Essential Orchids Info
Orchids Info for the Home Grower
Orchids are becoming increasingly popular in and around the home. This is due, in part, to the sheer variety of naturally occurring and hybrids being created by enthusiasts all the time. Most orchids are relatively easy to grow and require little time to care for but, like any other plant, they need the correct amount of air, light and fertilizers to blossom and remain healthy. Orchids thrive in warm climates where the temperature is around 80 to 85 degrees (slightly higher than traditional indoor temperatures) but are also hardy enough to grow in colder climates and are consequently ideally suited to growing at indoors at home.
Blooming Varieties
The phalaenopsis orchid is extremely popular being one of the easiest to grow and is perfect for growing at home or in the office due to its hardy nature. Perhaps its main attractive feature is how long it remains in bloom which can be up to 3 months at a time. How frequently and for how long they blossom varies dramatically across the spectrum of available orchids with some hybrids in bloom continuously while other blossom spectacularly only once a year.
Smells like Chocolate
Their strength and range of fragrances is astonishing and varies significantly from plant to plant. Some can smell like fruit, others provide a more traditional flowery scent, while the Sherry Baby orchid, believe it or not, smells of chocolate!
Pots Away
The type of potting media used is important when growing orchids and typically normal soil doesn’t cut. Bark or New Zealand sphagnum provide a good starting point and can be found in most gardening centers. In addition to the media, the way that orchid is potted is important; Orchids should be planted in pots that provide proper drainage. If ordinary pots are used with ordinary soil then the plant may not get properly aerated, stunting the rate of growth.
Water, water everywhere – but not on the roots
The frequency that you should water your orchids varies throughout the year. It may be limited to only twice a month during the winter for some orchids but should be increased as required during the summer months – sign up for the free mini-course if you’d like to know how to determine if your orchid requires watering. Potting media also affects the requirement to water the orchids with New Zealand sphagnum reducing the need for watering compared to bark.
See the Light
Most species of orchids require both light and shade due to their rainforest and tropical origins. Light is important for the growth of any plant but orchids in particular require balanced quantities of both. The best place to keep an orchid indoors is near a window facing east and out of direct sunlight behind a blind or thin curtain. An easy way to diagnose whether your orchid is receiving too much or too little light is to look at the color of the leaves, which provides a strong indication either way. We discuss what to look for in more detail during the free mini-course (which I strongly advise you to sign up for) where we provide more orchids info including fertilizers, pest control and diseases that lead to healthy beautiful blossoming orchids.
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