Habitat Needs

When growing the Phalaenopsis orchid you need to ensure that the growing conditions in your home meet the flower’s needs.  Lighting is rather simple to provide since this orchid does well in a bright area with little or no sunlight.  It still does need that brightness, though, so while direct sunlight is not important, on cloudy days or where there is no window lit area for the plant, you would need to provide some light for the plant.

As for the temperature, this type of orchid needs an average temperature of 75 to 85 degrees F during the day and nothing lower than 60 degrees F at night.  It is important to try to keep a consistent temperature as too much change can cause bud drop.

Humidity is important.  It should be kept at 50 to 80 percent.  To prevent problems, air movement is important.  Leaves need to be dry and not wet.  At night leaves must never be wet.

Watering and Feeding

Phalaenopsis orchids have no way to retain water within them, except for some slight water retention in the leaves.  Due to this, watering this type of orchid is important.  The plant should never be let to completely dry out.  The watering schedule should be watering the plant to saturate it and then watering next right before it is dry.  The frequency of watering will really depend upon the humidity and temperature.

Fertilizing should be done regularly.  It is very important during warm weather when the plant is experiencing the most growth.  During warm weather the plant should be fertilized twice a month with a 30-10-10 fertilizer.  When the plant is flowering use a 10-30-20 fertilizer.

Potting

Potting of Phalaenopsis orchids should be done in the spring, but after the plant has bloomed.  Use a porous mix for planting.  There is no need to repot until the potting medium starts decomposing.  A seedling can usually be repotted within a year.

Other Tips

Here are a few more tips that will help you in caring and growing Phalaenopsis orchids:

• Too much sun or heat can lead to burnt leaves.  If you notice leaf burn try moving your orchid out of the sun or heat.
• A simple watering guideline: the more heat provided for your plant, the more you should water it and visa versa.
• Do not let your plants stand in water.  Set them on top of rocks or use a pot that keeps the plant from sitting in excess water.
• Use Physan 30 once a month to prevent bacterial and fungal growth.
• The kitchen or bathroom is an ideal location for Phalaenopsis orchids since these areas provide perfect level of humidity.

Phalaenopsis orchids are beautiful and perfect as a house plant.  You will need to give them regular care, but once you pot them and find a good location, care is really minimal.  They are not a fussy plant and that is why so many people choose them as house plants.

You’re going to want to try to stick to relatively compact plants when you use artificial lighting. That’s because many of the larger orchids require higher quantities of light, and we just can’t provide everything they require. Each orchid type requires a different amount and quality of light, generally expressed in terms of foot candles. Orchids grown without the right amount of light will appear to prosper, but won’t flower. If you have an orchid in this situation, you might need to add more light.

The best way to tell how much light you have available in your growing space is to use a light metter. These are relatively cheap, and are pretty easy to use, so don’t feel like you need to skip out on buying one. The most commonly grown orchids need anywhere from a thousand to three thousand foot candles each, depending on species. Phalaenopsis and Paphiopedilum plants require one to one and a half thousand foot candles, while dendrobium orchids come in at about one and a half to two thousand. Cattleya orchids need two to three thousand foot candles of light, and oncidiums require a whopping two to five thousand. Make sure you’re providing the right amount of light for the plant you have – as you can see, there are significant differences.

While this might sound like a lot of light, you should realize that it’s not. Full summer sun at midday can be as bright as ten thousand foot candles. That’s a lot more than the average orchid needs. Greenhouse orchid growers have no problem getting that much light and more, and often need to partially shade their orchids, but in a home or a small apartment, getting the right amount can be tricky. If you’re worried that your plants are getting too much, just watch out for leaf burn. This appears as damage on the edges of the plants, and is a warning sign that something is wrong.

Remember that the quality of light matters just as much as the quantity, too. Plants require both blue and red spectrum light to grow successfully. This can be provided by adjusting the temperature (visually) of your bulb. Warm white bulbs offer red spectrum light and cool whites offer blue spectrum. There are also special combination bulbs that provide both in one unit. Mix the two types, or buy a single bulb, then decide how long to operate them. Most growers use fluorescent bulbs which produce less heat than incandescents and require changing less often. Replace bulbs once a year since their light output reduces over time.

Photo period is going to be important, as well. Some species will require you to change the apparent day length if you want them to flower. Orchids in the window will simply react to the length of time the sun shines on them, but orchids grown under artificial lighting may require careful timing. If you have a species which doesn’t require specific conditions, provide twelve to fourteen hour photoperiods in the winter and fourteen to sixteen hour days in the summer to offer enough light for a beautiful crop of flowers.

