Multiflora orchid: what it is, how a flower with that name looks in the photo, as well as a description of caring for it at home

Orchid is a very beautiful plant that simply amazes with its variety. One of the most unpretentious and adapted for life at home is the Phalaenopsis orchid, it also belongs to the number of best-selling orchid species.

In this article we will talk about a variety of phalaenopsis called "multiflora", we will tell what it is and how to care for it, we will present a photo of this plant. We also recommend watching a useful video on this topic.

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ATTENTION: Her name translates as "multi-flowered." This is a hybrid plant that boasts a huge selection of shades. Multiflora flowers are small and reach only six centimeters. This orchid itself is also small - only half a meter in height.

The leaf plates of this flower are usually about four to six pieces. Moreover, when a new top sheet is released, the bottom immediately begins to die. Leaves reach a length of up to thirty centimeters. The number of peduncles can reach up to five pieces per bloom.

Despite all these small parameters, multiflora has gained immense popularity among gardenersat what both amateurs and professionals. This happens because at the same time up to fifty flowers can bloom on peduncles. This creates an incredible magnificent effect. Issued arrows are quite fragile, so they need to be constantly supported with additional support.

Watch the video about the features of the Multiflora orchid:

History of occurrence

How the orchid of multiflora appeared, is still unknown. But we can say with accuracy that the very first orchid was introduced to Europe at the beginning of the nineteenth century in the form of a bulb. Moreover, this bulb was sent by mail not as a plant, but as packaging material. The recipient decided to accidentally plant the bulb in the ground and get such a beauty that no one even expected to see.

Distinctive features

Probably the only feature is the fact that multiflora lacks growth buds. For this reason, flower stalks grow directly from the soil.

Bloom

The duration of multiflora can bloom from 4 to 6 months. Such a long delight in our colors due to the fact that the buds open one by one. And the number of buds themselves is pretty decent.

At home, “multi-flowered” can bloom at any time.. The main thing is to create suitable conditions for it, which we will discuss below. The number of blooms can also go up to three times in twelve months, you just want a grower. If the orchid does not want to delight you with the beauty of its open buds, then you need to think about the correct care for it.

There is another proven way to make an orchid bloom. To do this, you will need to arrange the plant stress, that is, to wake the flower from a comfortable sleep for it. Put the pot of multiflora in a cool and dark place for seven to ten days. Such a manipulation will make the orchid fight for survival and activate all its abilities.

Photo

Next, you can find a photo of phalaenopsis multiflora.

Home Care

Seat selection

In winter, this may be the south side of your premises, since all the lighting will be concentrated there. In summer, it is advisable to rearrange the flowerpot with the plant to the southwestern or southeastern part of the room, because in the southern part there will be too much light. Also the place for multiflora should be well ventilated, but without drafts.

Soil and pot preparation

As with other phalaenopsis, multiflora requires special soil designed specifically for planting orchids. It is rare to apply the primer for violets. Both the first and second can be easily purchased at the store.

Do not forget about the drainage layer, which will ensure the outflow of excess fluid from the pot. You can prepare the substrate yourself. To do this, take in equal proportions:

bark (oak is recommended, as it contains more nutrients);
expanded clay;
coarse sand;
peat;
sheet earth;
sphagnum moss, designed specifically for orchids.

The pot should be transparent. This is due to the fact that the roots are directly involved in photosynthesis, so they also need access to sunlight. And also there is one more requirement for the flowerpot: it must be smooth so that the roots do not grow into the rough surface of the pot and die because of this.

Lighting

It should be more than sufficient. But the light must be diffused. Be sure to protect fragile flowers from direct sunlightthat can leave burns on the delicate leaf plates of the phalaenopsis. To do this, in the summer, hang protective papers or reflective foil on the windows.

Note that the duration of lighting should be at least 10-12 hours per day. Sometimes, to maintain this parameter, you will have to resort to artificial lighting. But pay attention to the fact that the lamps are not heating.

