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Orchids: Elegant, beautiful, and impossible to grow. Or are they? If you think that the only good orchid is a fake orchid, think again! You can have live, beautiful orchids in your home if you follow the steps in this article to properly grow and care for orchids.
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Orchid Growing Tips
- Choose the right species of orchid.
- Place it in a good location.
- Give it proper light, humidity, temperature and ventilation.
- Water and feed it carefully.
- Repot it every two years.
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Orchids: Elegant, beautiful, and impossible to grow. Or are they? If you think that the only good orchid is a fake orchid, think again! You can have live, beautiful orchids in your home if you follow the steps in this article to properly grow and care for orchids.
-
Orchid Growing Tips
- Choose the right species of orchid for your home temperature and lighting situation.
- Place it in a good location.
- Give it proper light, humidity, temperature and ventilation.
- Water and feed it carefully.
- Repot it every two years.
Introduction
- Orchids have been a symbol of luxury and romance for hundreds of years.Beautiful Orchids: What is an Orchid? Exotic and beautiful, they have an unfair reputation of being difficult to grow. There are over 35,000 species of orchid growing in almost every corner of the world save Antarctica.All About Orchids: The Story of Orchids If orchids can grow naturally in bogs, mountains and rainforests, they can certainly grow in your home!Beautiful Orchids: What is an Orchid? We'll show you how.
About Orchids
- The orchid flower is what makes the orchid unique.Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: Orchidaceae
- Each flower has 3 sepals and 3 petals.eFloras: Flora of North America: Orchidaceae Jussieu
- Each flower has a center lower petal called the lip.Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: Orchidaceae Centered in the lip is a column, which is a combination of male and female reproductive organs.Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: Orchidaceae
- Orchids are extremely diverse.Horticulture Fact Sheet: Growing Orchids
- They are the most rapidly changing group of plants in the world of botany.Horticulture Fact Sheet: Growing Orchids
- Thousands of varieties of species of Orchids exist.University of Illinois Extension: Home Hort Hints: Growing Orchids
- Hundreds of thousands of hybrids exist.University of Illinois Extension: Home Hort Hints: Growing Orchids
Types of Orchids
- Terrestrial orchids grow near the ground, mainly in marsh land.Brooklyn Botanic Garden: Hardy Terrestrial Orchids Paphiopedilums and Cymbidiums are two examples of terrestrial orchids.Brooklyn Botanic Garden: Hardy Terrestrial Orchids
- Epiphytic orchids use their roots to hang onto rocks or trees.Britannica: Epiphytic Orchids They take in nutrients that fall to them, and absorb sunlight through their roots as well.Britannica: Epiphytic Orchids Most orchids are Ephiphytic orchids.The Orchid House: Orchids, The Ultimate Plant Hobby
- Saprophytic orchids do not have any chlorophyll and grow on decomposing organic material. Conservatory of Flowers: Guide's Corner
- Lithophyte orchids grow on hard surfaces like rocks and along the edges of cliffs. Conservatory of Flowers: Guide's CornerTheir long roots help then hang onto the hard surfaces.Conservatory of Flowers: Guide's Corner
Growth Habits of Orchids
- Besides the growth medium listed above, orchids can also be grouped by their growth habits.Gardener's Supply Company: How to Grow Orchids
- Monopodial orchids grow from a single, upright stem.Andromeda Botanic Gardens: The Orchids The leaves are arranged opposite each other.Andromeda Botanic Gardens: The Orchids Some examples of this type of orchid include the phalaenopsis and vandas.Gardener's Supply Company: How to Grow Orchids
- Sympodial orchids grow horizontally, sending out new shoots as they grow.Andromeda Botanic Gardens: The Orchids More orchids are sympodial than monopodial.Andromeda Botanic Gardens: The Orchids Sympodial orchids form pseudobulbs, which store water and nutrients.Andromeda Botanic Gardens: The Orchids Some examples include cattleya, oncidium, and cymbidium.Gardener's Supply Company: How to Grow Orchids
Step 1: Select the Right Species of Orchid
- Before selecting a species of orchid, you first need to look at the general environment of your home.Central California Orchid Society: Choosing Your Orchid The rest of this page will walk you through detailed information about your home gardening environment, but the following tips will help you make a few important initial decisions about specific types of orchids that may be best for you:
- Choose an orchid that likes low light levels, such as Phalaenopsis, if you live in a house that does not get much natural light.Central California Orchid Society: Choosing Your Orchid
