subject: My Orchids Always Died Until I Learned These Caring For Orchids Tips [print this page] I still can remember the first orchid I received as a gift long ago. I did not know that it was an orchid, much less what type of orchid, but later I learned it was a popular Phalaenopsis. But I was intrigued by its unique flowers. Given my most ungreen of thumbs, the orchid died a slow death, despite my attempts to love it back to health. What makes them a plant apart from the normal houseplants grown at home and why do they appear to be a challenge to so many?
Undoubtedly, when I received my first orchid, I knew next to nothing about caring for any plants. I don't know what happened, but the orchid worked its way into my life, and I wanted to know the best way to care for orchids. Although that first orchid died, I never gave up, and have since been able to remove the aura of complexity that many think surrounds the caring of orchids. It all comes down to 6 basic factors. This is not rocket science, as the saying goes, so concentrate on these factors and you will find yourself proud of your beautiful orchid and maybe get hooked like I did.
1. Where Does Your Orchid Grow In Nature?
When you buy an orchid, make sure you can recreate the conditions the plant requires in its natural environment.|.. Not all orchids are found in the tropics. Also, some places will give you a basic growing and care guide.
2. Orchid Lighting
Most orchids need at least 6 hours of bright light, but not direct sunlight. Direct sunlight will burn the leaves. Think about your orchids natural environment, where the light it receives is filtered by surrounding trees and plants. Your orchid's leaves will be medium to light green if it is getting enough light. Not enough light and your orchid's leaves will turn dark green and too much light will make the leaves pale green. Pretty simple right?
3. Don't Kill Them With Love
This is how I managed to kill my first orchid. I basically overwatered it. I never thought twice about giving it another drink even as the leaves were turning yellow! Watering them about every 4 - 7 days seems to be enough, but it does depend on the season. One way to check is to insert a wooden stick into the orchid's growing medium. When you remove it, if it is darker, that means you don't need to water. Just remember, orchids can require different amounts of water at different times of the year, so keep checking!
4. Is it Time For Your Orchid to Eat?
You don't give cat food to your dog, so don't give regular plant food to your orchid. Get real orchid fertilizer for best results. Then apply it as a weak solution about once per week during its growing season. I found that mixing it at half strength works best.
5. Repotting Your Orchid
One thing you will eventually want to do is repot your orchid.. Gently remove the orchid from its pot, taking care not to hurt the roots. Wash off the dirt from the roots so you can inspect them to see if any are hollow or mushy. These you can cut off. Place the plant into a new pot, orchids apparently like being root-bound, so there should only be about 1" between the roots and the edge of the pot. Put some drainage material in the bottom of the new pot and then growing medium so that where the orchid comes out of the growing medium is just below the top of the new pot. Press gently to settle the plant but don't use too much force or the roots may break. Use a stick to support the plant in the pot so it is secure. If your plant is growing in sphagnum moss, make sure it is damp before wrapping it round the roots and repotting, that way you don't have to worry about pockets of air. Once your orchid is in its new pot, the plant should be moved away from bright light and should not be watered for 3 - 5 days to allow it to recover.
6. Got Flowers? What to do now?
Determine if your orchid reblooms from the same spike or whether blooms will come from new spikes. For orchids that bloom only once per spike, you should cut the spike off once the flowers have wilted. If you aren't certain, don't cut it off!
7. Orchid Diseases and Pests
OK, there is a seventh issue to take into account. Sometimes your orchid will get a disease or a pest. An important part of orchid care is looking out for various fungi or parasites. Isolate any plant that has a problem, check it out, find the remedy and start treating as soon as possible.
I am here to tell you, if you focus on these conditions and provide the amounts your orchid prefers, your orchid will thrive. Caring for orchids will become easy for you, and your satisfaction and pride will grow along with your healthy orchid.
