The following cultural management practices are recommended for different cut flower varieties. Air Orchids Air orchids are planted and...
The following cultural management practices are recommended for different cut flower varieties.
Air Orchids
Air orchids are planted and propagated by following these procedures.
Preparation of planting materials. Planting materials for orchids can be prepared in three ways. These are by seeds, by division using bulbs or rhizomes, and by keikies formation.
Seed for planting are collected from mature flowers. They are sun-dried for two to five hours depending upon the intensity of the sun's heat.
Orchids can either be monopodial or sympodial. Monopodial orchids possess only one growing tip and grow only in one direction. Sympodial orchids, on the other hand, have fleshy stems or pseudobulbs that grow from the base of the plants. These pseudobulbs are sometimes used as planting materials.
Preparation of planting medium. Air orchids are usually grown in tree ferns, stumps, and driftwood. The most commonly used trees media are frangipani, glicirida septum, and madre de cacao. These are prepared by securing a tree stump or drift wood with several branches.
Methods of planting. Planting orchids in tree ferns, stumps, or driftwoods, is simple. Press the base of the cuttings or germinated seedlings to a stump or driftwood with the newest plantlet facing inward next to the stump. Secure the plant firmly into the stump or driftwood with a string or plastic coated wire. The base of the plantlet must be firmly attached to the stump so that the plantlet will not wobble.
When planting in a pot, place the plant or plantlets at the topmost layer of charcoal and secure it to support such as a bamboo stick firmly placed in the pot. Cover the roots of the new plants with several pieces of charcoal.
Application of fertilizer. The amount and kind of fertilizer required by orchid plants depends on its growing condition, stage of development, and planting medium. Orchids grown in tree ferns, driftwoods, and pots require frequent fertilizer application because these plants are more exposed to air and sunlight hence leaching of fertilizer is rapid. to ensure maximum fertilizer response, the following gidelines in feeding air orchids is recommended;
- Use organic or natural fertilizer as much as possible. Organic fertilizer contains hormones which are essential for good growth.
- Fertilizer application should be done at least once a week.
- If inorganic fertilizer is used, opt for complete fertilizer like 30-10-10 or 10-30-20 prepared at the rate of one level teaspoon to a galoon of water.
- For orchids in the blooming stage, use gabiota or 18-18-18 at the rate of one teaspoonful for every one to one and a half galoon of water. application should be done in a foliar form once a week.
- Do not over water the plants because this will cause the fertilizer to leach.
Ground Orchids
Preparation of planting materials. Planting materials for ground orchids is relatively the same as in air orchids. The most common planting materials, however, are seeds and top cuttings which are best used to propagate vandas and other monopodial ground orchids.
Preparation of soil for planting. Select a sloppy or well-drained site for planting ground orchids and make a layout of the desired beds. Dig and pulverize the soil to teen inches deep. Provide timber planks at the sides of the desired bed. An interval of one to one and one half feet apart is ideal to save space but not overcrowd the plants.
Methods of planting. If seeds are used as planting materials, these can be sown one inch deep to the granite beds. Keep the granite moist as long as seed germination has not taken place. After germination the rate of watering should be controlled.
When using tops cuttings, plant these on the beds near the base of each post. plant at least four cuttings for each post.
Application of fertilizer. Fertilizer application in ground orchids depends on the amount of organic fertilizer used during the bed preparation. If the amount incorporated is sufficient, application of fertilizer could be done six months or more after planting. If the amount provided, however is inadequate application of fertilizer should be done one or two months after planting.
Other Cut Flowers
Preparation of planting materials. Chrysanthemums, roses, sampaguitas, and several varieties of carnation are propagated by cuttings. Stem or terminal shoot cuttings rooted and alive with five to six inches new growth produce excellent plants. each cutting should be four to five inches long. trim the leaves with a sharp knike so that one-third of the leaf is leaf attached to the stem. Cuttings should be planted in clean, sterile, and moist sandy soil about one-half of the length of the cuttings.
Preparation of soil for planting. Soil preparation for other cut flower includes clearing, leveling and/or terracing, plowing and harrowing thoroughly before raised beds are prepared.
Methods of planting. in planting zinnias and dahlias, the seeds can be sown directly into field at a distance of 30 to 40cm between hills and 50 to 60cm between rows.
Chrysanthemums, roses, sampaguitas, and other varieties of carnation are propagated by cuttings which can be directly planted to the field or rooted first in beds before transplanting. Allowing the cuttings to produce roots in a nursery bed before transplanting is better than direct planting because there is higher survival rate.
