Think Orchids and the word exotic comes to mind. As a graduate in botany, I think of their seeds. Orchids have the world' smallest seeds. They are so beautiful that these days they are also used for wedding decorations and little welcome bouquets. Here is how you can grow some of your own wonderful orchids in some easy steps.
1. Know your orchid.
Orchids like the ones below are the easiest to grow in India.
2. No soil please. Orchids grow best in coconut husks with bits of broken bricks/red tiles, charcoal and moss. Tie this up to a tree trunk where they can enough moisture from the air. Alternatively, use gardening nets, which give the best results as in case of the Oncidium or the dancing girl. You could many of these together along a string and hand them along your portico/ veranda walls. Thus making excellent natural decorations.
3. Give your plants breathing space.Keep the soil adequately loose so they can have plenty of air. While transferring or potting certain pot orchids like the Dendrobium, make sure the roots are not disturbed.
4. Most orchids need the shade, which is why growing them on a shady tree's trunk is the best idea. If not ensure that your orchid gets plenty of shade during the day.
5. Water regularly. Every two days will suffice. Particularly so, if you are from a dry part of the country. Coastal areas tend to be dry especially down west in parts of Kerala like Alappuzha and Kottayam . In such cases, you may want to grow them near a water body like your garden pond, near the water tank on the terrace, your drinking water collector tank, near that always leaking garden tap or someplace else you can come up with, that will ensure your orchids that extra care.
6. Manuring is tricky. This is best done if you know your orchid. Use nitrogen fertilizers or urea-free mixtures, as nitrogen in urea form is not taken up much anyway. Occasionally, or before you transplant any plant soak it in water that has had old iron utensil scrubbers in them. Better still you may use the water that has been lying around in the RUSTED old (probably discarded too) watering can. This gives your plant the needed iron.
Or if you wish to go the traditional way, egg shells, starch water from boiling rice, potatoes peels, used tea powder, bone powder, crushed banana peels, can work wonders too! Alternatively, if you have an old garden can or pot, make some dry leaf mulch by soaking dry leaves in it for a weak. This also makes for an excellent nutrient source once the water has turned brown.
Did you know?
Spoiled milk products like sweets, buttermilk,cheese, chaas, yogurt, sour milk can also be used as a nutrient mix for orchids.
 |
| My beloved Dendrobium Orchids |
7. Most importantly, love your orchid and it will blossom throughout the year in gratitude. :)
No comments:
Post a Comment