Orchid Care - The Basics

The orchid has the same needs as any plant, namely water, food, a certain amount of warmth and light. Not all orchids need the same type of care but all have these basic requirements. Most orchids sold for the home grower are no more demanding than any other house plant as long as you follow some simple rules.

Growing Medium

Orchids cannot be grown in regular compost or soil as they have very different roots systems to other house plants. Unlike regular plant compost orchid growing media is not nutrient rich. The main function of the growing medium for orchids is to act as an anchor for the plant. The 2 most important factors to consider when choosing your medium are to ensure that it provides excellent drainage and permits air to circulate around the roots.

There are several types of growing medium to choose from suck as bark, charcoal, coconut fiber, cork, sphagnum moss and rock wool. Many experienced growers usually like to come up with their own particular mix. Special blended media can be purchased to suite your particular species from many garden centers and stores.

Temperature

It is a commonly thought that orchids require constant high temperatures; this is just not the case some day to day variation is of some benefit to the orchid plant. Most orchids need some difference between the day and night time temperatures.

The temperature requirements of orchids vary from species to species but you should try to provide the temperature that your particular orchid plant would have in its natural habitat.

Orchids are classified as being cool, intermediate or warm orchids and an indication of the day time temperature requirements are detailed below;

Cool Orchids 55 - 70 F (13 - 21C)

Intermediate orchids 65 - 75 F (18 - 24C)

Warm Orchids 70 - 85 F (21 - 30C)

Never place your orchid directly in from of a fire or another heat source, Exposure to temperatures below 41F (5C) or above 90F (32C) for prolonged periods can be harmful or even fatal to your plant.

Humidity

Orchids generally need a higher humidity level than the average house plant. As a good rule of thumb you should try to maintain a relative humidity level of 50%to 85% around your orchid.

Very few homes would have this level of humidity naturally and indeed the majority of us would not be able to tolerate it either. So what we need to do is create a micro-climate around our orchid plants. The best way of achieving a good humidity level around our orchid plants is by placing them on a humidity tray.

A humidity tray can be made quite simply. Obtain a tray or shallow pot that is at least 3" deep and fill it with 1 to 2" of gravel or small pebbles. Place a saucer on top of the pebbles on which to place your potted orchid. Add water to the tray so that the pebbles are half submerged in water; NEVER let the water rise up to the bottom of the orchid pot itself. As the water in the tray evaporates it will provide a nice humid environment around your plants.

In dryer periods, or if you have a centrally heated home you can "top up" the humidity level by occasional misting of your plants. Spray the leaves and the roots trying to avoid the flowers themselves. But be sure to do this early in the day as your orchid leaves should never be left "wet" overnight.

I would strongly suggest that you use a humidity meter to best gauge the humidity levels. Indeed inexpensive combined digital thermometer and humidity meters are readily available.

Watering

As a good rule your orchid plant will need to be watered every 5 - 12 days depending upon seasonal conditions. It is best to water your orchids in the morning as this is when they would naturally receive moisture in their natural environment from the early morning mists. You should also water your plants from above and never fill the tray up with water. Your plant should NEVER be allowed to stand in water as the roots will soon rot if they become saturated and water logged. One of the most common causes of orchid plants dying is from being over-watered. The growing medium should feel moist but never wet.

Air

Your orchid plant should be placed in an area where it receives good air circulation but one that is also free from cold droughts. So it should not be placed in front of or close to an external door opening.

Light

Light is a basic requirement for your orchids growth. The majority of orchids grow best in indirect sunlight that copies the shaded lighting conditions they would receive in their natural habitat. Full midday sun is usually too strong for the average orchid plant which will result in leaf burn.

Feeding

Orchids naturally receive nourishment from decaying material that gathers around their roots. The nutrients provided are generally fairly week. So as a general rule you should only feed your orchid every 3 or 4 watering. This feeding can stop or be reduced in periods of non-growth. There are several propriety orchid feeds that are available from your garden center or store. And commonly different types are available for use when your orchid is in bloom.

Jonathan Lawes is an orchid expert. For more information on caring for orchids,visit http://www.orchidgardenanswers.com.

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Houseplant Basics

You have just moved into your first home or apartment and want to get some houseplants to enhance your decorating scheme. There are two main types of indoor plants to consider: foliage plants and flowering plants. Foliage plants are much easier to grow and they are tough. They can tolerate weak lighting, irregular watering. extreme temperatures and neglect. Foliage plants don't only have the basic green leaves. They come in many different shades of green from very light green to very dark blackish green. The leaves also come in a wide variety of colors from white, pink, red, purple, silver and brown, and have stripes and swirls of color in them.

Though some flowering plants are as easy to grow as foliage plants, most do need more care and expertise to flourish. They are not as tough as foliage plants and most of their resources are aimed at flowering. If they don't receive the care they need they will not bloom. Most flowering plants only bloom at certain times of the year and only bloom for two weeks to two months of the year. Very few plants bloom throughout the year. Some can, but only under near perfect conditions.

The most basic need of all houseplants is good lighting at all times. Low lighting can actually harm your plants. Using the natural light available in your home is the most economic course to take. Southern window exposure provides the brightest light while northern window exposure provides the lowest light. East windows have most light in the morning and west windows have most light in the afternoon. Bay windows increase light because it enters the room from many angles. Plants that need bright light can be close to the window while those requiring less can be moved further into the room. If windows don't provide enough light, especially in the winter, artificial lighting can be used. Two choices used specifically for plants are fluorescent and high-density discharge lamps. Both work well and provide the extra light necessary for healthy plants. Watering plants is another basic need to grow healthy plants. A little effort is required so they won't have too much or too little. Touch the soil in the pot to see if it has dried. Then dig into the soil about an inch with your finger to see if it is moist. If it is, then don't water yet. If it is dry, water now. You can test a plant to see if it needs water by its weight. If it's heavy, it doesn't need watering yet. If it's light, it probably does. Check this action out a few times till you get the feel for the correct time to water. There are probes, meters and other gadgets you can use that let you know when to water. Inserting your finger into the soil or lifting the pot to check weight are the easiest and most economical way to go.

Fertilizing is another must. Always remember that less is more for houseplants. Only feed when plants are in their growing season. In the winter they slow down and don't need feeding then. There are many products on the market now, from basic fertilizers to the specialized ones for certain needs. Most economical products are concentrated in liquid, powder or crystal forms which are mixed with water. Slow release fertilizers are great, but you should note the date on the calendar.

Plants also require air circulation and humidity. Circulation is not a problem. Any movement in the house causes air movement. Just walking through a room for instance. To help plants suffering from low humidity, there are easy fixes. Placing plants in humid rooms, such as bathrooms and laundry rooms, setting them on the floor or investing in a humidifier can help solve the problem quickly.

By following these basic instructions, you can get a start on growing healthy plants. Further study is needed to delve into specialized or exotic varieties. Remember you can do anything you want to do!

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