Guidelines on Caring For Orchids in a Greenhouse

Caring for orchids does require replicating growing conditions that they would have in their natural habitat. In terms of temperature, this can be accommodated in one of three basic greenhouse types. They are the hothouse, the temperate house and the cool house.

The ever popular Phalaenopsis species prefer the hothouse treatment. The temperature during night time should not fall below 65 degrees F. (18 degrees C) the daytime temperatures, particularly in summer can be allowed to rise to 86-90 degrees F (30-32 degrees C) without any detriment to the plant.

The Cattleya Orchids prefer the temperate or intermediate greenhouse. The temperature during night time should not fall below 59 degrees F. (15 degrees C) Daytime temperatures must be stable around 86 degrees F (30 degrees C).

The Odontoglossum Orchids prefer the cool greenhouse, because these plants mostly come from high mountain tropical areas, the night time temperature should not fall below 54 degrees F. (12 degrees C) The daytime temperature is equally important, particularly during summer time, and should go no higher than 75-77 degrees F. (24-25 degrees C)

In poor sunlight conditions, on cold winter days, it will be difficult to raise the indoor temperature to the desired level in all three types of greenhouses, therefore, it would be advisable to set the heating to contrast the night and day temperatures by at least 9 degrees F. (5 degrees C)

Light is extremely important to the health and well being of your plants and consequently to their ability to produce beautiful blooms. In terms of light requirement orchids can be split into three groups, namely the full shade, the full sun or the intermediate situation. This third condition is most common because the majority of orchids are epiphytic.

You can use a foot candle meter to measure the level of light in your greenhouse. Whilst there are books that give guidelines they don't always fit every situation, therefore, experimentation and experience become the order of the day. Generally speaking more shade should be provided in summer time to ensure correct temperature and humidity and vice versa in winter.

A properly balanced light system will result in beautiful, healthy plants which produce regular blooms. Shade in your greenhouse can be provided by dark colored nets of various sizes of mesh.

Plants that originate from tropical climates will need a high level of humidity in the greenhouse. It should never go below 50%. A rise in temperature results in a drop in humidity levels. In larger greenhouses sophisticated systems may need to be installed, however, for the smaller greenhouse humidity can be provided by spraying the areas beneath the shelves or by placing containers filled with water. It does help if your flooring is sand or gravel which gives off water. Opening windows on the shady side of the greenhouse can also be beneficial in creating humidity.

Good ventilation is also required for growing healthy orchids, whichever type of greenhouse you have, the atmosphere shouldn't be allowed to go stale. A small fan is the ideal solution for a small or medium sized greenhouse.

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