Orchid Venus Slipper

For the first time the word "orchid" arose in my mindwhen reading detective novels, where detective Nero Wolfe spent all his free time in his greenhouse. In the aloe ficus epoch it was not clear how it was possible to spend money and time on such pastime. Even now, when orchids have become full masters of our window sills, something elusively aristocratic, romantic arises when faced with these flowers. Now, it is not surprising that lovers of these flowers, the number of which are increasing, may seek to obtain a rare variety or a different color of the plant. The blessing for this is all the conditions, because the family of orchids is very numerous.

In nature, a growing orchid can be found everywhere, except for deserts and polar regions. In Russia, there are representatives of such genera as the Venus shoe, lyubka, or orchis.

Venerin the slipper, named after the goddessbeauty, justifies its name. People's definitions vary, apparently, from the place of their growth: the kukushkin shoe, the marin shoe, the Virgin's boots, the lady's shoes. Everything is connected with shoes for good, the flower can not be confused with any other, since it really looks like a female shoe.

The flower has several varieties. The largest orchid is the Venus shoelarge-flowered. Since it is difficult to meet these plants in the wild, floral markets offer artificially grown hybrid varieties that are better suited for indoor breeding.

If you are lucky, and you became the owner of such aexotics, then you need to get acquainted with the agrotechnical methods of cultivation. Orchid Venus shoe is a plant of temperate latitudes, so direct sunlight for it is fatal. Oriental and western windowsills, shelves with artificial lighting are the best places to grow these flowers.

Another important condition is a constant influx of fresh air to create drying conditions after watering.

The watering should be constant throughout the year,since the Venus shoe, like other types of orchids, has no period of rest. Ensure that the extract is wet, but not moist, by lowering the pot to the base of the stem in a container of water for 10-15 minutes. Some growers place a thin wooden rod at the desired depth of the substrate closer to the center of the pot, after a few days look, if the stick is slightly moist, it means you need water.

Spraying of air aroundplants to maintain the required level of humidity. Experts believe that high humidity is one of the most important conditions for growing orchids. When leaving, it is possible to put a pot of plant in a container, around to place a wet claydite.

In the spring-summer period, in the care of plants, supplementation is added by spraying the leaves. It is necessary to avoid getting a solution of fertilizers on the flower.

Venin is a slippery plant with fragile roots,so the transplant is done once every 2 years after flowering. It is better to use plastic pots of dark color. If there are no holes at the bottom or there are not enough holes, then you need to do it, and also provide several additional side holes for a quick drain of excess water. Before planting on the bottom of the pot necessarily drain the drainage. The extract is supplemented with calcium. Some orchid lovers add chalk. From above the pot can be covered with moss, after spraying it will maintain the humidity of the air near the plant.

When creating the right conditions, growVenus shoe is not more difficult than other types of orchids. The reward for work and care will be the flowering of a unique, airy beauty that will fill life with joy and beauty.