Orchid: winter care
Orchid care is an issue that needs to be taken seriously, with the necessary skills and attention. These tropical plants love warmth and humidity, so for the cold months you need to take certain steps to keep the orchids healthy.
The growth and flowering of orchids depend on the time of year. Most of the species and varieties sold for the home environment are tropical epiphytes. Epiphytes grow on other plants, not in the soil, so they need to be grown in an open-bark environment.
How much light do orchids need?
To develop, all plants need the right amount of light, and even more so for this delicate flower. Insufficient lighting can interfere with the flowering of the orchid. Yellowed leaves mean that the plant does not receive enough natural light.
Orchid in winter on the windowsill. Winter days are shorter and, as a rule, less sunny, so you need to find the perfect place for this plant so that they feel good. They are placed in the sunniest room in the house. If necessary, supplement the natural light with a lamp for lighting.
It is better to choose windows that face north or east. Keep away from south-facing windows, as sunlight may be too direct.
Orchids in winter: ideal temperature
One of the most important points for an orchid in winter is the temperature. It shouldn’t be a problem in the winter months. A short-term decrease in temperature is acceptable if the plant does not freeze, the ideal temperature for this flower should be in the range from 10 to 27 ° C. Many orchids prefer a decrease in temperature at night, for some it helps to stimulate flowering.
Windows where orchids are often found can be cold, especially at night in winter. On cold nights, it is recommended to move the plants away from the window or use bubble wrap as insulation between the glass and the plants.
Since orchids like humidity, and winter is the dry season, do not put an orchid next to a radiator or an air conditioner vent. Warm, dry air for heating the house can pose a danger to the orchid. Dry hot air is no better for the plant than cold, air from the heating system can dry it out.
Pay attention! If the plant is in the way of the vent, it is moved. Similarly, do not put a flower next to the doorway, which will open frequently and can cause drafts. Try to protect the orchid from drafts! If the orchid’s buds fall off, most likely, it is exposed to a draft.
How to water orchids in winter
In summer or spring, they need more water than in the cold winter period, when water needs to be given more sparingly. How often to water an orchid in winter? Excess water can harm this plant and cause, for example, root rot.
Additional information! The dangers of excessive watering should be feared, pay attention to the roots of the plant. A well-watered orchid has plump and green roots.
In the care of orchids in the winter months, check whether the roots of the orchid have become dry and gray. If the roots begin to dry, you need to slightly change the watering regime to give the plant the extra moisture it needs. They also look closely at the leaves of the plant. If they are wrinkled, they increase watering accordingly. You can increase the amount of water used, or the frequency of watering.
In winter, orchids need less water, but they still need air humidity no less than in summer. The problem is that the air is drier in winter. You can put an air humidifier in the room or spray the plant with water from a spray a couple of times a day, put the pot on a tray with pebbles, making sure that the roots are not in the water.
Many orchids need a rest period, usually in winter. At this time, they grow slowly, strengthen their root system, grow leaves and accumulate energy for the next burst of growth and flowering. As a rule, the orchid can bloom again every 8-12 months.
They do not need as many nutrients as in summer, so in winter they do not apply too much fertilizer, give the plants a rest. Orchids are fertilized once a month with a balanced fertilizer that dissolves in water. Reduce the amount of fertilizers to half, and apply them less often.
Transplanting orchids in winter
Transplanting an orchid is important to ensure the success of cultivation.
The main ways to find out if an orchid needs a transplant: if the white roots stick out of the container. This is a sure sign that the plant has grown out of the pot. Another reason for transplanting is when the soil begins to break down. Orchids grow in a very dense environment, and when it breaks down into smaller pieces, it is depleted. You need to change the environment to give the orchid roots the air they need.
When to transplant orchids is the choice of the time of year that is best suited for the plant. If orchids with pseudobulbs are transplanted immediately after flowering and before the roots begin to grow, all the others can be transplanted at any time, although disturbing the plant during flowering is usually not the best idea.
Orchid: care after purchase in winter at home
Orchids are currently the most popular indoor plant, and they can be purchased in a variety of stores.
Choose the right day to buy an orchid. If it is taken out into the cold or into a cold vehicle, it may be damaged or die. When buying an orchid, you need to wrap it in the store to protect it from temperature changes after it leaves the store.
Symptoms indicating cold damage usually become noticeable a few days after exposure to critically low temperatures.
If the flower has been exposed to cold, the leaves appear burned, and the flowers begin to wither or grow more slowly.
Additional information! If an orchid has suffered from frost or cold in winter, it can still be saved by giving damaged plants time to recover, eliminating fertilizers, reducing watering and increasing humidity, as well as keeping them warm and away from direct light.
When new sprouts appear, a very light dose of fertilizer is applied and a weekly liquid nutrition program is continued.
To see an orchid bloom, you need to know about its needs and protect it from the cold. There is no reason why the orchid will not be able to survive the winter months. With proper care of the orchid in winter, it will be a thriving plant in spring.
