As epiphytes, orchids do not like potting soil, require little fertilizer and cannot tolerate waterlogging. With the Lechuza system you offer the demanding plants ideal conditions. Here we explain how to properly plant and care for an orchid in Lechuza.
Lechuza supplies orchids with nutrients for six months
How to skillfully pot orchids in Lechuza
The Lechuza system comes as an all-in-one set that makes gardening life easier for you. In addition to the decorative plant pot, you will receive a plant liner and a sub-irrigation system (€32.95) with water level indicator and filler neck. The set includes PON, an inorganic substrate consisting of zeolite, lava granules, (13.99€) pumice and long-term fertilizer. How to properly plant an orchid:
- Unpot the orchid and remove all pieces of bark and soil
- Fill in a layer of PON on the separating floor above the water reservoir
- Place the substrate-free orchid on top and spread out the aerial roots
- Apply the remaining PON to the roots until they are completely covered
When planting, please make sure that the root neck is about a finger's width below the edge of the container.
How to care for orchids in Lechuza
For the first few weeks, pour the soft water directly onto the substrate until the roots have reached the water reservoir. Then fill in water halfway up the nozzle. If the water level then drops, the roots have reached the water. Now fill the water reservoir to the maximum. If the minimum is reached after a few weeks, a drying phase of 4 to 8 days follows, since PON stores plenty of water.
Fresh PON contains 6 months of nutrient supplies. If these are used up, administer the special Lechuza fertilizer. The pearls coated with organic resin are administered directly into the water reservoir with a dosing spoon in order to gradually release the nutrients to the roots. Due to the special nature of fertilizer and substrate, overdosing cannot occur.
tips
Irrespective of whether you cultivate your orchids in bark substrate, hydroponics or lechuza, the daily shower must not be skipped. Spray the leaves regularly to simulate the warm, humid climate in the rainforest. Please only use decalcified tap water or filtered rainwater at room temperature.