Orchid Care Step By Step

It has been the belief of many for sometime that caring for orchids was difficult or reserved only for the rich

. But, with more the 25,000 species and more then 100,000 hybrids, it is possible for anyone to find an orchid that will fit into their lifestyle, budget and level of skill as a horticulturist.

Most types of orchids do not require anymore work than any other house or garden plants. But, some orchids do have special requirements. Your first step in orchid care should always be to find out the particular requirements that your flower needs. There are very few plants that produce such a delicate and beautiful bloom as an orchid can. It is one of the things that make them such a popular house plant. If you give your orchid extremely well care, you can keep them blooming just as healthy as they were in the store. The popular orchid you probably have received as a gift or bought from the store is a 'phaleanopsis'. This is the popular white or purple orchids that are available due to the fact that they are easier to care for than some of the less common varieties of orchid plants.

Orchids will bloom for at least three months if they are taken care of correctly. You should place your orchid near the window so that it can receive sunlight throughout the day. But you should avoid the midday sun which can be too harsh for these plants and aim to give your orchid morning and evening sunlight. For this reason, the eastern side of your home is an excellent place to place your orchid. You can substitute natural sunlight with fluorescent lights that are about a foot above the orchid's flowers but, you still want to limit exposure to normal daylight hours.

Orchids thrive in temperatures that are above 55 degrees Fahrenheit but no higher than 8o degrees. Orchids that are in weather that passes 90 degrees will start to loose their buds or will stop blooming at all. It is important to make sure that the flower stays moist, but do not over water the roots because it can kill the blooms. In stead, water the plant once every ten weeks, or keep the orchid in a water tray constantly. Make sure that the roots do not touch the water tray or it will then constantly be soaking up too much water.

A great tip to keeping the orchid in bloom for the most amount of time as possible is to fertilize the plant before it blooms. Once it has bloomed, you don't need to fertilize it any longer. Plus, another tip to keeping your orchid in bloom for the greatest amount of time you can is to carefully prune the orchid while it is blooming. You will then be able to see a second set of flowers develop. With the right amount of care and attention, you will be able to own a gorgeous orchid plant that will display a full and rich bloom throughout the blooming season.

Copyright (c) 2010 Daniel Nash

by: Daniel Nash

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