Another basic rule is to provide as much light as your orchid can take without developing leaf burn. Too little light causes narrow, elongated leaves and weak pseudobulbs and stems. Orchids which are getting enough light will have bright, light green leaves and strong, compact growth. Your plant could look healthy, with beautiful dark green leaves, but this indicates it’s not getting enough light and will probably never bloom. Correct the problem, and you’ll soon have attractive flowers and a healthier orchid. It’s all about the light.

The growing medium for an orchid needs to be replaced periodically, since it will decline if it stays in the same medium for too long. Orchid medium can actually decay to the point where it compacts and actually smothers the plant roots. Different media last different periods of time, with coconut husk mixes remaining viable longer than fir, and sphagnum moss being a middle ground choice. If the orchid appears to have outgrown its pot, or you need to refresh the medium, you’ll need to know how to do it. Let’s take a look.

Most orchids need to be repotted only every two to three years, though it will vary by species and individual plant. Don’t repot too often, since this could disturb the plant. New orchids may need to be repotted as soon as you can to make sure they’re in good health and keep them in harmony with your other plants. Repotting a new orchid can also allow you to examine its roots and make certain it has no insect pests or other problems to deal with. That will let you be sure you’re growing an orchid without pre-existing problems.

Older plants may not need repotting often at all, but if you see new growth outside the pot, you definitely need to do it. Roots that grow outside the container may be broken, or they may attach themselves to neighboring objects. Orchids suffering from insect infestation may also need repotting – carefully clean and check the roots in this case, and throw away all the old mix.

Transplanting needs to be done at the beginning of the plant’s growing season, after it has flowered, but before new roots are longer than about a half inch. Prepare the plant by soaking it until the or medium is extremely damp. Then lay the pot or container on its side and pull the plant out gently. A knife can be used to help you loosen the roots. Keep the roots intact as much as you can, since these are the way the orchid obtains its nutrients. Remove as much potting soil or growing medium as you can, then trim off off dead, damaged, dark or rotten roots.

Pick a new pot that’s one size larger than the current pot as long as the plant is healthy. For a plant with significant amounts of root damage, the same size or a smaller pot might be appropriate. Prepare the pit by placing coarse gravel, small stones, or other substances that help drainage in the bottom. Add your orchid and your growing medium, setting the plant into the new pot at the same height as it was in its old pot. Use an orchid appropriate growing medium, not regular soil.

Avoid watering your transplanted orchid for two weeks, and keep it out of the sun for six, so that it has the ability to recover from the stress of being repotted. For the first few months after repotting, water only sparingly. Use a stake in the middle of the pot (don’t damage roots) if you need to add extra support for your plant. That’s all there is to it! Orchid repotting might seem difficult and stressful, but if you take the time to learn how to do it correctly, it can be easy for you and your plant.

Growing orchids is a fun hobby that many people can get involved in. Just make sure that you know how to care for your plant properly. That means knowing when and how to repot it in order to keep it healthy and growing correctly. The reward is many beautiful flowers, and an exotic plant that you’ll have for a long time to come.

Versatile and beautiful in any environment, orchids can be grown in all climates. They’re decorative, and also serve as a source of oils and perfumes for industry. Most of the orchids that we see, however, are in florist shops and garden centers. These plants have a reputation for being hard to take care of, but it’s not one that they deserve. If you take the time to learn what your orchid really needs, you’ll be able to keep it alive and growing well without a lot of trouble.

Blue orchids come in all kinds of different shades, with most tending toward purplish shades. You can find blue orchids in blue violet, dark purple, and even rare royal blue shades. Vanda blue orchids are the most common, and are native to tropical regions in southeast Asia. These orchids can be found in shades anywhere from a pale sky blue to reddish violet, and there are many different species. Singapore’s national flower is a Vanda orchid.

This kind of orchid isn’t a beginner plant, but if you have the right information and enough patience, you can keep one healthy. Well kept blue orchids may bloom up to three times every year, with the blooms lasting over a month each time. However, you need to care for them correctly. Poorly treated orchids may survive, but may not bloom. They need to be given careful attention and kept appropriately moist if you want to get the most out of these fascinating plants. Careful orchid care is a must.

That means avoiding regular potting soil and pots. Blue orchids normally grow with their roots dangling, on tree bark. They can be grown in baskets or on cork bark to simulate this natural arrangement. The roots will absorb moisture, and should be allowed to grow freely. Place these orchids in an appropriate medium made of bark and fiber. Most garden stores offer an orchid mix that has the right pH and the correct texture to keep your blue orchids healthy.

