How to care for newly bought spring orchids

1. Soil

If the original soil is not good enough when you first buy it, you can change the pot and soil. It has very high requirements for soil, which requires good air permeability and rich nutrients, and also has certain requirements for pH. It is best to use slightly acidic soil, not alkaline soil, to prevent the soil from becoming compacted. The soil can be prepared with leaf mold, sand, charcoal powder, and base fertilizer such as wood ash can be added. Be sure not to damage the root system when repotting. You can cut off the damaged roots.

2. Temperature

Chunlan likes a warm environment very much, so be sure to adjust the room temperature when you first bring it home. It is best to give it an indoor temperature of 15-20℃. The temperature during winter should not be lower than 10℃, and should not be higher than 35℃ in summer. If the temperature is not properly controlled, it may cause problems such as dry and yellow leaves.

3. Watering

Don't rush to water it when you just buy it. Although it likes a humid environment, you should avoid water accumulation at the roots. But during the growth period, it must be provided with sufficient water. During the hottest time of summer, water it twice a day, and when the temperature is lower in winter, water it once every four or five days.

4. Lighting

Don’t expose it to too strong sunlight when you just bring it home. Chunlan likes gentle scattered light best. Therefore, it needs to be shaded in the summer and placed in the sunniest spot in the winter. During its growth period, generally from April to June, it is best to have more than 8 hours of diffuse light every day.

5. Fertilization

Chunlan has a certain demand for fertilizer, and it only needs to be fertilized during the growth period. From April to June, you can generally apply fertilizer every week or so, but don't apply too much fertilizer. In September and October, you can apply fertilizer every ten days. The temperature in winter is generally below 10℃, so there is no need to apply fertilizer.