Also known as crab claw orchid, crab claw lotus and fairy finger flower, it belongs to crab claw orchid of cactus family. Tender green, reddish new stem nodes, round main stem, easy to lignify, with many branches and nodes. There are bristles on the thorn base, and peanuts are on the thorn base at the top of the stem node. Common cultivated varieties are scarlet, pink, apricot yellow and pure white. Because the middle diameter is connected, it is shaped like a crab's auxiliary claw. The leafy stems are flat and knobby, plump, ovoid, bright green, truncated at the top and coarsely serrated at the edge. Peanuts are at the top of the stem, and the perianth is open and rolled back. Colors are lavender, yellow, red, pure white, pink, orange and bicolor.

Seeding and Propagation of Crab Claw Orchid This flower can only bear fruit after artificial pollination. The seeds of begonia will mature in July and August, and can be planted directly after picking. Grass peat and perlite (ratio 2: 1) were used as sowing substrates, and then sterilized at high temperature. Be sure to keep the substrate moist after sowing. Generally speaking, seedlings will emerge about a week after sowing. But this method is generally not used, because it takes several years to reach flowering stage.

Grafting propagation of Crab Claw Orchid If grafting, cactus is generally selected as the rootstock. Generally speaking, the grafting time is mainly in late spring and early summer. The scion should choose the strong stem nodes of the year, and generally 2 ~ 4 nodes are more suitable. According to the conventional grafting technology, the grafted plants must be placed in a relatively dry, ventilated and cool place, and attention should be paid to not being exposed to direct sunlight. Generally, it will recover after 1 week and return to normal growth in about half a month.

Cutting propagation time of Crab Claw Orchid is also in spring and autumn, that is, March-April and September. Pay attention to the selection of crab claw orchid with thick leaves, take 1 ~ 2 mature stems and wring them by hand. Then put it in a cool and ventilated place for two or three days. The seedbed or pot soil for cutting should be disinfected in advance, and the soil should be kept moist after cutting, so that it can take root in one to two weeks.

Maintenance technology

1

Soil soil should be a rich mixture of humus, peat and coarse sand, and the pH value should be kept between 5.5 and 6.5.

2

Water the crab claw orchid. Don't water it too much. Otherwise, it may cause root rot. In the cooler season, water is poured every 3 to 4 days 1 time, but after September, the water volume decreases, and water is poured every 2 days 1 time in the high temperature period. It is also best to spray water on the leaves when drying at high temperature; In winter, watering 1 time a week is enough. Need to be flexible according to the weather. Usually, the topsoil of potted plants should be watered when it is dry.

three

Fertilization can promote the rapid growth of crab claw orchid. General spring fertilization, 800 ~ 1000 times of compound fertilizer with the ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium of 2: 1: 2, once a week. Fertilization should be stopped at high temperature and resumed in autumn, but at this time, it is best to increase the proportion of P and K fertilizer and reduce the proportion of N fertilizer, which can promote the development of flower buds. Fertilization must be stopped during flowering and dormancy.

four

The cultivation environment of Crassostrea glabra requires semi-humid. Avoid sun and rain in summer, and keep warm and get enough light in winter. Attention should be paid to humidification, ventilation and cooling in high temperature in summer, and sunshade nets should be used when necessary. At the end of autumn, the sunshade net is gradually put away. In winter, we should strengthen heat preservation and cold protection, and use heating when the temperature is low.

five

Plastic surgery is usually carried out in spring and autumn. After the flowers wither, 3 ~ 4 stems under the residual flowers should be cut off in time, and the diseased, old, dense and introverted stems should be removed, which is beneficial to ventilation and maintenance. If 4 ~ 5 new branches grow at the top of 1 node, 2 ~ 3 branches should be removed, leaving 2 branches. Autumn plastic surgery is generally to cut off immature stem nodes that can not bear buds to ensure the centralized supply of nutrients for buds.

six

Diseases and insect pests of crab claw orchid are generally caused by improper management of water and fertilizer. Strengthening tax and fee management, controlling light and temperature and timely prevention are the main methods. Insect pests are mainly caused by excessive density, poor growth and poor ventilation. The main way is to trim branches and remove insect branches and diseased branches in time. Pay attention to timely observation and give priority to prevention.

I hope my answer can help you!