Orchids prefer bright sunlight, and can be suspended close to the glass in greenhouses. If you’ll be growing your orchids in your home, make sure you pick the brightest available window or area. You may also grow yourorchids under artificial light if you know how.  Feed your orchids a high potash plant food every two weeks in the summer (half strength) and once a month at quarter strength in the winter and spring. Water thoroughly to ensure flowering. Daily watering is appropriate between June and September (in the northern hemisphere) and keeping them moist is appropriate the rest of the year.

As for caring for your orchids after blooming, they should be allowed to rest for two weeks with no water, allowing them to dry out. Then start watering again, but don’t overdo it. Keep the air around your orchids humid, running a humidifier close by if you can. The roots should be in moist air, since they’re native to a tropical environment. When your orchid outgrows its pot, repot carefully to encourage flowering. Repotting should be done every year or two.

If you take good care of your blue orchids, you’re sure to have a beautiful, healthy plant that rewards you with regular blossoms. An orchid isn’t like a regular plant, but most people can learn to grow them. Take the time to learn how, and don’t be intimidated by their reputation. Orchids are an unusual, tropical plant with some special requirements, but that doesn’t make them impossible to keep healthy. A little bit of research and some patience is all you really need. Don’t be worried. You can grow blue orchids, too.

Most of the beautiful orchids you’ll find on the market are phaeleonopsis orchids or dendrobiums. These plants prefer strong light that’s not too hot, high humidity, good airflow around the roots, and regular dry periods followed by extremely wet ones. They like temperatures between fifty and eighty-five degrees. These are the conditions we’re trying to recreate in order to get good blooms. They’re also the big reasons that most people can’t just plant an orchid in their yards. After all, regular soil can be a problem, binding roots and drowning them.

The majority of orchids from the store come in inexpensive plastic pots, with their roots packed in very wet moss. This is violating two of the rules above – air flow and the ability of the roots to be dry from time to time. This results in an orchid that will look good for a while, but the roots aren’t able to breathe, and will eventually rot. Orchid roots are a lot more specialized than ordinary plant roots, and have the ability to soak up water extremely quickly. They don’t take nutrients from the soil like the roots of most other plants.

When you buy an orchid, step one is to enjoy its flowers. Most store bought orchids will be in bloom, and shouldn’t be repotted until the bloom has fallen. Once it’s done with, you can cut off the dead flower spike (use sterile snips to prevent problems later) and replant your orchid. Use a special orchid potting medium, usually made from bark, charcoal, moss and other porous substances that will allow the roots to breathe, and will prevent root rot. Most people can’t successfully plant orchids in the ground or permanently place them outside (even on tree bark) because their climates don’t match those the orchids naturally grow in. A pot is the best choice for planting most orchids.

These pots are specially designed, and should be hanging pots, not ground resting ones. They feature wide drainage slits. Expect water to run right through them, and keep a tray on the floor under the orchid to catch the runoff when watering. Remove your orchid from its plastic pot and get rid of the potting medium. Be gentle, and look for healthy roots. They’re usually firm and white, with a green tip. Dark, shriveled, or rotted roots must be carefully cut off to prevent them from damaging your plant further. Place your plant in the pot and fill it in with potting mixture. Don’t be surprised if it’s a little wobbly at first – a stake can help this. Eventually, new roots will anchor the plant to the pot.

Place your newly planted orchid in an east facing window so that it will get several hours of full morning sun, or grow your orchids using artificial lighting. You can even put orchids outside during the warm months. Just make sure they aren’t in overly hot sun, and that they get the amount of water they need. Many orchids need watering daily in order to keep them in top condition. The end result is a planted orchid that will last a long time and bloom for you regularly. It doesn’t take much to get your store bough orchid into better conditions and keep it happy. The effort you put into maintaining this beautiful, exotic plant is well worth it.

The Jewel Orchid

Have you ever seen a jewel orchid? This plant has an entirely different look. The leaves are the crowning beauty of this plant. They are often a deep red with veins of gold and a lighter red often resembling a piece of velvet cloth. They may also be a maroon either on top or underneath with veins of white throughout the leaf.

Many times the jewel orchid is grown for the beauty of the leaves rather than the flowers. The plants with dark red, almost blood red leaves are gorgeous. In fact, the most common jewel orchid found in stores is known as haemaria discolor, which means blood red. If you want the leaves to stay this beautiful color, keep them from receiving too much light. If they do, those wonderful deep dark red leaves will lose their color.

