Not only does it taste and smell good, cinnamon is a natural fungicide, which makes it useful for protecting your orchid plant from fungus and bacteria. How to Use It: After you have trimmed your orchid's leaves, stem or roots, sprinkle a little dusting of cinnamon over the areas.
many people will say that they've used cinnamon for years and years on orchid roots and never have had a problem. That's fine—if it works for you.
So what's an easy way to encourage your orchid to spike? Give it a little cool air! Place your orchid in a cooler part of your home for about a week, avoiding cold blasts of air from fans or air conditioners. An optimal nighttime temperature is between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you notice your orchid's leaves are withered and droopy, this could mean your plant is not getting enough water or humidity. Remember, an orchid's natural habitat is a humid climate, so your plant needs moisture. We recommend watering your orchid with three ice cubes once a week to avoid this problem.
The keys to simulating root growth in orchids are increased humidity, warm temperatures and moisture around the base of the stem. Root stimulants such as fertilizer and seaweed extract can also promote root growth. The roots of any plant are literally its beating heart.
Most orchids will have aerial roots reaching out into the air, rather than digging down into the potting media. These roots are looking for a tree branch to attach to. These roots absorb moisture from the air. Do not trim off these wandering roots, just let them do their thing.
Milk contains nitrogen-building protein that your orchids require. Feed the plants by mixing one part of milk to four parts of water. Use this every two weeks. Used tea bags, which are high in nitrogen, are especially good for orchids.
You may also want to mist the orchid with a spray bottle daily. Misting gives the orchid more humidity but does not create a soggy root environment. It is best to put your orchid where it will receive medium indirect sunlight.
The short answer is no–plants naturally use the process of photosynthesis to produce their own sugar—or glucose—as they need it. By additional sugar being added, no matter how little the amount, plants could potentially be harmed rather than helped.
Of all of the more commonly available orchids, only Phalaenopsis (the moth orchid) will re-bloom from its old spike. Phalaenopsis will generally re-bloom given a little extra care.
If you don't have any, powdered cinnamon (which has similar antimicrobial properties) sprinkled on to the roots and soil surface just before watering is traditionally used in Asia for the same purpose. Good luck!
Even with its strong smell, cinnamon will not cause any harm to the plants. In fact, not only will it not injure plants, its antibacterial qualities can also help to prevent mold or mildew from appearing on the soil surface as well, further protecting the plants.
One tip every houseplant lover should know about is the occasional use of cinnamon. Cinnamon comes from the bark of a tropical tree, and has some amazing antifungal, antibacterial, and drying properties that come in very handy around the house.
You can also make coffee ground tea which is an excellent additive to make orchid fertilizer. Add one part ground coffee juice to three parts soft water, use it once a month during the growing phase.
Coffee grounds are an excellent fertilizer, especially for orchids and African violets.
A mild dishwashing detergent can serve as an effective treatment for aphids and other pests. Simply mix 1 tablespoon of liquid dishwashing detergent with a half gallon of water. Pour into a clean spray bottle.
Overall, the most common reason that orchids fail to bloom is insufficient light. The Phalaenopsis and Paphiopedilum orchids are usually happy with the filtered light in a windowsill but many other varieties need more light than that.
After a period of rest, the plant will send out a new flower stalk, which may come from the existing stalk or from new leaves at the base of the plant. Give the old flower stalk a chance to rebloom; there is nothing to lose. Take a close look at the old flower stalk.
What About Watering Orchids In Bloom? Regularly water orchids that are blooming, growing new roots, or new leaves. While some orchids such as Cattleyas and Dendrobiums like to dry out between watering, others such as Phalaenopsis and Paphiopedilums like to remain evenly moist.
If the orchid air roots are firm and white, they are healthy and you don't need to do anything at all. Just accept that this is normal behavior. According to orchid experts, you should definitely not remove the roots. There's a good chance you'll harm the plant or introduce a dangerous virus.
If any of your orchid's roots are rotten, it's necessary to get rid of them as soon as possible. Look for brown, black, squishy, or spotted roots. All rotten roots will need to be removed for your plant to survive.
After the flowers drop from the orchid you have three choices: leave the flower spike (or stem) intact, cut it back to a node, or remove it entirely. Remove the flower spike entirely by clipping it off at the base of the plant. This is definitely the route to take if the existing stem starts to turn brown or yellow.
Soak for about 10 minutes to saturate. Allow the water to drain out completely; orchids like a good soak but don't tolerate sitting in water. Uneven watering will result in shallow or uneven root growth.