- Choose an orchid that likes high light levels, such as Cattleya, if you are going to place it near a bright window.Central California Orchid Society: Choosing Your Orchid
- Choose an orchid that does well in a cooler climate, such as Paphiopedilum, if you live in a temperate area with lower humidity.North of England Orchid Society: Popular Orchids Identification and Culture
Best Orchids for Beginners
- The best overall orchid for beginners to grow is Phalaenopsis, which has long-lasting blooms and can bloom for up to three months.Royal Horticultural Society: Growing orchids - Cymbidium and Phalaenopsis Phalaenopsis is also adaptable and hardy, which makes it easier to grow inside the home.American Orchid Society: What is the Best Orchid for Growing in the Home? Phalaenopsis are sometimes called the "Moth Orchids" due to the moth-like shape of their petals.University of Illinois Extension: Home Hort Hints: Growing Orchids
- Phalaenopsis thrives in medium fir bark.Royal Horticultural Society: [http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles0101/orchids.asp Growing orchids - Cymbidium and Phalaenopsis
- -Moderate to low light.Colorado State Extension: Plant Talk: Orchid Phalaenopsis
- -Temperatures should be 65 to 85 degrees F.Gardener's Supply Company: How to Grow Orchids
- -Humidity somewhere between 40 to 80 percent.Colorado State Extension: Plant Talk: Orchid Phalaenopsis Gardener's Supply Company: How to Grow Orchids
- -Do not allow the bark to dry out.Gardener's Supply Company: How to Grow Orchids
- According to the North of England Orchid Society, Cattleya orchids make good houseplants as well.North of England Orchid Society: Popular Orchids Identification and Culture
- Cattleya orchids have up to eight flowers on one stem, and require high light levels to bloom properly.North of England Orchid Society: Popular Orchids Identification and Culture
- -Cattleya like high light levels.Gardener's Supply Company: How to Grow Orchids
- -They do well with humidity around 40 to 80 percent.Gardener's Supply Company: How to Grow Orchids
- -Plant Cattleya in course fir bark, and alternate between keeping it wet and dry.Gardener's Supply Company: How to Grow Orchids Horticulture Fact Sheet: Growing Orchids
- -During the winter, reduce the amount of water to once every ten days or so.Horticulture Fact Sheet: Growing Orchids
- If you live in a cooler climate, you might choose to raise Paphiopedilum orchids, sometimes called the "Lady Slipper".North of England Orchid Society: Popular Orchids Identification and Culture All About Orchids: Popular Orchids Identification
- Paphiopedilum orchids can tolerate higher temperatures, but their medium should be kept moist in such conditions.All About Orchids: Popular Orchids Identification Horticulture Fact Sheet: Growing Orchids
- -Do not place Paphiopedilum orchids in full sunlight.All About Orchids: Popular Orchids IdentificationThey prefer to face east or west, with indirect sunlight.Royal Horticultural Society: Growing orchids - Odontoglossum and Paphiopedilum
- -Paphiopedilums like moist, but not soggy potting medium, which should be a mixture containing bark, or a peat-based medium.All About Orchids: Popular Orchids Idenitification Horticulture Fact Sheet: Growing Orchids
Challenging Orchids for More Experienced Growers
- More experienced orchid handlers might like to try growing the following orchids:
- Vandaceous orchids. Although popular, these orchids are best for experienced growers in part because they require high air movement and high humidity, which can be difficult to achieve, in order to fully thrive.Bribie Island Orchid Society: Vandaceous Orchids Horticulture Fact Sheet: Growing Orchids Vandaceous orchids do not tolerate long, hot periods of weather, nor do they tolerate temperatures under 45 degrees F.Bribie Island Orchid Society: Vandaceous Orchids Horticulture Fact Sheet: Growing Orchids Vandaceous orchids must be watered with good quality water, and only early in the morning.Bribie Island Orchid Society: Vandaceous Orchids
- Catasetum orchids. Catasetums are very sensitive to handling.Bribie Island Orchid Society: Catasetum Orchids These beautiful orchids "shoot" pollen at nearby insects, and a slight brush of a finger can trigger the pollinarium to burst.Bribie Island Orchid Society: Catasetum Orchids Catasetum are deciduous, dropping their leaves just before blooming.CLAN Orchids: Cultural Information Sheet for Catasetum, Stanhopeas, and related Orchids Catasetum like moist, warm air, with bright light.Bribie Island Orchid Society: Catasetum Orchids
Step 2: Choose a Good Location
- Orchids will grow and bloom beautifully, as long as they are kept in the proper location. They need a carefully balanced amount of light, humidity, ventilation and temperature in order to thrive.