Care of the Jewel Orchid

The jewel orchid loves humidity and a level of 70% to 80% is perfect. The light should be low and the night time temperature around 60 to 60 degrees. Daytime temperatures of 70 to 80 degrees will suffice. If you can keep the humidity at the right level for this plant, it will grow inside. The bathroom is one place you may find they are perfectly at home.

Since the jewel orchid does not require a lot of light, they also do not require very much fertilizer. If you fertilize, do it very moderately. Add water to weaken the fertilizer before using it on the jewel orchid. Over-watering can is a problem with this plant as well as under watering.

Since the soil around the jewel orchid dries out rather quickly to provide the loose soil needed for the roots to get oxygen. This is often mistaken for needing water and the plant gets more water resulting in over watering. The plant will develop pleated leaves when over watered as well as when it is under watered. The best way to tell if they are being watered too frequently or not enough is to check the roots. They will be pulpy and dark if the plant is being over watered. The roots will be firm if it the orchid is not receiving enough water. When healthy the roots should be a light green.

When watering, do not use cold water. Use lukewarm and water them in the morning. The plants need watered, not just misted. The water should not contain a water softener. This process takes away the nutrients needed by the jewel orchid.

Growing the Jewel Orchid

If you want to create more orchids, the best way to do this is by taking the part of the stem that connects to the roots and cut off some pieces. Then put them in either water or soil that has been watered well or even Sphagnum moss. They will grow roots and then they can be planted. This may take several weeks.

Although most people like the jewel orchid leaves better than the flowers, the stems, which are yellow and the white flowers can be cut and put in a vase for a centerpiece. Some of the jewel orchid blooms do have a scent that is quite pleasing. This is another aspect of putting them in a vase. They can fill the room with a very pleasant fragrance.

Repotting the jewel orchid usually only has to be done about every two years. When the time is right for repotting, the plant will have roots that are coming out of the pot. It is important to remember that orchids do not like being put in a pot that is much larger than they are. The next size up is sufficient when repotting any orchid. This allows the roots to get used to the extra moisture when watering them.

The jewel orchid is usually chosen for the beautiful leaves it has rather than the blooms. They make a great house plant if given the right humidity and temperature. The jewel orchid when properly taken care of can last for many years. While the most common variety of jewel orchid is native to Burma and Indonesia, it seems to be doing just fine in the U.S. as well.

There are many different varieties of orchids.  Typically, orchid flower arrangements can be made with any of the varieties available.  Some of the most common choices are Dendrobium orchids, cymbidium orchids, and vanilla orchids.  However, your choices are not purely limited to these types.  In fact, orchids have some of the most diversity in both shape and color available.   Each of these blooms can bring an exquisite refinement to any arrangement that you are trying to create.  In fact, it has even been said that orchids are somewhat of a good luck charm.  Orchids are supposed to welcome wealth and love to any location so why not add them to your home?

When looking to create your own orchid flower arrangements you are going to need to start by getting yourself the proper supplies.  Obviously, you are going to need to have some orchids to create your arrangement.  Spend some time researching which varieties you would like to use.  It might also be a good idea to spend some time with your local florist discussing the different varieties of orchids that are available.  Be sure that you invest in your flowers, as they are the centerpiece of your arrangement.  Additionally, you will need to select a vase or container to place your orchids into.  This choice allows you to really express your taste and personality.  Additionally, you are going to want to elect some stones or pebbles to anchor your arrangement with.  Again, you can use this help to amplify the stylistic choice that you are trying to get across, and of course, you need to be sure that you have sufficient water for your arrangement.

Once you have your materials, you can begin to put your arrangement together.  The first step that you need to do is to trim the stems of each orchid.  The length that you are trimming them to really depends on the height and size of your vase.  Assess how high about the top of the vase you want your flowers to be and cut them accordingly.  From there you are going to want to use greenery to supplement your blooms.  Again, you have a choice in what type of greenery you want to use.  Additionally, you may want to add those small stones to the base of your arrangement to anchor your blooms and greenery.  Those stones will give your arrangement an extra spark and flair.  Lastly, you should add the water to your container.  You need to add enough water to the arrangement to fully submerge the base of the stems, but you do not want it to overflow out of the vase.

