Raising orchids is like managing a long-term relationship, which requires time, patience, and just the right amount of "photosynthesis". Speaking of which, this story of orchids and light really makes me love and hate, and listen to me slowly.
Orchid, this girl, is naturally beautiful, but she is also a "squeamish bag". She is not like those thick branches and plants, which can thrive in any place. The light that orchids need must be gentle and long-lasting, just like the love of our middle-aged people, plain but deep.
At first, I didn't understand that. I thought it would be enough to put the orchid on the balcony and let her bask in the sun every day. Who knows, it didn't take long for this orchid girl to start "losing her temper". The tips of the leaves began to burn yellow, and the leaves drooped listlessly, as if to complain to me: "The sun you give is too dazzling!" ”
It was then that I realized that orchids don't like strong direct sunlight. What she prefers is the kind of scattered light, like the afterglow of the setting sun, soft and warm. So, I started to build a shade net for her, carefully adjusting the light intensity and time, for fear of upsetting her again. According to my observations and records, when the shade net reduces the light intensity to 50%-70% of the original light, the orchid grows at its best, with green leaves and good gloss.
Slowly, I discovered that Orchid Girl actually has her "little temper" as well. When the light is insufficient, she will become lazy, and the sprouts will not rise; And when the light is too strong, she will be in a mood like a little princess. It's a real headache for me. During the orchid's growth cycle, I found that she needed at least 6-8 hours of diffused light per day. When the light hours are below this range, her growth rate slows down significantly or even stagnates.
Later, in an exchange with flower friends, I learned about the method of "filling light". It turns out that in the case of insufficient light, we can use artificial light sources to supplement the light of orchids. Through research and experiments, I found that the use of LED grow lights to fill the orchid with the best effect. The lamp mimics the spectrum of natural light and provides the required light conditions for the orchid.
So, I started trying to fill in the light for the orchid girl. This special "light meal" is delivered to her at a regular time every day, usually during times when natural light is insufficient, such as cloudy, rainy days or when there are short hours of sunshine in winter. The time of supplemental light is generally controlled in 2-4 hours, which can be flexibly adjusted according to the weather and the growth of orchids. Gradually, I noticed that she became more energetic, and new sprouts sprung up one by one. According to my records, the growth rate of orchids increased by more than 30% after supplemental light, and the flowers were more vivid and fragrant.
Now, I've mastered how orchids and light get along. Watching her thrive under my care every day fills my heart with a sense of accomplishment. This "photosynthetic relationship" with orchids made me deeply appreciate the fun and challenge of raising flowers. The application of this method of supplemental light has given me a deeper understanding and practice of orchid maintenance.