A succulent of the oleander family, the bulbous orchid is native to eastern Asia and Australia, and it is ideal for growing up as a houseplant, with attractive waxy leaves with shiny leaves and fresh bulbous flowers.
Curly bulbous orchid hoya carnosa compacta
First, the key to promoting flowering:
1. Compact pots
To make the root system of the bulb orchid grow all over the pot soil, so that its growth is stressful, it is easier to breed flower buds, if it is planted with too large pots, or the seedlings are too weak, the root system is not growing well, which will lead to no flowering. Flower friends plant potted bulb orchids do not use large pots, the root system is not full of pot soil, do not change pots, you can choose to change after flowers.
Large leaf bulb orchid Hoya macrophylla
2. Phosphorus and potassium fertilizer
In addition to allowing the roots to grow in the pot soil, it is also necessary to pay attention to the regular supplementation of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers during the peak growing season, and in the spring and autumn, you can sprinkle a little slow-release fertilizer with more phosphorus and potassium elements in the pot soil, such as Ao lu A2. In other seasons, if the temperature is between 18 and 28 degrees, potassium dihydrogen phosphate or other flower-promoting fertilizers can be supplemented every two or three weeks.
Curl bulbous orchid orchid Hoya carnosa Compacta Variegata
3. Control watering
Bulbophyllum orchid does not like water very much, before each watering, you can use your hands to open the soil to touch it, the soil surface is dry below 3 cm, and then water it again, or wait for the leaves to be slightly soft and then watered. In the summer, the heat is watered through, and occasionally a little water is poured on a clear evening.
Second, the environment for growth
If it is in the south of the mainland, including Liangguang, Yunnan, Fujian, southern Taiwan and other regions, you can directly plant bulbous orchids outdoors. Of course, it will be easier to manage it indoor potted plants, it prefers bright scattered light, the maintenance environment should avoid freezing, as long as the root system is full of pot soil, it is easy to flower.
Wind chime ball orchid Hoya archboldiana
The leaves of the bulb are fleshy, the surface of the leaves is shiny, and the leaves are usually ovate or oval leaves, with different morphologies, and even varieties of curly leaves.
If you want to raise a good bulb orchid, in addition to having a compact pot, you must have more scattered light, but also set up a small flower stand in the pot in advance, so that it can be wrapped and climbed to grow. Or let its branches and leaves grow low and grow into a hanging pot plant.
3. The flowers of the bulbous orchid
The bulbous large flowers of the bulbous orchid are composed of many star-like florets, the flower colors are common pink, white, red, etc., the flowers have a strong smell (the smell is stronger at night), and even sometimes you can see the nectar dripping from the flowers.
The flower stem of the bulb grows from between the leaves and branches, that is, from the leaf axils, and after flowering, its flower stem must not be cut off, because this flower stem can also regenerate new flowers.
The main flowering season of the bulb is from spring to the end of summer, and 10 to 50 star-shaped florets can bloom on the same flower stem.
Fourth, the skills of the conservation of bulbous orchids
1. Proper sunlight
The key to maintaining potted bulbous orchids is to choose a good location, which is particularly suitable on the east-facing balcony or window sill, and it is best to have more than 2 to 4 hours of light every day, to avoid direct light or excessive light, and the leaves will be sunburned.
If it is raised on a balcony with more sunshine, it needs to be put on a shade net, especially in the summer when it is hot; If it is in the winter and spring when the temperature is low, the light is softer, you can bask in more sun.
2. Pots and soil
Planting bulbs must not use too large pots, bulbous orchids have a characteristic, that is, the root system must be full of pot soil, it can flower, if the root system has not grown full of soil, it has been growing roots, will not flower.
The soil of the conservation of bulbous orchids must be as loose and breathable as possible, the drainage must be good, there is no need to have too strong water retention capacity, and it can be planted with common peat soil, fine coconut bran, coarse coconut shell, perlite, bark and other granular stones.
Bulbophyllum squareis (square leaves) Hoya rotundiflora
Conservation of potted bulbophyllum also does not need to be fertilized frequently, its best growing season is in the spring and autumn, the temperature is best maintained at 16 ~ 29 degrees, its growth is the best. Winter maintenance temperature must be kept above 4 degrees to avoid frost.
3. Breeding skills
It is also very simple to propagate bulbs, you can use the method of branch cuttings to propagate, you can also press the longer branches into the soil, and carry out strip propagation.
Both propagation methods are particularly simple, you can put the cut branches in the water moss, the cuttings success rate is very high, that is, keep the water moss moist, the branches will soon grow new roots and small shoots. As long as the temperature is 20 to 25 degrees, this method is basically 100% successful, interested flower friends can try it.