.

Ventilation is also an important condition for orchid growth. The flow of air can not only inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria, but also facilitate the circulation of air in the planting material in the pot, and can take away the moisture in the heart of the orchid and the surrounding waste gas and miscellaneous gas that is not conducive to the growth of orchids.

Pest control

Prevention should be carried out first. Pay attention to the cleanliness of the environment and use sunlight exposure to disinfect.

The second is treatment. For orchids with leaf diseases such as anthrax, powdery mildew, black spot, etc., you can directly spray them with methyl thiophanate, carbendazim, and segao, and pay attention to promptly cutting off the diseased parts and dead branches and leaves; for orchids infected with viral diseases, they should be burned resolutely.

In addition, insects must be killed in a timely manner. You can use sprays such as dimethoate and malathion to kill them, but avoid using pestichlorians. Also pay attention to prevent ants.