Paphiopedilum management methods in four seasons

Spring maintenance

Breeding sites

Since Paphiopedilum grows in a dark and weak-light environment, it should not be exposed to direct sunlight. It needs to be shaded by about 50-60%. When placed in a greenhouse for cultivation, it also needs to block some light. It should not be exposed to the sun to avoid burns. When cultivating outdoors, you should choose a place that is not exposed to rain and has good ventilation.

Watering

Its growing area is a humid area, so it likes water all year round. When the surface is slightly dry, you should replenish water in time and spray water on the leaves appropriately to promote the growth of new buds. During the rainy season, it is necessary to observe how dry the surface is.

fertilizer

When new shoots begin to grow, fertilizer should be applied once a week. Before use, you need to read the instructions of this brand in detail and mix it according to the indicated concentration. It should not be too thin or too thick.

Repotting

Repotting should be done after flowering and before new roots grow. The suitable temperature should be 12-13℃ at night. Repotting needs to be done every one or two years. If you want a large plant, you will need a large pot for transplanting. If you want to propagate, you need to divide the plant. Since Paphiopedilum does not have many roots, you must be careful not to break the roots.

Summer maintenance

Cultivation site

The sunlight is strong in summer, and after the plum rain, the temperature will rise and the shading rate will increase to 60-70%. Whether it is cultivated in a greenhouse or indoors, shade is required to prevent sunburn on the leaves. When using a shade net, try to keep it away from the orchid plants. If you are too close, it will not only hinder ventilation, but will also condense heat and make the orchid plants fragile. If the unspotted slipper is over-shaded, the leaves will become too long and droop.

Watering

Paphiopedilum grows rapidly in summer and will dry up if it is not watered regularly, so it needs to be watered sufficiently in the morning and evening. When the temperature exceeds 30℃ during the day and exceeds 25℃ at night, you should replenish water in time. If it is too hot indoors at night, the Paphiopedilum should be moved outdoors for cultivation.

fertilizer

Summer is the peak growth season for Paphiopedilum, so fertilizer is indispensable. Spray once a week until mid-September

Autumn maintenance

Cultivation site

In autumn, the days are shorter and the sunlight is weaker. At this time, you need to remove a layer of the shading net and maintain 50-60 degrees of shading.

Watering

Generally, watering should be done when the surface of the planting material is dry. Since it has entered a period of growth cessation, the absorption of water is not as good as in summer. Water approximately once every 2-3 days. The air is dry in this season and the surface of the planting materials is also prone to dryness. It is not advisable to water too much at this time. Special attention should be paid to orchids with flower buds.

fertilizer

Fertilize 2-3 times a month, the same as in summer, but when the plants are in bloom, fertilization needs to be stopped.

Removal of old leaves

When this year's growth ends, the leaves grown in the previous two years will turn brown and appear to be about to wither. This is not a sign of disease, but just an aging phenomenon, and they need to be carefully removed or cut off.

weeding

There will be no such problem when growing in urban areas. When cultivating in the suburbs or countryside, great troubles will be encountered. Therefore, in early and late autumn, the grass needs to be removed by the roots, otherwise there will be endless troubles.

Winter maintenance

Cultivation site

In winter, the sunlight is weaker and the daytime is shorter, so the shading net originally used can be removed. However, the newly built greenhouse has a high emission capacity. For safety reasons, a layer of shading net must be used to block light and maintain a 30% shading degree. The indoor daylight hours are short, so there is no need for shade. The temperature is low at night in winter, so it needs to be placed in a greenhouse and kept ventilated.

Watering

As the flower diameter grows, the water requirement also increases significantly. At this time, special attention should be paid to prevent the Paphiopedilum from being too dry. It is best to water the plants before noon in winter, when the surface of the plant material appears dry.

humidity

The slipper blue likes to survive in a high-humidity environment. The normal humidity should be kept below 60%-80%. When the humidity is insufficient, it will have an adverse effect on the growth of the slipper and cause the plant to weaken. When the humidity is not enough, you can water the ground to increase the humidity, or spray water on the leaves. Flower buds that have already grown and orchids that are blooming do not need to be fertilized.

Erecting pillars

During the growth period of flower buds, if the air is too hot or too much fertilizer is applied, the flower stems will not be able to develop, and the flowers will bloom downwards. In order to avoid this kind of situation, it needs to be fixed with ropes.