subject: Looking After Your Orchids Doesn't Have to Be a Chore [print this page] Many people are under a false impression with orchids and believe that they are extremely difficult to care for. But with at least 25,000 species of orchids and over 100,000 hybrids, caring for orchids is actually extremely manageable whether you are an experienced horticulturist or not.
Most orchids don't need any more care than the average houseplant. But of course, there a few types that do need some special care. First and foremost, you need to know and understand what the particular requirements are for your new orchid. The blooms of an orchid are truly beautiful and this is what sets them apart from other flowers, but it's also the blooms that are quite fragile. Giving your orchid the care that it requires will ensure that it blooms just as it did when you first bought it. The "Phaleanopsis" orchid is especially popular as it is easier to keep than some of the other, rarer species. If it's is either white or purple, then you do have a phaleanopsis orchid.
If taken care of correctly, your orchid will bloom for at least three months of the year every year. The best place to keep your orchid is by the window on the east-side of your home. This will help it get the sunlight it needs, but do try to avoid the midday sun - this can be quite severe on an orchid. The optimum location is on the eastern side of your home where it can enjoy the morning and afternoon sunlight and have maximum benefit. Fluorescent lights placed about a foot above the orchids flowers can act as a substitute for natural sunlight but it's still best to expose your orchid to normal daylight hours.
Orchids should be kept between 55 Fahrenheit (13 Celsius) and 80 Fahrenheit (27 Celsius) but any higher will cause damage to the flower. If an orchid is subjected to temperatures higher than 90 Fahrenheit (32 Celsius) it will very quickly lose its buds or will just stop blooming altogether. Although orchids should remain moist. over-watering can actually kill the flower. If your orchid is watered once every one or two weeks or is permanently kept in a water tray, you will experience few issues. Having said that, if you do keep your orchid in a water tray, the only thing to remember is to not let the roots touch the bottom or edges of the tray this will lead to a continuous water supply and result in over-watering.
A very good tip to keeping your orchid blooming for as much of its lifespan as possible, is to fertilize the plant before it blooms each time. When it blooms, fertilizing won't be necessary until the next time it flowers. Pruning your orchid while it's in the process of flowering will help a second set of blooms to develop.
Looking After Your Orchids Doesn't Have to Be a Chore