Let There Be Light
- Light is the most important factor in getting your orchid to bloom properly.The Orchid Society of Royal Botanical Gardens: Light Too much light, and your orchid show signs of sun burn: Yellowish foliage, and a weak, dehydrated appearance.Taunton Fine Gardening: Success With Orchids Indoors Too little light, and your orchid will not be able to bloom.Taunton Fine Gardening: Success With Orchids Indoors
- Make sure your orchid gets enough light!Clemson Extension Home and Garden Information Fact Sheet: Orchids
- Not giving the orchid enough light is a common mistake made by people who are just beginning to learn how to grow orchids.Clemson Extension Home and Garden Information Fact Sheet: Orchids
- Although the orchid may look pretty in that dark corner, but leave it there and its leaves will turn limp and dark green, and it will fail to bloom.The River Valley Orchidworks Beginner's Guide to Orchids: Orchid Growing Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
- Watch the foliage to determine how much light an orchid needs.The Orchid Society of Royal Botanical Gardens: Light The leaves should be a medium light green color to begin with for most orchids.The Orchid Society of Royal Botanical Gardens: Light
- If the leaves suddenly become very yellow, develop sudden brown splotches or orange patches, this means the plant is getting too much light.The Orchid Society of Royal Botanical Gardens: Light
- If the leaves turn a dark green, this means the plant is not getting enough light.Clemson Extension Home and Garden Information Fact Sheet: Orchids
Humidity
- Different orchids thrive under different conditions of humidity. In general, most orchids do well with a daytime humidity of 40 to 60 percent.Clemson Extension Home and Garden Information Fact Sheet: Orchids
- Cattleya orchids enjoy a daytime humidity of 40 to 80 percent.Gardener's Supply Company: How to Grow Orchids
- Phalaenopsis orchids do well with a humidity level of 40 to 70 percent, although other orchid experts suggest a humidity level of 50 to 80 percent.Gardener's Supply Company: How to Grow Orchids Colorado State Extension: Plant Talk: Orchid Phalaenopsis
- Paphiopedilum are among the many orchids that thrive in environments with 40 to 60 percent humidity.Gardener's Supply Company: How to Grow Orchids
- There are ways you can increase the amount of humidity in your home:Beautiful Orchids: Orchids Love Humidity
- If the air is dry, place the orchid in a shallow dish filled with water and rocks or pebbles.Beautiful Orchids: Orchids Love Humidity The water level should reach to just below the tops of the pebbles.Beautiful Orchids: Orchids Love Humidity
- You can mist your orchid, but do it in the morning, so that it will evaporate quickly in the daytime sun.DIY Network Gardening: Keeping Orchids Healthy and Blooming
Ventilation
- The movement of air is vital for the survival of orchids.Beautiful Orchids: Air Movement: Ventilation In the wild, tropical breezes help evaporate stagnant water, where bacteria can breed.Beautiful Orchids: Air Movement: Ventilation
- Place your orchid near an open window when the weather is nice.Horticulture Fact Sheet: Growing Orchids
- In the winter, use a small fan to stir the air near your orchid, and change the direction of the airflow frequently.Horticulture Fact Sheet: Growing Orchids
Temperature
- Temperature is important because orchids need the temperature to fluctuate 10-15 degrees F between day and night in order to bloom.Clemson Extension Home and Garden Information Fact Sheet: Orchids
- For most orchids, a night temperature of 60 to 62 degrees F is ideal, but it can go as low as 55 degrees F.Beautiful Orchids: The Ideal Temperature Remove any orchid plants near windows during freezing nights, as the air near the windows may be too cold for the orchid to tolerate. Horticulture Fact Sheet: Growing Orchids
- A daytime temperature ranging between 65 to 80 degrees is ideal.Beautiful Orchids: The Ideal Temperature