So, how do you use an orchid flower arrangement in your life.  An orchid arrangement is a beautiful gift to give as well.  Flowers can brighten anyone’s day, and a personally arranged bouquet can really make their day.   Additionally, orchid flower arrangements can be a truly stunning addition to a wedding or a special event.  The fantastic thing about adding orchid flower arrangements to an event is that it does not take many of them to make a very big impact on the attendees.  Additionally, an orchid flower arrangement gives an instant boost to how “expensive” the decorations look.  That being said, orchid flower arrangements are fairly affordable.  With them, you will be able to improve the quality of your decor without breaking your budget.  However, do not underestimate what a great addition an orchid flower arrangement is to your home.  With a simple flower arrangement, you can make a big impact on the overall design impression of your home!

Here are some of the very best tips to help you care for your orchids after they bloom.

• It is an excellent idea to give your plants a thorough rinsing so that you can clean the leaves, roots, and potting medium. This will refresh and revitalize your orchids. Just set the plant pot in a sink. Then you can pour a gentle stream of room temperature water over the plant. Instead of using freshly drawn water, you should fill a gallon-size milk jug with water the night before and allow it to sit for 12-24 hours beforehand.
• Try spraying the orchid roots and leaves with a diluted fertilizing solution a few times each week. This will help encourage the plant to generate strong, new growth in the upcoming weeks.
• Any orchid that you have had in your home for 12-24 months will benefit from being repotted. This is a relatively easy process, but you just need to be careful as you perform each step of the orchid repotting process. First, you need to remove the orchid from the existing pot and then shake the roots to remove any old potting material. Next, you will need to gently rinse the roots of the plant, trim away any roots that have die and place it in a new, slightly larger pot. Add enough orchid potting material to fill in around the plant and then give it a thorough watering.
• After your orchids have bloomed, you might want to inspect the pots to make sure that the drainage holes are open and can allow water to flow freely from the container.
• When orchid plants have completed their blooming cycle, they should be protected from direct sunlight and direct airflow. Filtered sunlight and some indirect air currents from a small fan are what these plants need now.
• Use this time to inspect all of your plants. You can check the potting medium, leaves and pots to make sure that there are no problems that need to be addressed.
• If your orchid has already bloomed and it is now the summer season you may want to place your plant in an orchid basket and suspend it from a tree branch. This will provide some indirect sunlight as well as a little humidity for your orchid.
• During the summer months, you should continue to water and feed the orchids on a regular schedule. Even though the plants may not look like they are doing very much, they need the food and water to store enough energy to produce new buds.
• Allow your orchids to stay outdoors until the temperature readings reach the low 50 range. These temperatures will often help encourage the plant to produce new flower spikes and new blooms.
• Once your orchids have bloomed and this cycle is completed you have a choice about what to do with the flower spikes. Most people will leave these spikes alone for several weeks and continue to feed and water the plants on a regular basis. You may notice new flower spikes being generated on the older spike. Sometimes these new growths may even produce some additional blooms.
• If you do not notice a secondary flower spike then you will probably note that the older spike is beginning to shrivel up and turn brown. When this occurs, you need to remove this spike by cutting it as close to the base as you can manage without damaging the plant.
• There is one other method to deal with flower spikes that have already bloomed. As soon as the blooming cycle is over go ahead and remove the spike from the plant as quickly as possible. When you follow this step, you will usually see some new spikes being produced in 10 weeks to 9 months time.

These plants need to have a sheltered outdoor environment and here are some suggestions and ideas about how you can arrange this type of setting.

Keeping your Outdoor Orchids Safe

1. You must check these plants once or twice a day to make sure that there is no damage occurring as the result of animals, weather, or insects.
2. If you use clay pots to house your orchids they will dry out very quickly. This can stress your plants in a short period of time. The same results are noted if you place the orchid pots on surfaces that are dark or set them on surfaces made of pavement or concrete.
3. The humidity level is lowered by high heat and dry winds, so you must always be aware of the weather and provide additional moisture for orchids.
4. If the weather temperature outdoors is lower than 60 you may want to bring your plants back inside your home.
5. Even these light loving plants have to be protected from the scorching rays of the sun. Provide them with some shady respite during the hottest part of the day.

A reasonably mild climate is what most orchids prefer. Southern Florida and some coastal regions in California provide ideal settings for growing orchids outdoors. In these locations, the days and nights are warm, and the refreshing breezes from the ocean provide humidity. Even the winters are mild, and there are few days when these plants will have to be brought indoors.

Do you have a nice sunny location in your yard where you would like to place an orchid pot? Vandas, Dendrobiums, Cattleyas, and Oncidiums are all species that thrive in warm, sunny environments. Just make sure that you provide them with a little shade during the middle of the day. You also need to water and mist these plants more frequently when they remain outdoors.

