5 Secret Tips To Avoiding Orchid Problems

Orchids are very susceptible to disease, but that doesn't mean that they are a delicate breed of plant

. In fact, orchids can survive some fairly extreme conditions. So what gives orchids a reputation of being so delicate?

The answer to many orchid problems lies in the locations of the world where they originate. For the most part, orchids are tropical plants that have grown with unique characteristics for thousands of years. When you bring an orchid home after purchasing it, it may be exposed to viruses that its species had never been exposed to before. This is a result of the completely different breeding environment of the tropics compared to your environment at home.

The situation is similar when people travel to a new country and become exposed to specific germs and viruses that their system is not used to. They become vulnerable to sickness and disease that would never have been a problem in their own country. It's the same principal with orchids. Special care must be taken to avoid these problems.

Here are 5 tips to assure that orchid problems are a thing of the past:

1. When pruning your orchids, always sterilize your pruning shears. Failure to do so may result in passing on bacteria or a virus that your orchid may not be able to fight off. This is especially true when you've used your pruning shears to prune some other house plant or outdoor plant. A simple virus that your outdoor plant can fight off naturally may be too much of a task for your orchid since it's never been exposed to that virus before.

2. Never leave your orchid sitting in water. This is sure to rot the roots, and I don't have to tell you what happens when the roots rot, well I will; your orchid will die. To avoid this problem, make sure you use a planting pot that has sufficient drainage at the bottom so that excess water can drain out.

3. Never use fertilizer that contains the compound urea. This compound is fine for everyday plants and crops, but orchids do not like it at all. Use only fertilizers that are recommended for your orchid.

4. Since there are about 30,000 different species of orchids worldwide, make sure you get specific information for the type of orchid you purchase. Some orchids, for example, are able to tolerate a wide range of temperature changes, whereas others don't do well at all when temperatures change.

5. This last tip is one that many growers avoid because what they can't see, they tend to avoid; and that is periodic re-potting. Re-potting is essential for several reasons. The main reason is to inspect the roots, and believe me, orchid roots do need to be looked at at least once every two years. The roots of orchids can easily rot due to excessive amounts of water, and when they do, the plant dies. Re-potting lets you examine the roots for disease or rot, and allows you to cut the infected area of the root out before it can do further damage.

Avoiding problems with orchids is not rocket science, but some care must be taken for your exotic plant to stay healthy and bloom year and year.

by: Simon John Adams

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