Hell Orchid

Hell Orchid: flower description

From Latin Ada -Ada aurantiaca-wild growth in Colombia and Venezuela. A special growth attracts the attention of many - it is located in trees, above sea level at least 2.5 km. The formation is ovoid, the arrangement is very dense in relation to each other. At the base there are small leaves, only 5 centimeters in size. The main leaves have a pointed shape. Up to 25 mm wide and 25 centimeters long. With the growth of Ada, a pseudobulb is formed, and the inflorescences themselves develop from the very top of this very pseudobulb. The size of the peduncle reaches 35-40 centimeters. The peduncle contains up to 5-12 flowers, up to 4 cm in diameter, which do not open in full force. The color of the flowers of the Hell Orchid is orange and they resemble bells.

Ada: growing and caring for a flower

Hell Orchid: flower photo

Required temperature conditions.

The Hell orchid variety is classified as a plant that lives in a temperate cold climate. It is recommended to keep the culture throughout the year at a temperature: daytime - not less than +15 degrees, but not higher than +20; night temperature should not drop +12 degrees on the scale.

The need for moisture.

The Hell Orchid prefers especially high humidity, at least 60%, the most ideal option for comfortable growing, up to 80%. The predominance of dry air can catastrophically negatively affect the development of a capricious flower. Plant development stops, including active growth, the leaf cover begins to turn yellow and dry.

When growing a flower of Ada in a home climate or nursery, special humidifiers are used to increase the humidity. A more simplified version is a small container filled with water, installed under the bottom of a pot or pots with an orchid. You can use moistened expanded clay instead of water. In this version, a large pallet is required, expanded clay is poured at the bottom, a grate is installed on top, it protects the root system from waterlogging, and pots with orchids are already placed on the gratings.

An important point to remember! There is such a rule, it is very relevant, and observing it you can always admire the beauty of the orchid. When the column on the thermometer exceeds the recommended values, it is necessary to increase the humidity in the room accordingly. But when the humidity rate goes off scale, there is a need to ventilate the room more often and longer in time. Such is the important point.

Orchid substrate composition.

Reproduction and cultivation of Ada's orchids in pots is the main method. And for a plant at home, you need no less care and maintenance, the correct composition of the soil, the necessary nutrition than crops in open space. The orchid is an exotic plant, therefore, particular attention is paid to it, with regularity. The substrate for the flower of Hell is generally of a special composition: to mix sphagnum moss with the bark of a coniferous tree. Ideally, it should be the Italian Pinia pine.

Transplant and light regime

In the case of growing the Hell orchid, there is no need for a transplant. Probably the only case is when there is a strong compaction of the soil composition and salinization of the substrate. The most suitable moment for transplanting, when the length of young shoots reaches 5 centimeters, at this stage the shoot begins to form its own roots.

How important is the light setting for the Hell Orchid? Sunlight is needed in large quantities, but direct rays are not allowed to hit the plant.In this case, the flower will get burned.

Watering the orchid and the correctness of this procedure.

Watering the Hell Orchid is necessary depending on the temperature of the room where the flower is kept. When the temperature is elevated, watering needs to be done much more frequently and the amount of liquid increases in volume.

An important point when watering! When moisturizing in pots, you need to monitor the state of the amount of liquid. The pot should have holes in the bottom to drain excess moisture. Stagnation of water in a pot or pan leads to the process of decay of the root system.

Water for irrigation Ada needs soft quality, it can be filtered. In the interval between each watering, partial drying of the substrate should occur. A completely dry substrate will have a detrimental effect on the health of the orchid.

Application rules and composition of top dressing.

The Hell Orchid, unusual for a houseplant, needs constant nutrition. Especially during the period of active growth. At every third watering, fertilize with a special compound purchased in the store, the quantity depends on the concentration of the drug.

Remember, the root system of the flower of Ada is quite sensitive to the composition with the content of phosphorus, potassium, and other salts. Therefore, carefully read the composition of the purchased drug and the rules for application.

An increased concentration of fertilizer will burn the root system. This fertilizer can be used for foliar feeding of the plant, in a weak solution, spray the leaf cover of the flower.
Top dressing must be carried out alternately, in the two listed ways. As mentioned, we purchase only a special fertilizer, strictly for orchids. The packaging contains all the information you need. All known and widely used means for feeding ordinary indoor flowers are aimed at feeding simple soil. And for orchids, the substrate is special and the nutrition is special.

Hell Orchid: flower photo

Take note! Very frequent salinization of the substrate can be corrected by rinsing up to four times per month. How to do it? Place the pot with the flower in the sink, skip a stream of warm water up to two times. Thus, the main part of the filling of the pot is washed out.

How to determine the salinity of the substrate? The tips of the leaves begin to gradually turn black, then yellowing occurs and, accordingly, the leaf dries out. Don't run this moment. The orchid takes a very long time to recover, gaining strength for good development.

Rest period. Flowering and leaving after

There is a dormant period for all orchid varieties. The Hell Orchid is no exception. And it is not recommended to stimulate the flowering process in this case. An important factor for the activity of flowering is strict adherence to all recommendations for the temperature regime, moderately cold, the presence of a sufficient amount of sunlight without direct sunlight hitting the plant.

Flowering activation period.

The peak comes from January to the last days of April. The duration is approximately 5 weeks. If all the rules and recommendations were followed when leaving, the orchid can bloom 3 times a year.

How to care for a Hell Orchid after flowering.

Be sure to remove all dried peduncles, if there is a need for transplanting, do it during this period. After the orchid has faded, it is necessary to hold the substrate in a dry state for some time. Not overdried, just dry. In this state, the plant acclimatizes and prevents root decay at the site of the wound, if it was applied during transplantation.

Hell: Orchid Reproduction

Hell Orchid: flower photo

There is only one way of reproduction of the Hell Orchid at home - vegetative, that is, dividing an adult bush into parts. It is important to observe the division, when up to three pseudobulbs are left for each part. Only in this variant does the flower have a chance for proper development and active growth after division.

During the warmer months, from May to mid-September, the Ada orchid variety needs an open space. It is necessary to take it out into the street, garden. Can be accommodated on an open balcony. It is in the open air that the temperature at night decreases, and the daytime rises, all this happens in natural conditions. But don't rely entirely on weather conditions. The place where you put the orchid should be protected from gusts of wind, no direct sunlight on the plant. And long rains and heavy downpours should not disturb the beautiful, capricious orchid.

As a conclusion from our article: growing an Hell orchid is quite simple, although it is a painstaking task. But it's worth it. The plant perfectly complements your interior. It is enough just not to deviate from proper care and all the recommendations given by specialists.