- If it gets too hot during the day, keep the orchid humid and keep a breeze on it.Beautiful Orchids: The Ideal Temperature Clemson Extension Home and Garden Information Fact Sheet: Orchids
Step 3: Feed Your Orchid Carefully
- Orchids need to be watered and fed according to fairly strict guidelines.Horticulture Fact Sheet: Growing OrchidsAlthough not too complicated to grow, orchids can be picky when it comes to water and food.Horticulture Fact Sheet: Growing Orchids
Watering
- It is important not to over water your orchid.Horticulture Fact Sheet: Growing Orchids In fact, over watering orchids is a common mistake many beginning orchid growers make.The River Valley Orchidworks Beginner's Guide to Orchids: Orchid Growing Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
- Many beginners think that, because orchids are tropical, they like dense, steamy and hot environments.The River Valley Orchidworks Beginner's Guide to Orchids: Orchid Growing Mistakes and How to Avoid Them They let their orchids sit in wet and soggy pots.Clemson Extension Home and Garden Information Fact Sheet: Orchids This will surely kill any orchid!Clemson Extension Home and Garden Information Fact Sheet: Orchids
- A good rule of thumb is to water when your medium is almost dry.Horticulture Fact Sheet: Growing Orchids
- The following are some guidelines you should follow when watering your orchid.Beautiful Orchids: Watering Your Orchid
- Water early in the day.Lady Slipper: Paphiopedilum
- Water once a week during the winter, and twice a week during warm and dry weather.Beautiful Orchids: Watering Your Orchid
- The smaller the pot, the more frequently the orchid will need to be watered.University of Florida Extension: Tips on Growing Orchids in Florida
- The type of potting medium will affect how often you need to water your orchid.Beautiful Orchids: Watering Your Orchid
- Bark dries out more rapidly than moss.Beautiful Orchids: Watering Your Orchid
- The bottom of the medium, near the roots, might still be wet even if the top is dry.Beautiful Orchids: Watering Your Orchid Poke your finger an inch into the medium to check before watering.Beautiful Orchids: Watering Your Orchid Most orchids thrive when the potting medium is allowed to dry out a bit between waterings.Lady Slipper: Paphiopedilum
- The quality and temperature of the water used can affect your orchid's growth.Beautiful Orchids: Watering Your Orchid
- Tap water often has chlorine or other chemicals in it, which can harm the orchid.University of Vermont Extension: Growing Orchids Indoors
- Rainwater is best for watering orchids.Lady Slipper: Paphiopedilum
Fertilizing
- Orchids growing in the wild take nutrients from nearby decomposing vegetation, bird droppings, or rainwater.BAR Digest: Orchids and Mycorrhiza: A Lesson from the Wild Your orchid at home will need similar nutrients, so look for orchid food that contains the following:American Orchard Society: How Do I Feed My Orchid?
- Potassium (K), which controls flower and fruit development.Beautiful Orchids: Orchid Food
- Phosphorous (P), which promotes flower production.Beautiful Orchids: Orchid Food
- Nitrogen (N), which encourages healthy vegetative growth.Beautiful Orchids: Orchid Food If your orchid is growing in bark, it will need more Nitrogen than those growing in moss.Beautiful Orchids: Orchid Food
- Use fertilizer sparingly. Orchids do better with too little fertilizer than too much.American Orchard Society: How Do I Feed My Orchid?
- Many growers prefer to err on the side of caution, using fertilizers with a ratio of 10-10-10.Gardener's Supply Company: How to Grow Orchids Others like to use fertilizer with a 10-10-30 ratio.Gardener's Supply Company: How to Grow Orchids If your growing medium is bark, some experts suggest looking for fertilizer with a 10-10-30 ratio of Potassium , Phosphorus and Nitrogen respectively.Beautiful Orchids: Orchid Food
- If your growing medium is not bark, some experts suggest using a fertilizer with a 20-20-20 ratio.American Orchard Society: How Do I Feed My Orchid?
