Tag: caring for orchids

Orchid Care Secrets

Posted by on April 27, 2010

Orchid care can be frustrating to even the most experienced grower of orchids so imagine what it is like for a beginner. It is common for someone to receive an orchid as a gift and this is how their passion begins. With that love however comes a responsibility of orchid care. Information about caring for orchids can be overloading but here are some basics that you need to consider.

Watering - A common mistake is watering too much. You need to ensure that you wait until your orchids are sufficiently dry (but not completely dry) before you water thoroughly. Check beneath the surface of your growing medium to see if it is dry. There is no hard and fast rule of when to water but try to do it no more than weekly unless you are sure it is dry.

Temperature - Orchid usually like temperatures between 60 -80 degrees because of their origins. Whilst there are orchids that can grow in the cold, cold temperatures usually damage the plant and you will see a yellowing of the leaves and they will fall off.

Feeding Orchids - A common question in the orchid care is how to feed orchids. There are homemade remedies and fertilizers that you can buy from the shop. The best time to use orchid feed is in spring. Don’t use orchid feed in the winter months.

Re-potting Orchids - You will need to report when your orchid grows out of the pot and when you need to change the growing medium. Your orchid will encounter new growth but re-pot before this occurs.

Orchid Light Requirements - You need to get enough light to your orchids but the orchid shouldn’t be left in direct sunlight all day. Getting the light right is arguably the most important factor in orchid care. If they don’t get enough then they won’t bloom properly. Think about where you place you orchid in relation to the light, south facing windows generally get more light.

Orchid Humidity Levels - Most people don’t even consider these but they are easier to control than most people think. Use a spray bottle to mist to ensure there is enough moisture in the air.

Orchid Care Problems - The are many types of other problems you may encounter when caring for orchids such as disease and insects. For your orchid to be healthy you must make sure that you clean it on a regular basis.

Caring for orchids is a hugely rewarding experience. Once you start with your first orchid it is likely you will catch the orchid bug! Don’t be daunted, after a little experience, orchid care will become easy for you.

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Caring For Orchids Is Easy If You Have The Right Book Guide With You

Posted by on July 3, 2009

 

Many orchid lovers can say that taking care of their orchids takes simple and easy steps. But there are some that are very excited having orchids right in their garden but don’t have any least idea about the right orchids care? But why do they care? After all, most of the orchids can be found in the wild and they can grow by themselves, right? Wrong. Just like any other living things, like the dog. The dog was a wild animal of long ago but because people found it to be a good house pet, they trained it and domesticate it. With the orchids, it’s the same as that. You can definitely “tame” or learning the art of caring for orchids and learn how to grow them the right way in your own garden.

You may think that because orchids are naturally “wild” plants that grow anywhere, you don’t need some special skills to make them grow in your own garden, right? Wrong. If you want to grow orchids in your own turf, you have to consider a lot of thing like lighting, temperature, air moisture and air circulation. If you want to grow orchids indoors, you need to be detailed with what classification of orchids you would like to care for. According to orchids experts, two species are best to grow indoors: the Moth Orchids and Lady’s Slippers. Both have enduring flowers, and the latter has such an exotic look with unusual warts, hair and striped colors. Sometimes, it’s best and more enjoyable to grow orchids indoors and it would be quite a challenge and not only that, indoor orchids can truly make a house more beautiful and appealing.

But the problem is, if you want to learn the art in growing orchid plants on your own, how? Right now, there are actually a lot of learning tools that you can invest and most of them come in the form of book guides. But of course, you need to find something that fits your preference and in order to do this, you should first read some product reviews so you can choose the best or the one that suits your taste.

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Caring for Orchids as a hobby.

Posted by on January 19, 2009

There are people who are thrilled to grow orchids at home. Orchids are delicate-looking exotic flowers that always bring beauty and vibrant color wherever they are planted. You may be wondering why anyone would want to plant orchids at home.

There are orchids that are not confined to the garden and even prefer indoors. They are quite easy to maintain and they thrive in the controlled environment inside a house. Orchids are also a lovely home décor. These flowers are also perfect for people who prefer to ‘garden’ indoors because indoor plants will not require the same amount of effort needed in outdoor gardening.

If you are a newbie when it comes to planting orchids at home, you might want to start with these popular kinds of orchids:

Moth orchid
The phalaenopsis, commonly called the moth orchid is ideal indoors because its flowers can last for a long time. They are strong enough to live in warm areas of the house. Moth orchids bear flowers twice a year. They are notable by thier numerous flower spikes. These spikes may be white or a shade of purple or lavender. Some of them are striped and at the center is a contrasting color.

Lady’s Slippers
Another indoor orchid is the paphiopedilum or Lady’s Slippers. These orchids look very exotic and unique with its hairs and stripes. Some orchid care growers find it too exotic-looking and prefer orchids with the usual appearance. Some, though, love it because it bears wonderful flowers which can last for around a couple of months.

Boat Orchid
An indoor orchid that prefers cooler areas of the house is the boat orchid or cymbidium. This is the orchid commonly made into a corsage. The boat orchid can grow as tall as 60-90 centimeters. It also grows more leaves than other orchids. It is a good indoor plant and can live through and bloom during cold weather. Its beautiful flowers blossom every couple of months and can have as many as 15 or more flowers that last up to 10 weeks. Boat orchids can come in varying colors such as green, yellow, pink, white, brown and red – each species may have an added shading of a different color.

Odontoglossum
Probably the orchid plant that would most thrive indoors is the odontoglossum. Its preferred environment is really inside, especially by the windowsill, not in the middle of a room. If you place it outside, it can easily get damaged by the wind and sun. During summer days, though, it has to be given a bit of shade while behind glass. It does not require a lot of light to grow. It also needs very little maintenance and repotting. You can water it every five to seven days. What’s really great about this orchid is that it can have flowers at different stages of growth – it can have new buds and flowers in full bloom at the same time.

So there you go. Choose among these four great house orchids and get started with your indoor planting right away and you may find that taking care of orchids is a very satisfying hobby.

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