 |
Why are the leaves of my orchid soft ?
When leaves become soft it indicates that the plant needs watering. There are two ways to explain this:
- The first being logical enough as it is easy to understand that the plant has not been sufficiently watered.
It should be re-hydrated with a regular watering routine (in a soaking manner) and you should maintain a sufficient level of moisture around the plant permanently.
See our care instructions chapter and look out for our watering tips.
- The second explanation is a common one: the plant was watered excessively, and the roots have rotted as a result.
It can no longer absorb the water from regular watering.
Paradoxically the dehydration stems from an excess of water.
When this occurs, it is often very difficult for the plant to survive. It must be urgently repotted by replacing the entire compost and by drastically cutting all the rotten roots.
In this situation, we would recommend a specific homemade compost: add 1/3 sphagnum moss for 2/3 of compost.
Is the flowering stem to be cut when the flowering season is complete ?
Yes, you must cut the flowering stem at the end of the flowering period, with the exception of varieties such as the Paphiopedilum, the Psychopsis, and certain botanical species of Phalaenopsis).
These specific types indeed benefit from successive flowering periods.
How far up the flowering stem should I cut ?
For Phalaenopsis varieties: count up to a couple of knots two or three knots from the base of the stem and cut above the last knot. In 80% of cases, a new inflorescence will develop from one of these knots. If not, the plant will eventually produce a new flowering stem from between the leaves.
For other orchids (except for those subject to successive blooming periods), we advise you to cut the flowering stem to 2 or 3 cm from the base.
Make sure that the tool used has been alcohol-sterilized prior to cutting.
Why won't my orchid produce flowers a second time ?
The main causes usually are:
- The plant does not get enough daylight.
- Fertilising is not applied often enough, if at all.
- The orchid in question could be a specie that needs to undergo sharper temperature variations between day and night time in order to flower.
Check that the orchid is not a plant that thrives in cold or temperate climates only.
Go to our care instructions chapter and check out the paragraphs on light, temperature and compost.
When do I re-pot my orchid ?
Generally, an orchid should be repotted every two years outside of its flowering period and preferably during a period of vegetative activity (formation of new roots and new shoots).
What substrate to use in order to repot ?
A substrate blend of pine bark and expanded clay can be used and added to the sphagnum moss. The pure form of the sphagnum moss can be used also, but it requires potting every year, and a much less frequent watering.
How to treat my orchid against cochineals ?
The only effective treatment is to apply a specific insect repellent against scale insects. These treatments are found in any nursery. (Please note: there are no specific products for orchids). The product should be applied by spraying the entire plant, including under the leaves. Reapply 8 days after the first spraying because the product only reaches the insect without affecting the eggs at first. Do not use products in an aerosol form, but use water-based products when you can.
For more information on any of the above topics, see our Care instructions chapter or enquire about our exhaustive list of books |
|
