Orchid Care
Orchid Care - Watering
With orchid care it is very important that light, temperature and humidity are balanced. Too often orchid gardeners think that a high temperature is what their plant needs, but this is not necessarily the case as the other factors are important too. Orchid care involves thinking a bit about where the orchid plants comes from. For example, many orchid species grow on trees in the rainforest. The higher up the tree the orchid plant grows, the more sunlight it would receive and the less the humidity will be. I have summarized the basic orchard care tips for you below, but if you are looking for a step-by-step guide that covers all aspects of orchid care in detail, then I recommend the Orchid Care Expert.
For those of you who want to dig deeper into a particular field of orchid care, there are many informative orchid care books and orchid care DVDs that will interest you. Looking to buy orchid plants? Then visit orchard plants for sale to see the selection. Orchid gardening accessories has orchid food and other products that will assist you with your hobby. To help you navigate around this site, visit the Contents page.
For those of you who want to dig deeper into a particular field of orchid care, there are many informative orchid care books and orchid care DVDs that will interest you. Looking to buy orchid plants? Then visit orchard plants for sale to see the selection. Orchid gardening accessories has orchid food and other products that will assist you with your hobby. To help you navigate around this site, visit the Contents page.
Most orchid plants come from a jungle environment or where the light intensity is quite low. Hence, for orchid gardening it is necessary for your orchids to be placed where they will not get direct sunlight that could burn them. If the leaves of your orchid are red or have a yellow-greenish color, this may be an indication that your plant is receiving too much light. In the home, orchid plants should be sited behind window blinds or curtains. An indication of the plant getting too little light would be dark green leaves. Naturally, different species of orchids all have their own particular light requirements. For example, Cattleya, Vanda and Dendrobium prefer warm house temperatures with a lot of light. A south or west facing window is the best position for these orchids. The Oncidium, Phalaenopsis and Lady Slipper (Paphiopedilum) orchids prefer low light conditions and an east or north window would be more suitable for them.
Orchid Care - Lighting
Orchid Care - Temperature
Orchid Care - Humidity
The temperature of your orchids’ environment is particularly important for the flowering cycle as orchid plants require a temperature fluctuation for blooming. Ideal daytime temperatures should be between 70–80 degrees F and night-time temperatures of 60-62 degrees F. This 10-15 degree F temperature difference between day and night temperatures helps the plant make energy during the day and then can store the energy during the night ready for flower production. Although temperatures on either side of this range will not harm your orchid plant, the flower bloom may not be the best.
Humidity is an important element of orchid care and the humidity percentages should be ideally be in the region of 50% to 70%. A simple task like placing your orchid plants in a shallow tray (with pebbles and the water level just below the pebbles) during warm and dry summer months will provide enough humidity for your orchids. The bottom of the orchid pot should be in the water as the plant’s roots could rot. Spraying your orchid plants with water can be done, but not in the evening where excess water might condense because of the lower temperatures.
It is most important that you use rain water for your orchid plants whenever possible. Ordinary tap water has chemicals in it that the orchid plants may not be able to tolerated in large quantities. Room temperature water is optimum – cold water will harm your plant if used continually. Watering frequency needs to be considered. As a rough guide, water twice weekly during summer and once a week during winter. The larger your container, the longer the period between watering can be. The potting mix should always be damp but remember the potting medium at the bottom of the pot will be damper than at the surface. Poke your finger or a stick into the potting mix to determine how moist the medium is at the bottom of the pot.
Orchid Care - Ventilation
Orchid plants prefer air circulation as that is what they are used to in their natural environment. Air circulation benefits orchid plants as evaporation of excess water prevents fungi establishing on the plant. Other benefits of air circulation are prevention of leaf burn and replenishing of carbon dioxide. Orchid care in your home can be aided by having open windows in summer and a gentle oscillating fan during the winter months.
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Like most plants, orchids require the major elements (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) as well as trace elements. Plants in a bark potting mix need slightly higher nitrogen concentrations. Fortunately there are many formulated orchid foods on the market that will help you with your orchid care. One secret orchid food recipe has been developed at Fast-Aging Orchid Fertilizer .
Orchid Care - Nutrients
Copyright 2008 Orchid Care
Types of Orchid
Cymbidium Orchid
Moth Orchid
Lady Slipper Orchid
Cattleya Orchid
Odontoglossum Orchid
Dendrobium Orchid
Cymbidium Orchid
Moth Orchid
Lady Slipper Orchid
Cattleya Orchid
Odontoglossum Orchid
Dendrobium Orchid
Orchid Fertilizer
Orchid Growing
Orchid Pots
Repotting Orchids
Orchid Growing
Orchid Pots
Repotting Orchids
Orchid Diseases
Orchid Home Garden
Orchid Home Garden