Roses and sampaguitas can be planted at a distance of 30 to 80cm between rows and 60 to 80cm between hills while chrysanthemums can be planted 40 to 50cm between rows and 60 to 80cm between hills.
Cut flower which are propagated by division, bulbs, or rhizomes like gladiola and anthuriums are planted directly into the field. Planting materials are prepared by splitting the mother plants so that each division has healthy buds. Anthuriums are planted into the field with a distance of 25 to 30cm between rows and 50 to 60cm between hills. plant gladiola at a distance of 30 to 40cm between rows and 60 to 80cm between hills.
Application of fertilizer. If organic matter is available, its incorporation with soil should be done during the first plowing to permit complete decomposition before planting time. If organic matter is not available, basal application of complete fertilizer can be done at the rate of three bags per hectare. The second application can be side-dressed before the flowering stage.
To avoid excessive application of fertilizer, feed the plants with small amounts nitrogen and phosphorous often rather than giving a heavy application at one time.
Crop Protection
Like other crops, cut flower plants are also affected by pests and diseases, and if not properly prevented and controlled will bring serious damage in production.
The common pest of cut flower;
The common diseases of cut flower;
Preparation of soil for planting. Select a sloppy or well-drained site for planting ground orchids and make a layout of the desired beds. Dig and pulverize the soil to teen inches deep. Provide timber planks at the sides of the desired bed. An interval of one to one and one half feet apart is ideal to save space but not overcrowd the plants.
Methods of planting. If seeds are used as planting materials, these can be sown one inch deep to the granite beds. Keep the granite moist as long as seed germination has not taken place. After germination the rate of watering should be controlled.
When using tops cuttings, plant these on the beds near the base of each post. plant at least four cuttings for each post.
Application of fertilizer. Fertilizer application in ground orchids depends on the amount of organic fertilizer used during the bed preparation. If the amount incorporated is sufficient, application of fertilizer could be done six months or more after planting. If the amount provided, however is inadequate application of fertilizer should be done one or two months after planting.
Other Cut Flowers
Preparation of planting materials. Chrysanthemums, roses, sampaguitas, and several varieties of carnation are propagated by cuttings. Stem or terminal shoot cuttings rooted and alive with five to six inches new growth produce excellent plants. each cutting should be four to five inches long. trim the leaves with a sharp knike so that one-third of the leaf is leaf attached to the stem. Cuttings should be planted in clean, sterile, and moist sandy soil about one-half of the length of the cuttings.
Preparation of soil for planting. Soil preparation for other cut flower includes clearing, leveling and/or terracing, plowing and harrowing thoroughly before raised beds are prepared.
Methods of planting. in planting zinnias and dahlias, the seeds can be sown directly into field at a distance of 30 to 40cm between hills and 50 to 60cm between rows.
Chrysanthemums, roses, sampaguitas, and other varieties of carnation are propagated by cuttings which can be directly planted to the field or rooted first in beds before transplanting. Allowing the cuttings to produce roots in a nursery bed before transplanting is better than direct planting because there is higher survival rate.
Roses and sampaguitas can be planted at a distance of 30 to 80cm between rows and 60 to 80cm between hills while chrysanthemums can be planted 40 to 50cm between rows and 60 to 80cm between hills.
Cut flower which are propagated by division, bulbs, or rhizomes like gladiola and anthuriums are planted directly into the field. Planting materials are prepared by splitting the mother plants so that each division has healthy buds. Anthuriums are planted into the field with a distance of 25 to 30cm between rows and 50 to 60cm between hills. plant gladiola at a distance of 30 to 40cm between rows and 60 to 80cm between hills.
Application of fertilizer. If organic matter is available, its incorporation with soil should be done during the first plowing to permit complete decomposition before planting time. If organic matter is not available, basal application of complete fertilizer can be done at the rate of three bags per hectare. The second application can be side-dressed before the flowering stage.
To avoid excessive application of fertilizer, feed the plants with small amounts nitrogen and phosphorous often rather than giving a heavy application at one time.
Crop Protection
Like other crops, cut flower plants are also affected by pests and diseases, and if not properly prevented and controlled will bring serious damage in production.
The common pest of cut flower;
- aphids
- slugs
- scale insects
- mites
- caterpillars
- lepidopterous insects
- Mealybugs
The common diseases of cut flower;
- damping-off
- bacterial blight
- rhizoctonia diseases
- freckie or black spot
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