this is not a piece of cake. In flower shops, these plants tempt with a storm of flowers, but in the privacy of your home they can be really capricious. All it takes is one mistake when watering, or the soil being too compact, to see dry, decaying leaves instead of new buds all day long.
If you dream of an orchid that will grow like a weed and, use a clever trick. Instead of throwing away the drink cork, put it in a pot. The orchid will come back to life faster than you think.
There is a good reason why you should put corks in your orchid pot. Although few people realize it, This is one of the best types of substrate for this species (next to pine bark), or rather additives to it.
Bottle sealants obtained from the bark of cork oak are characterized by limited water absorption and significantly reduce the risk of developing some diseases, such as fungus or mold.
As much as about 90 percent of their volume is air, which is beneficial for orchids that prefer airy soil. This especially applies to varieties such as: Aerangis, Aerides, Angraecum czy Vanda.
Using this “orchid fertilizer” is very simple. So if you want to improve the “living” conditions of your plants, supporting their development, which often also results in better flowering, without hesitation, crumble the cork and throw it into the pot along with the soil.
Of course, before After removing it from the bottle, it must be thoroughly disinfected with boiling water. After grinding, the pieces should be about a centimeter in size. This is important because then they will be properly permeable.
Remember that orchids also require watering, although it should not be too intense and frequent. If their roots are silvery or white, it usually means they are already thirsty for water.
Light green indicates that it will need to be watered soon, but it is still a bit moist. Dark green, in turn, is a signal that the plant has a sufficient level of humidity.
If you want a beautiful, blooming plant, you also need to remember about the appropriate position for the orchid. This flower loves light, but does not like direct sun, that burns its leaves. An eastern or western window sill will work best for it.