The Moth Orchid and the Ladyslipper Orchid are good choices if you want to add some colorful orchids to an area that is shady, and well protected from direct light. Even though you have matched these orchids to an environment they like, you will still have to be vigilant regarding their routine care.

Top Tips to Remember

• When you grow your orchids in an outdoor setting, you must protect them from heavy rains, strong winds, and heavy salt spray from the ocean. If the weather is too unpredictable play it safe and move your orchids back indoors for a few hours, or even overnight.
• If you set the orchid pots beside walls, it will give them some protection from the wind. You might also consider placing them beneath the branches of ferns or shrubs. This will give them some shade from the sun and protect them from heavier rains and winds.
• Whenever you first set your orchids outside in the spring and summer, you must protect them against sun damage. To prevent these plants from becoming sunburned you should introduce them to the outdoors by using progressive steps. This lets the plants acclimate to the environmental changes over a period of time.
• Aphids and slugs love orchids too. Always check your plants for any evidence of these interlopers. Both slugs and aphids can be removed easily. Pick the slugs off with your fingers or a pair of tweezers and dispose of them. Aphids can be removed with a soapy spray solution and damp cloth.
• Never bring any orchids back inside your home without first giving them a thorough inspection. This will prevent you from inadvertently bringing any insects back inside along with the plants.

There is no reason for you to keep discarding older orchids after they have completed their blooming phase. When they are dormant they may not have the same dazzling effect on the senses, but the blooming cycle will return if you are patient.  Even though many people consider orchids to be temperamental plants, most are quite resilient and forgiving of an occasional misstep concerning their care.

Here are some simple tips and ideas to help you as you learn how rewarding and exciting growing orchids indoors can actually be.

Light Exposure

If you want your orchids to perform at their maximum potential then you need to make certain that you give them enough light. Orchids love the sunlight, but they need the indirect or filtered light that can be found when you place them in front of a window. During the summer season, the sun’s rays are powerful enough to scorch the plants if they are not protected from direct sunlight.

Select a window that faces toward the south or at least one that faces the southeast. This will provide the orchids with at least 8-10 hours of indirect sunlight exposure. The indirect lighting is most reminiscent of the sunlight they would receive in their natural, rain-forest setting.

Most people find that a southern facing window in the bathroom or kitchen is an ideal location for orchids because they get to bask in the humid moisture levels of these rooms. During the late fall, and winter months you can move your indoor orchids to areas that receive more direct light from the sun. The sun’s effects are not as intense during these seasons, and this makes it possible for the orchids to tolerate a certain amount of direct sunlight.

Water Requirements for Growing Orchids Indoors

When it comes to water, orchids would prefer you to err on the side of caution. Too little water is much better for these plants than too much. Many individuals do not understand that orchids like a gentle shower of refreshing water, not a long-lasting downpour.

You should provide enough water to soak the orchids and the medium in which they are planted. If you are not certain whether your regular water is Ph balanced use purified watering solutions that you can buy at the store. Rainwater is another option that many people choose to use with their houseplants.

Orchids cannot be left in standing water, so be sure that the excess water drains from the pot. A good rule of thumb is to water these plants once a week during the winter and at least 2-3 times during the summer season.

Humidity is necessary for healthy, beautiful orchids. You can mist your plants regularly with a few squirts of water from a misting bottle. Only mist your plants early in the day so that the water can have a chance to evaporate before the nighttime hours arrive.

Why Use Bark?

Did you know that an orchid is actually a parasitic plant? This explains their long, intricate roots. If you were to visit a rain forest, you would see the orchids growing happily among the trees. Those winding roots make it possible for them to hold onto the bark of the trees and the branches. The roots are also the primary way these plants absorb water. Potting soil is not a good idea when you have orchids. Instead, you should always use an orchid potting mix that is made from bits of bark. This provides orchids with a more natural environment in which they can live and grow.

Ventilation

Growing orchids indoors means giving them enough room to breathe. They need adequate air circulation and should be spaced far enough apart so that their large leaves do not overlap. A small fan can also be used to circulate the air among these plants.

Fast Facts on Feeding

The right amount of food and fertilizer is critical for healthy orchids. These plants need an orchid fertilizer formula that can be applied at least every 3 weeks. During the months of February-September, you should use fertilizer with a higher nitrogen mix (30-10-10) to create healthy roots and leaves. From October-January, you should encourage buds and blooms with a 6-30-30 formula instead.