Now colorful orchids will show the direction of income, know the pros and cons of this flower cultivation

News Daily Digital Desk: Global demand for flowers is increasing steadily. It is now an important commodity of international trade worth tens of billions of dollars. Flowers are now produced commercially in many countries of the world. Production and marketing of flowers using modern technology has gradually acquired industrial productivity characteristics. Which is now referred to as ‘floral art’. Orchid is an indisputably beautiful flower in the kingdom of flowers. Its reputation is world-class. Attractive colors, variety of structures, long shelf life in vases and fragrances give orchids a classy look. That is why it is respected all over the world. Written by Swami Vivekananda University, Assistant Professor of Agriculture. Tanmay Sarkar.

Many species of orchids can be found growing in different regions of the world. That is why its native habitat is not limited to one place. Orchids are found in the warm regions of Khasia Hills, Thailand, Burma, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Philippines, Mexico, South America and Australia, east of the Himalayas. This flower is a member of the Orchidaceae family. According to information, there are more than 30 thousand species of orchids in the world. The popularity of orchid plants is increasing due to attractive colors, variety of structures, medicinal properties, fragrance, long shelf life. It is best used as a cut flower as it lasts longer in vases. Apart from this, its tree also increases the beauty when it is small.

Classification and Varieties of Orchids:

Orchids can be mainly divided into two categories based on the method of cultivation. They are terrestrial and epiphytic orchids. Orchids that grow in the soil like other flowers and collect food and sap from it are called terrestrial orchids. E.g. Arundina, Calanthe etc. On the other hand, those orchids that grow on the branch or trunk of another tree are called sheltered orchids. This type of orchid produces adventitious roots. Some of these roots are used to cling to the host plant. And the rest hang in the air. Which helps to nourish plants by taking food and water vapor from the air. Dendrobium, Cattleya etc. are such orchids. Terrestrial orchids can be identified by threadlike taproots and paraserous orchids by long, thick and thick roots.

Orchids are arranged under several genera of the Orchidaceae family. The genera to which most orchids belong are Dendronium, Renenthera, Celogyne, Epidendrum, Vanda, Phalaenopsis, Aerides, Cymbidium, Cattleya. Cattleya) etc.

All orchids should be cultivated in their natural habitat. It requires suitable temperature, humidity and shade. Generally warm and humid weather is best for orchid cultivation. Orchids grow best at temperatures between 10-30 degrees depending on the species. A semi-shaded place should be selected for growing this flower. Orchids are being cultivated more and more in polyhouses. Different species of orchids are successfully cultivated in cold and dry climates. Loamy soil is best used for terrestrial orchids. Apart from this, there must be proper ventilation and drainage. For sheltered orchids, balls are usually made of coconut husks and placed on them. All these orchids can grow well without soil.

Orchids can be propagated both sexually and asexually. Because sexual reproduction is difficult, it is usually propagated asexually. Apart from this, numerous seedlings of Cymbidium, Phalaenopsis and Cattleya can be produced successfully through tissue culture. Propagation is done by offset, stem cuttings and cuttings. Offsets from Dendrobium and Epidendrum orchids can be propagated in small pots. Vanda class orchids can be propagated with the help of chess pen. If a wound is made in the stem and tied with a coconut stick, it will grow roots. Then cut the pen and put it in a small tub. Both Renanthera and Vanda can be propagated by cuttings. Since this type of tree grows adventitious roots, its trunk should be cut into several pieces and placed in wet sand or wet coconut husk in a cool and dry place. Generally the best time to graft is in February when new growth starts.

Terrestrial orchids can be grown in tubs, pots or hanging baskets. First, a piece of coal, khoya or jhama should be placed on the inner bottom of one of them and a piece of coconut husk or mango bark should be spread over it. Above all, fill the tub with loamy soil mixed with compost and bone powder and place the orchid seedlings on it in such a way that its roots are spread out. Then water as needed. Do not apply excess water.

Tropical orchids can be grown in wooden or special tubs (which are shallow and made of burnt earth with large holes in the bottom and sides) or bamboo baskets. In case of growing on wood, the orchid seedling should be tied to a piece of mango or jarul wood with copper wire. While tying, care should be taken that its roots are evenly spread around. Thick and thick roots do not need to be covered with coconut shell. But in case of relatively weak and narrow roots, they have to be covered with coconut husk. Within a few days, new orchid roots will emerge and cling to the piece of wood. A hanging tub can be a terracotta tub as described earlier or a bamboo or wooden basket. The roots, bark, coconut husks, wood and bamboo chips of the big tree ferns should be cut into pieces and mixed with some pieces of charcoal and 10 grams of bone powder. The bottom of the tub or jar should be filled with one-third of the clay brick, and the orchid seedlings should be placed on it and its roots should be spread. This mixture should be mixed with a stick and inserted into the gap between the holes of jhama brick and solidified. The air around the orchid should always be kept moist. To that end orchids should be irrigated frequently. Water requirement is high during March-May during hot and dry season. Dilute urea and potassium phosphate with water and apply in spray form. A 20:20:20 mixed fertilizer rich in urea, TSP and MP is very useful. Fertilizer dissolved in water should be sprayed on plants once or twice a week. Care should be taken to wet the leaves well while spraying.

Now it is possible to produce orchid flowers almost all year round. Orchid flowers can be marketed throughout the year due to the presence of different species. Flowers come within a year of planting. Phalgun-chaitra month is mainly when the flowers come. On the other hand, it takes at least 18 months to get flowers from seedlings obtained from tissue culture. In commercial cultivation, the stick should be cut as soon as one or two flowers bloom. In the garden or in the tub, succulents do not need to be pruned. In this case, the flower lasts for about 30-45 days. Mature flowers should be collected after 3 to 4 days of orchid flowering. Flowers should be harvested early morning or late afternoon. Flowers should not be picked during rain or in wet conditions. After collecting the flowers, if the stems are dipped in water, the flowers stay fresh. 8 thousand sticks per hectare in the first year, 15 thousand sticks in the second year and 25 thousand sticks in the third year. Besides, 2-5 sugars can be collected every year by keeping saplings from the tree.

Tubs, tubers, roots should always be kept clean for orchid cultivation. Sevin powder can be applied to plants every 10-15 days to get rid of ants and insect infestation. For thrips, millibugs and aphids, mix Malathion 57 EC at the rate of 2 ml per liter of water and spray 2-3 times after 7-8 days. Poisonous bait can be used if there is a rat infestation. For leaf rot disease, 0.5 ml tilt or half a teaspoon of Dithan M-45 per liter of water should be mixed well and sprayed on the plants every 7-10 days. 0.5 ml tilt measuring dropper is provided with medicine, with which it can be measured. Furadan should be sprinkled around nematode-infested plants and preferably used after cleaning cultivation equipment.