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Recognize The Very Best Orchid Care And Maintenance Practice

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

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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

This blog entry has been viewed 179 times

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Essential Things To Know When Purchasing Orchid Fertilizer

Category: gardening | Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2010 10:02 pm

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

Orchids, like any other plant, require the suitable nutrients to grow and stay healthy; however, they need a special type of fertilizer as well as the right amount to thrive in your home. To maintain your orchid's vibrant health, it's important to use the desirable type of orchid fertilizer, which is different from other fertilizers, along with the proper amount.

Consider these crucial tips before feeding your orchid fertilizer:

Check the label of a commercial orchid fertilizer that displays the main ingredients with three numbers: 30-20-10. These numbers represent proportions of the major nutrients including Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Potassium that your orchid needs to maintain its health. You may want to experiment with the different ratios; however, it would be wise to contact your local nursery for information on the specific type of orchid fertilizer you should be using.

Understanding the requirements of orchids and how they thrive in their instinctual environment will help you to understand how orchids prefer to be fed. Orchids are perhaps the most versatile flower in the world where some species live in Arctic regions of the far North and other species live in tropical regions around the world. As a result, orchids are perpetually seeking nutrients which often come in small but very strong quantities. Feeding excessive amounts of fertilizer to an orchid is not characteristic of how it obtains its food in the wild. Excessively feeding your orchid can burn its roots, and or retard its flowering.

In addition to the amount of fertilizer, you must also consider how orchid fertilizer should be administered. In the wild, orchids acquire all their nutritional needs through rain water they absorb. Rain water becomes saturated with pure material from rotting vegetation including leaves, bark, and other plants that orchids thrive on. The water drains down into the roots of the orchid where the nutrients are absorbed. Consequently, fertilizer should be mixed with the water and when you water your orchid, you'll be fertilizing and watering at the same time.

The best time to fertilize is while the orchid is in its growth state just before the orchid flowers. You don't have to fertilize once your orchid is in full bloom.

The nutritional needs of orchids are different from common house plants; consequently, you should avoid using common plant food.

To be consistent every time, measure the amount of fertilizer you feed your orchid. Contact your local nursery to get information on what mix to use as well as how much to use.

The nutritional needs of orchids are different from other plants, but considering, orchids are different from other plants. Fertilizing your orchid is a crucial part of caring for orchids, and should be taken seriously. Use orchid fertilizer as it's intended, and follow these fertilizing tips to help keep that lovely plant of yours vibrant and beautiful.


Last edited: Sat Oct 30, 2010 5:44 am

This blog entry has been viewed 196 times

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