Temperature

Multiflora refers to thermophilic plants. Therefore, it is so important to maintain the air temperature around it within 22-25 degrees above zero during the day and 18-20 degrees of heat at night.

IMPORTANT: But be sure to keep the difference in day and night temperatures within 3-4 degrees. This condition is necessary for the normal functioning of any phalaenopsis. You also need to control the temperature of the soil in the pot. It should be a couple of degrees below room temperature, but no more.

Watering

It should be moderate - about once a week in the summer. In winter, soil moisture can be further reduced to once every two weeks.

Water for irrigation needs to be prepared in advance. It is good if it will be settled water at room temperature, and even better filtered or enriched with minerals. We do not recommend using water from the central water supply for irrigation - it is too hard and saturated with harmful acids.

Watch the video about the proper watering of phalaenopsis Multiflora:

Humidity

Here multiflora is slightly different from other varieties of phalaenopsis. That is, it does not require too moist air around and, in principle, will easily transfer dry air. But do not overdo it, it’s better to maintain a low air humidity.

Top dressing

This is a necessary multiflora care item. Fertilize the plant once every two weeks. You need to do this only with complex fertilizers, in which everything is already calculated to maintain the floral and green parts of the orchid.

Separately, it is better not to add each component, since you can overdo it with the development of one part and slow down the growth of the other. After the phalaenopsis has flowered and entered the dormant stage, it should be fertilized minimally. Once a month will be enough.

Transfer

This manipulation does not need to be done too often. Enough once every two years, but only after the multiflora drops its last bud, and not a single bud remains on the peduncles.

During phalaenopsis transplant, carefully inspect the roots. Carefully remove the spoiled ones, and treat the places of the cuts with crushed coal and let the roots dry without soil.

Watch the video about Phalaenopsis transplant:

How to propagate?

In the natural environment, any phalaenopsis is easily propagated by seeds. But for home conditions, this option is not relevant, since all home orchids are hybrid and lose their characteristics when propagated by seeds. At home, it is better to propagate multiflora by air processes (in other words, by children).

To get a baby, you need to find a place for the swelling of the kidney on an already faded, but not yet dried peduncle, and make a sharp blade cut slightly above this place with a sharp blade. Sometimes the air process appears on its own without any stimulation. but this is extremely rare.
After the baby appears on the flower arrow, you need to give her time to take root, and after the root system is sufficiently developed, cut the baby from the mother's flower.
The resulting process is placed in new soil in a small pot and started to care for in the same way as with an ordinary mother plant.

Watch the video on the reproduction of phalaenopsis by children:

Diseases and Pests

Orchid may be attacked by pests. Among them:

aphids;
ticks;
gray rot;
slugs with snails.

To cope with each of them, you need to treat the infected plant with insecticidal drugs. But before that, thoroughly rinse the orchid in the shower and immediately after this procedure, change the soil in the pot. If possible, mechanically remove the attackers. The process of processing insecticides must be repeated several times with an interval of five to seven days.

The cause of any illness is usually improper care.. Therefore, if you notice dry or yellow leaves, sharply fallen flowers or rotting roots, immediately review the living conditions of your beauty.

As soon as you bring a new plant into the house, organize a monthly quarantine for it. When doing this, constantly inspect the flower for pests. If you notice pest attacks on an orchid that has been standing in your room for a long time, then immediately isolate the infected flower from other healthy ones. At the same time, process the place of "dwelling" of phalaenopsis.

Disease prevention

As they say, the disease is better to prevent than to treat it later. You do not need to do anything special for this.

Just follow all the prescribed conditions for maintaining multiflora and at least once a week carry out hygiene procedures for it, such as a warm shower, during which you must wash off all the accumulated dust on the plant. Use fertilizers to strengthen the immunity of the orchid, so that in case of a minor illness, she has the strength to fight the nascent disease.

Conclusion

As you can see, multiflora is no different from many other phalaenopsis and quite unpretentious in care, so you can safely get it for yourself, even if you are a beginner grower.