Оrchid
The orchid fascinates us with its fantastic flowers and the indoor varieties are not that difficult to grow. History, varieties, planting, and care: become an orchid expert!
The term "orchid" refers to the whole family of plants whose genus Dendrobium and Bulbophyllum are the most common in nature. There are also many hybrid genres with heterogeneous shapes and colors. With more than 20,000 species, this family of plants is considered one of the most diverse in the world. We can still distinguish between two types of orchids: terrestrial and epiphytes. Although many orchids are native to tropical regions such as Asia or Central America, they are very well grown in temperate areas such as France.
Scientific name: Bulbophyllum, dendrobium
Family: Orchid
Flowers: White flowers, yellow flowers, pink flowers, red flowers, purple flowers
Landing: Landing in March, Landing in April, Landing in May
Exposure: Sun, Partial Shadow
Soil type: Orchid mix
Usage: in a pot, suspended
Flowering: Flowering in January, Flowering in February, Flowering in March, Flowering in April, Flowering in May, Flowering in June, Flowering in July, Flowering in August, Flowering in September, Flowering in October, Flowering in November, Flowering in December
Leaves: Resilient
Diseases, pests: scaly insects, black aphids, red spiders
Irrigation: moderate (2 to 4 times a month depending on the season)
Longevity: Long-term
Height: 10-100 cm
Choice of orchids
Orchids fascinate many people, and the choice is difficult because there are between 20,000 and 30,000 species, all very different shapes and colors, not to mention hybrids.
Three species are easiest to cultivate and which are the most impressive because they have large flowers that remain open for a very long time, from one to three months: Pharenopsis, cattleyas, and cymbidium.
Phalaenopsis has the additional advantage that it can be grown in an apartment. The other two species should indeed have significant temperature differences between day and night, which is impossible in our interiors.
How do you save an orchid every day?
Healthy orchids have beautiful glazed leaves. Place it in a bright place, but avoid direct sunlight and drafts (don't put it outside, for example): you can burn the leaves and fade. First of all, do not water them too much: once every ten days is enough. Use water that is not lime-coated, such as uncontaminated rainwater or spring water. Ideally, you should use a transparent jar to see its roots. Once they become gray/white, the orchid needs watering. To do this, you can water it generously and then put it on the bottom of the sink for about thirty minutes for the water to flow. Never leave a saucer filled, the roots should not remain in standing water.
Orchids appreciate the warm and humid environment. It is important to spray leaves regularly. You can also put them on wet clay balls.
As soon as your plant fades, continue to save it. It is best not to cut the stems if they do not dry out as they bloom again from time to time.
Transplant an orchid
As a rule, a transplant every two years is enough. Doesn't have to have a very deep pot; Use "Special Orchids" compost found in garden centers, polystyrene and pine bark. Do not use too much fertilizer, otherwise, the plant will suffocate. When transplanting, choose a slightly larger pot, orchids like to be in containers that are not too wide. It is also an opportunity to cut off dead roots. Don't remove too much substrate around, just add a little to fill in the gaps in the new pot. Finally, pay attention to insect pests that can colonize the plant: aphids, ticks, scaly insects..... Remember that well-groomed phalaenopsis can live up to 20 years!
Violets
Among the genus Viola, which includes 500 species, we can distinguish between thoughts and violets with very different colors. Originally from Europe, the thoughts are five-petal flowers belonging to the family Violaceae. Learn how to plant, sow, grow and reproduce.
Family: Violaceae
Varieties: "Cinderella", "King", "Princess of Wales", "White Queen", "Swiss Giant", "Frizzle"
Flowers: White flowers, yellow flowers, orange flowers, pink flowers, red flowers, purple flowers
Landing: landing in March, landing in April, landing in May, landing in June, landing in July, landing in August, landing in September, landing in October, landing in November
Exposure: Sun, Partial Shadow
Soil type: light, humus-rich
Application: Solid, edge, stone, seeder
Flowering: Flowering in January, blooming in February, blooming in March, blooming in April, blooming in May, blooming in October, blooming in November, blooming in December (depending on variety and sowing date)
Leaves: Resilient
Disease, pests: aphids, slugs
Watering: Moderate
Longevity: multi-year, biennial, annual
Height: 10-20 cm
Symbolic: thought symbolizes shyness and humility
Healing properties: a plant that soothes migraines, relieves skin problems, urinary infections, and respiratory diseases
Planting violets
These thoughts are like sunny or partially shaded situations. If you live in the south of France, give some shadows. In cooler places, the sun will be appreciated. Choose a cool area, but not a damp one! Dry soil will require watering. In heavy soils, cut out garden soil with sand during planting. You can put your thoughts in a solid, stone or pot. They can withstand down to -15°C, which is worth planting everywhere in France. In a bucket, we put thoughts in the autumn or early spring, excluding frost.
Steps to instill a violet:
- Place lumps in the pelvis with water
- Dig a hole a little wider and deeper than the root ball
- If your land is heavy, place a drainage layer on the bottom of the pit, then mix the garden soil with the sand.
- If your land is poor, add compost to the garden soil
- Place the root ball in the hole so that the leg reaches the ground level.
- Fill the cavities with the backing
- Tamp and water
Sowing thoughts
You can also buy seeds for sowing between June and August.
Steps:
- Fill the box with a special compost and then fill it in
- Sowing seeds without squeezing them too hard
- Cover them with a millimeter of potting soil
- Water spatter
- Keep it wet until the little seedlings show up.
- Repeat them in buckets, keeping some soil around the roots
- Plant in the garden or a pot in the fall
Maintain the violet.
Water regularly in summer (1 to 2 times a week), especially in pots. Never leave the saucer filled with water, the roots may rot. Do not hesitate to cut off the faded flowers to speed up the appearance of new flowers and prolong flowering. In winter, chase your foot to protect it from the cold.
Multiply the violet
In addition to sowing, you can multiply your thoughts by dividing the bundles. To do this, choose a well-developed beam that blooms less. Cut the bundle into several pieces, including roots. Then transplant them by following the landing steps. Separation gives the plants the strength to bloom again.
Violets in pots or planter
Thoughts bring color to the planter or pot. They will decorate your window sills in the shortest possible time. The planting stages are the same as in the ground, well-thought-out to place the drainage layer on the bottom of the pot (clay balls or gravel). The pot must be well drilled at the bottom for the water to be easily washed out. You can add several holes using a drill if there is only one. Place it on regular watering to keep the substrate fresh, but without stagnating water! If you have the opportunity to hang pots, think about Viola wittrockiana, which offers rain from falling purple flowers.
Wild violet
Wild Anyutin eyes, violets tricolor (or alto ordinary), are particularly enduring species: -30 ° C! This is natural in our countries. She enjoys the sun in dry and poor soil. Blossoms from April to October, alternating purple, yellow and white. It is a medicinal plant, it relieves skin problems, urinary tract infections, and respiratory diseases.