Step 4: Repot Your Orchid
- Orchids usually need to be moved to a larger pot every two years at the very least.Horticulture Fact Sheet: Growing OrchidsIt is necessary to repot when the body of the plant, not the roots, has grown over the edge of the pot.Orchid Society of California: Phalaenopsis Orchid Culture in the Home The best time to move your orchid to a new pot is at the start of the growing season.Horticulture Fact Sheet: Growing Orchids
- Choose a pot only one size larger than your current pot and no bigger than that.Orchid Society of California: Phalaenopsis Orchid Culture in the Home
- Choose and sterilize a cutting tool by passing a flame across it.Chalet Nursery: Orchid Repotting Tips
- Ease the orchid out of the old pot, keeping the roots intact.Chalet Nursery: Orchid Repotting Tips
- Carefully remove as much of the old medium from the orchid's roots as possible, and cut off any dead roots.Orchid Society of California: Phalaenopsis Orchid Culture in the Home
- Place pebbles and a little bit of the new medium in the bottom of the new pot.Chalet Nursery: Orchid Repotting Tips
- Place the orchid in the pot so that the crown is slightly below the rim of the pot.Chalet Nursery: Orchid Repotting Tips
- Sprinkle the new medium into the pot, letting it sift down among the roots. Orchid Society of California: Phalaenopsis Orchid Culture in the Home Push it in gently, but allow for good circulation and do not bury the crown.Orchid Society of California: Phalaenopsis Orchid Culture in the Home
- Lightly water the orchid.Chalet Nursery: Orchid Repotting Tips
Orchid Pests and Diseases
- Last but not least, caring for your orchid means keeping a watchful eye out for signs of pests or diseases.The River Valley Orchidworks Beginner's Guide to Orchids: Orchid Pests and Diseases While the best defense is a healthy orchid, pests and diseases can be dealt with quickly if caught soon enough.White River Gardens: Orchid Pests and Diseases (66.3 KB PDF File)
Pests
- Snails, slugs, aphids, ants, spider mites, and others will want to set up camp on your orchid.White River Gardens: Orchid Pests and Diseases (66.3 KB PDF File) Keep them away by doing the following:The River Valley Orchidworks Beginner's Guide to Orchids: Orchid Pests and Diseases
- Keep the growing area free of debris such as dead leaves, flowers, or old bark.The River Valley Orchidworks Beginner's Guide to Orchids: Orchid Pests and Diseases
- Check your orchid frequently for bugs hiding behind leaves or pseudobulbs.The River Valley Orchidworks Beginner's Guide to Orchids: Orchid Pests and Diseases
- If you find bugs, use a cotton ball dipped in alchohol to remove them manually.White River Gardens: Orchid Pests and Diseases (66.3 KB PDF File)
- Use a pesticide, but choose a pesticide created specifically for ornamental plants.White River Gardens: Orchid Pests and Diseases (66.3 KB PDF File)
Diseases
- Viruses, bacterial and fungal infections can all strike orchids.St. Augustine Orchid Society: Orchid Diseases (14.4 KB PDF FILE)
- Viral infections have no cure and can strike without warning.The River Valley Orchidworks Beginner's Guide to Orchids: Orchid Pests and Diseases You can to prevent viruses from attacking your orchid by sterilizing all cutting tools and keeping the area around your orchid clean.The River Valley Orchidworks Beginner's Guide to Orchids: Orchid Pests and Diseases Symptoms of a virus may include brown splotches and blotches in the leaves, and color streaking in the flowers.St. Augustine Orchid Society: Orchid Diseases (14.4 KB PDF FILE)
- Bacterial infections such as brown rot will cause wet, brown spots to appear on the leaves of your orchid.White River Gardens: Orchid Pests and Diseases (66.3 KB PDF File) Causes include high temperatures and humidity, slugs and snails. The River Valley Orchidworks Beginner's Guide to Orchids: Orchid Pests and Diseases Cut away any infected areas with a sharp, sterilized blade, then dust the wound with an ornamental antibacterial agent.The River Valley Orchidworks Beginner's Guide to Orchids: Orchid Pests and Diseases
- Fungal infections include black and crown rot and usually arise from over watering or by letting water collect in the pot, leaves or flowers.White River Gardens: Orchid Pests and Diseases Spray the plant with an ornamental fungicide.The River Valley Orchidworks Beginner's Guide to Orchids: Orchid Pests and Diseases
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