TheNaturePlanet

# I. 90% of People Overlook This! 3 Major Hazards of Poorly Ventilated Environments
1. **Hazard 1: Root Suffocation, Dampness, and Rot**
- Consequence: The growing medium remains damp and airtight for a long time, causing roots to lack oxygen, turn black, and lose their water-absorbing function.
- Data: In enclosed environments, the incidence of root rot in Phalaenopsis is **60% higher** than in well-ventilated environments.

2. **Hazard 2: Concentrated Outbreaks of Pests and Diseases**
- Case: Under high temperature, high humidity, and poor ventilation, aphids and red spiders can reproduce for three generations within 7 days, leaving leaves covered with holes.
- Fact: Mold grows in the gaps on the back of leaves (healthy tissues are wrapped by white hyphae).

3. **Hazard 3: Dramatically Shortened Flowering Period and Difficulty in Reblooming**
- Fact: Poor air circulation leads to insufficient carbon dioxide, causing flower buds to fall off early and the reblooming cycle to extend by 3 months.
- Real-Life Example: Ms. Zhang placed her Phalaenopsis in a sealed bathroom. All flowers fell off within a week, and the orchid did not bloom again the following year.


# II. 3-Step Emergency Ventilation Solutions
## STEP 1: "Air Permeability Transformation" of the Growing Medium
- **Material Selection**:
- Sphagnum moss + fermented pine bark (mixed at a 3:7 ratio; cut the bark into 1-2cm granules)
- Pure fermented pine bark (suitable for high-humidity areas in southern China)
- **Key Operation**: When replacing the medium, remove the soft and rotten sphagnum moss from the original medium, and retain the loose part around the healthy aerial roots.

## STEP 2: "Pit-Avoidance Method" for Watering
- **Soaking Formula**:
Water temperature (close to room temperature) + soaking time (10 minutes) + upside-down draining (5 minutes)
- **Taboo**: Do not water from the top, especially avoid letting water flow into the leaf core (you can place an inclined tray to guide water flow).

## STEP 3: Artificial "Airflow Creation" Plan
- **Fan Setup**:
Gear (low speed) + distance (more than 30cm away from the plant) + duration (3-4 hours per day, avoiding high temperatures at noon)
- **Advanced Tip**: Place bricks under the flower pot to raise it by 10cm, and put a hollow tray underneath to accelerate air circulation.


# III. Guide to Handling Special Situations

| Symptoms of Insufficient Ventilation | Emergency Treatment Measures | Prevention Plan |
|--------------------------------------|------------------------------|-----------------|
| Roots turn black and sticky | Trim rotten roots + soak in carbendazim for 15 minutes + replace with dry growing medium | Gently lift the plant every week to check if the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot are blocked |
| Brown spots appear on leaves | Remove diseased leaves + spray with thiophanate-methyl (1:1000 dilution) | Keep a spacing of over 20cm between pots to avoid leaf overlapping |
| Flower buds shrink and fall off | Move to an east-facing windowsill + suspend fertilization | Adjust the fan to a gentle breeze setting during the bud stage to avoid direct airflow on the buds |


# IV. How to Ventilate in Different Scenarios
- **Sealed Balcony**: Open windows for 30 minutes each at 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily, and use a table fan to blow obliquely against the wall (utilizing reflected airflow).
- **Indoor Corner**: Place the orchid on a hollow flower stand, and put an electric rotating tray underneath (rotates 180° every 2 hours for even ventilation).
- **High-Temperature Summer**: Place a shallow plate of water next to the plant, and let the fan blow over the water surface to create moist airflow, which achieves both humidification and ventilation.