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Recognize The Very Best Orchid Care And Maintenance Practice

Category: gardening | Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2010 2:43 am


Simon John Adams Loving Orchid Care ( photo / image / picture from simonadams's Garden )


Myth: orchids are an extremely problematic plant to grow, and unless you're an expert on orchid care, there's no point even trying to grow one. Actually, growing orchids is no more demanding than growing any other houseplant, when you know how of course.

Following are some of my best practices on orchid care and maintenance that you and your orchid will just adore:

Re-pot Your Orchid After Purchasing

When you bring your new orchid home from your garden center or nursery, you will be required to re-pot it in fresh potting mix to help avoid the spread of potential disease. Separate your new orchid from your other plants for one or two weeks before you re-pot it. You can use any type of plastic or clay pot; however, make sure that the pot is not too large for your orchid, and more significantly, make sure that it has adequate drainage holes at the bottom.

Orchids, like other living things, do grow and as such, they need to be re-potted in a slightly bigger container.

The Right Potting Mix Is Crucial

Orchids, unlike other common plants, do not grow in regular soil. Most tropical species of orchids grow on trees in lush tropical climates. Consequently, orchid roots thrive in the bark of the trees and are happy doing so. Rocks and other raw material are home to orchids in the wild where they can bring in rain water, but also be able to dry out before getting soaked again.

Hence, choose a potting mix that matches the material from the orchid's natural setting; a mix that will provide good air circulation through the roots and adequate drainage of water.

Find The Correct Location

Orchid care and maintenance is not thoroughgoing without finding the right location in your home. Place your orchid where there is plenty of sunlight, but sunlight that is slightly dampened by see-through curtains, for example, or by other plants that surround it. An orchid's natural surroundings is one that provides about 12 hours of sunlight, but moderately diffused as a result of the branches from trees and other neighboring foliage. If practical, open a window near your orchid so it gets a good breeze to help dry the roots out before the next watering. Alternatively, you can use a small fan set on low and not too close to your plant.

Find The Right Temperature

Being tropical climate plants, orchids like it warm, but not hot. They can tolerate temperatures slightly outside of this range, but for relatively brief periods of time. Providing these orchids have proper air flow and high levels of humidity, they can withstand temperatures that are significantly warmer.

During the day, orchids make energy through a process called photosynthesis and store this energy. This energy is used when the sun goes down to feed the plant as it continues to grow. This variation in temperature helps the plant to grow. It produces energy during the day and feeds at night.

The Right Amount Of Water Is Essential For Orchid Care

In the tropics where most orchids call home, they get exceedingly soaked from torrential rains and may go without water for weeks depending on whether it's the rain or dry season. Therefore, give your orchid a good drenching and let the water completely drain through the bottom of the pot. Giving your orchid too little water is better than giving it too much. Your orchid should never sit in water. Extended periods of time in water will rot the roots.

One trick to specify if your orchid requires water is to place a dry stick or the end of a pencil into the mix. If the end of the stick or pencil comes out moist then your orchid is fine.

Orchid care and maintenance is a little diverse from caring for common houseplants, but no more difficult. Different living things require diverse ways of being cared for and orchids are no different. Just follow the rules that orchids prefer to play by and you'll have content and healthy orchids.


Last edited: Wed Nov 03, 2010 2:45 am

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Comments

 

naturenanni wrote on Wed Nov 03, 2010 1:10 pm:


Nice info. I am trying 2 different Orchids this year for the first time. The first ones did fine they were Egret Orchids. The other one I have brought into the house and am hoping I am doing everything right. Your blog has been helpful!




simonadams wrote on Wed Nov 03, 2010 7:35 pm:


thank you. Remember to re-pot your new orchid and to check the roots for any signs of rotting.
Simon





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