It is a well established fact that most people believe that the cultivation and caring for orchids is a somewhat tedious and rather complex process that is best left to those who possess the necessary horticultural skills or have plenty of time at their disposal. This is utter nonsense, orchids are no harder to grow than any other type of plant; as long as you faithfully recreate their natural growing environment, they will thrive and with over 25,000 available species and 100,000 hybridised varieties, it is not that difficult to find a type of orchid that will suit your level of expertise and environmental conditions.
It is an accepted fact that some of the more exotic species of orchid do have special requirements in regards to environmental conditions if you are to successfully cultivate them, but the majority of orchids are very adaptable and will not require any more effort or expenditure than any other common type of indoor or garden plant. It is advisable to obtain expert advice or thoroughly research the type of orchid that you are intent on growing, so as to fully understand it’s particular needs and requirements. If your orchid is properly cared for and well maintained, the blooms will be just as healthy and vibrant as the day that you first brought it home from the nursery, the most common types of orchids will continuously flower for at least three months, while some will bloom several times throughout the year.
It is probable that the orchid that you bought from the nursery or received as a gift is likely to be a phaleanopsis. This variety is widely available as they are generally accepted as being easier to nurture than some of the less common and more exotic varieties of orchids, The Phaleanopsis is most notable for it’s magnificent white or purple blooms.
In general orchids , require a great deal of sunlight although they should be shielded from the extremities of the midday sun as it is too harsh for most species. For this reason it is a good idea to place your orchid near a window facing east, this will make sure that your plant receives the full spectrum of sunlight from early morning to sunset. It is also a good idea to use supplementary lighting by using grow lights situated about a foot or so above the plants blooms, this way you can manipulate the diurnal environment to suit your particular species of orchid. The majority of exotic species Originate from equatorial rain forests, where they receive very bright intense light for up to sixteen hours per day, but are shielded from direct sunlight by the tree canopy, the moisture is trapped within the forest creating a hot humid eco system The addition of artificial lighting allows you to control the environment that most suit your orchids natural habitat and you will be rewarded with an extremely healthy plant with the most magnificent flowers.
When caring for orchids always remember that in their natural environment they receive a constant source of nourishment provided by decomposing organisms on the forest floor. It therefore, goes without saying that fertiliser is a very important factor in the successful growing of orchids. It is necessary to use the proper type for your particular species of plant. Special orchid fertilisers can be purchased from your local nursery. The importance of correct fertilisaton schedules cannot be overstated, as if you fertilise your plant correctly shortly before it blooms you can extend the life of the bloom over a greater period of time. Once it has bloomed, stop fertilizing the plant completely. Another good piece of advice for keeping your orchid in extended bloom is to carefully prune it while it is blooming. You will then most likely witness the development of a second set of blooms.
Temperature is also a very important factor in orchid care, they generally thrive in conditions of high humidity with temperatures between 55 and 80 degrees Farenheight. If the temperature in their environment is any higher than this they will start to lose their flowers or will stop blooming completely, if the temperature is too low the plant will die. Although it is very important to keep the flowers moist, never over water as the root system is very fragile and the roots will decompose. It is a good idea to place the orchids pot on a humidity tray lined with pebbles making sure that the roots are not immersed in the water. Check the moisture content in the potting medium if it feels moist do not water. The potting medium reduces evaporation and keeps the roots moist for very long periods, it may only be necessary to water once every ten days or so, but this is dependent on the temperature, you will most often find that during the warmer months it will be necessary to water your plant every four or five days.
Caring for orchids is not rocket science; if you take into account all of the above orchid care factors and apply them diligently, you will be the proud owner of a glorious orchid plant that will display very elegant blooms throughout the whole flowering season.
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