Growing Orchids For Beginners - Beginners' Quickstart To Growing Orchids

As with any aspiring orchid gardener, the first decision you have to make is what type of orchid to grow

. Your first consideration should be the climate of the area you live and whether or not it can sustain outdoor or indoor orchid growth. Growing orchids inside or outside is one of the biggest initial decisions you need to make.

Choose healthy plants.

Make sure to purchase healthy orchid plants that are free from pests or diseases. The bulbs should all be around the same size with none significantly smaller than others. It is best to buy an orchid that has already bloomed or is blooming at the time of purchase. Always look for living roots. Plus, don't buy from sellers who are not reputable even if the low prices are tempting. It only takes one plant infested with pests or diseases to infect and destroy an entire collection.

Grow similar orchids together.

Try to select orchids that grow happily together. That means: do not put orchids which like the shade with orchids which like the sun. And, do not place orchids which like nighttime temperatures of 70 to 80 degrees with those who prefer cooler nighttime temperatures of 50 to 60 degrees. Grow orchids together only if they have similar needs.

Make plenty of space.

Orchids come in all sizes. Always be sure to research how tall your orchid is going to grow before purchasing it. Orchid plants may start off small and stay that way, while others can grow over two feet tall. A small orchid can spread out its flower stems to be over five feet long. If growing orchids inside, make sure that your house has enough room for your species to spread out.

Check humidity levels.

Most warm orchids need pretty high humidity levels in order to thrive and flower. Many should be in the 60% to 80% range. If you live in a place where it gets very cold in the winters, you most likely will not be able to maintain such a high humidity level without building a greenhouse or some type of glass enclosure. Some of the cool orchids or terrestrials are not so demanding about moisture. These are better selections for beginners.

Water orchids well.

The watering of orchids is one of the most critical aspects of orchid care. Most orchids do well with watering once a week. You should wait for the plant to dry out but don't let it get totally dry in-between watering. The top should be dry to the touch and the pot should feel light. Over-watering is one of the biggest mistakes that beginners make with orchids. You want to water the plant until water runs out of the drainage holes. But make sure the orchid is well-drained and there is never any accumulation of water.

Air circulation is necessary.

Orchids need to be able to have a lot of air circulation for superior growth. Unlike most plants, except for a few terrestrial varieties, orchids are not planted with their roots growing into the soil. Whatever media you use for planting--fir bark, sphagnum moss, peat moss or others, it is essential that the entire growing area has adequate ventilation. Inside, a ceiling fan on low is just right for proper air circulation. An orchid can deteriorate because of stale air.

Try liquid fertilizer.

If you want your orchids to flower, you are going to have to fertilize them. Gardeners disagree a lot about the best fertilizer for orchids. Everyone seems to have their own pet theory. The best thing to do is just try a few different fertilizing options and see what works the best for you. You can go all organic with your fertilizers, using compost from worm castings or fish emulsions, or you can use synthetic fertilizers, such as 10-10-10 with varying amounts of nutrients.

by: Mary Ann Berdak

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