Characteristic Red Orchid

There are a large number of species and varieties of orchids with similar characteristics. The red orchid attracts attention with unusual flowering, but there are a number of features to care for it.

Red orchid

Characteristics of the red orchid

The red orchid is a hybrid species that belongs to the epiphyte In tropical forests these flowers usually grow on tree trunks and receive all the nutrients from the environment, while they are not parasites.

The species is unpretentious to the conditions of detention . If you recreate the conditions, as in the wild, then the orchid will bloom 2 times a year for 4-5 months. There are cases when the flowering period lasted 8 months.

Description of the stem and leaves

This is a fragile and refined plant, which is monopodial. It has a thin and long stem, in the lower part of which grows from 4 to 6 evergreen leaves.They are dense and fleshy, rich green in color, although their hue varies from light to dark green.

The leaves age slowly: they turn yellow first and then die, but young leaves immediately grow in their place, reaching up to 50 cm long and 10 cm wide.

Characteristics of inflorescences and flowers

The number of inflorescences, according to the description of this species, is ambiguous, it varies, depending on conditions maintenance and care. With the right content, a red orchid is able to give up to 40 inflorescences per flowering. One or several flowers appear from one inflorescence. Their total number on one stem varies from 40 to 50 pieces.

Red orchid flowers have a pleasant sweet aroma. They have slightly rounded petals, similar to butterfly wings. Red orchids come in different shades. The color of the flower changes from delicate scarlet to rich red. The flowers have 3 sepals and 3 petals, the middle of which forms a lip filled with nectar.

Features of care

Caring for a red orchid is simple and almost no different from caring for other species of this flower. But there are some nuances, compliance with which allows you to extend the flowering period and improve plant growth.They follow simple rules:

• ensure proper lighting;
• maintain the necessary temperature and humidity;
• properly water and fertilize the plant;
• transplant the culture in a timely manner.

They also monitor the health of orchids. In a healthy plant, the roots should be light green. If they are brown or dark gray, the flower has a fungal disease or damage to the root system.

Pay attention to the leaves. Healthy leaves are dense, resilient and green. Problems are indicated by spots or dark spots on the leaf plate, dents or mechanical damage.

Lighting

Red orchids are light-loving plants. For their normal growth, bright lighting is required. But direct sunlight damages the flower by burning leaves, so they create diffused light. Depending on the lighting, the leaves are able to change shape and shade: with enough light, they become light green or have a reddish tint; and in poor lighting conditions they become dark emerald and decrease.

The optimal daylight hours for a plant are 12-15 hours, so in winter, when this period of time is short, additional illumination is created using conventional or fluorescent lamps. The most suitable place for a flower is the east or west side.

Temperature

The optimal temperature regime during the day and night is different. Day orchids require at least 20 ° C, but the ideal temperature is 27 ° C. At night, the temperature should not fall below 18 ° C. It is important to adhere to such regimes so that the plant grows well and blooms for a long time. The difference between daytime and nighttime temperatures should be within 5 ° C.

In the fall, growers advise keeping the flower in a room with an air temperature of about 16 ° for 1-2 months: this contributes to the formation of buds. In the room where the flower is located, air circulation is created. The plant is sensitive to drafts and low temperatures. The fact that he is cold can be judged by the shriveled lower leaves.

Humidity

Red phalaenopsis prefers high humidity. In hot weather, the plant needs to be sprayed with warm water. Also, the procedure should be carried out in winter, when the air in the room is dry due to central heating. You should not spray the plant if the flower is in the sun, as well as during flowering, so that water does not fall on the flowers. The most appropriate time for this is morning or afternoon. Allowed to spray at night if the flower is in the room, and not on the balcony.

For spraying, you can use clean melt or rain water. Due to the tap water, a white coating forms on the leaves.Constant humidity is also provided in another way – small stones are poured into a flower tray and water is poured, and then a pot of orchid is placed in it. If the humidity level is sufficient, the roots at the ends will be green.

Spraying red orchids

Watering

This species is distinguished by the surface structure of the root system. Therefore, the flower receives all the nutrients necessary for life through watering the leaves. For irrigation, as well as for spraying, it is necessary to use warm rain or snow water. When there is no way to get one, it is better to water the plant with boiled, settled water. To avoid rotting and death of the orchid, you must not allow water to get on the growth point.

There is another option for watering – you should lower the flower pot in a bucket of water for 20 minutes. But after this procedure, you should put it in a pan so that the glass has excess water. In the period when the orchid has not yet begun to bloom, watering is carried out every 7-10 days. In the summer, during the hot season, you need to water more often – every 2-4 days. If water enters the leaf sinuses, it must be absorbed with a cotton pad.

Fertilizer

Fertilizing is recommended during active growth.You can not feed the plant immediately after its purchase, since the orchid takes time to adapt to new living conditions, and this can cause stress. Also, do not fertilize the flower during the dormant period, which begins at the end of flowering.

As mineral fertilizers, it is better to use aqueous solutions rather than fertilizers in the form of tablets, since the tablets are distributed unevenly in the substrate. Buy better drugs designed specifically for orchids. You should pay attention to the level of nitrogen in fertilizers, since a large amount of it can harm the plant. Florists recommend fertilizing with a frequency of 20-25 days and combine this procedure with watering.

Features of transplantation

Transplantation is necessary in cases when:

• the flower is unable to stand on its own and constantly turns over;
• the tips of the roots appeared on the surface of the substrate;
• a small amount of the substrate was introduced;
• the substrate lost its useful properties;
• the lower leaves began to fall;
• most of the roots are spoiled.

Usually the orchid is transplanted every 2 years after the end I’m flowering. The pot should be larger than the previous one so that the flower has the opportunity to further grow and develop. The substrate should be well-drained, consisting of wood bark, pebbles, lowland peat, polystyrene chips, pieces of charcoal.

The most suitable transplant method is transfer. For this, the substrate is well moistened so that the roots can easily be released from it; and then gently remove the flower from the pot, clean the remaining substrate and place it in a new container. Tamp the substrate should not be. It is recommended to reduce watering and put the plant in shadow for several days.

Conclusion

The red orchid has a bright and attractive color, so it fits well into any interior and decorates the house. It is not as whimsical to the conditions of detention as other varieties. So that the plant grows well and the flowering period is long, it is provided with the correct watering, temperature conditions, lighting and top dressing.