So, you’ve nursed and fussed over an orchid for many long months and now it is rewarding you with a gorgeous bloom.Should you handle the plant any differently now? The answer? Perhaps.
Although the species of your orchid will be the final determinant, as a general rule it would be wise for you to remove the plant to a cooler and drier place that that in which it was grown. This will help the flowers to last much longer than in a warm and moist greenhouse or other typical growing room.
Most orchids will not suffer by being place in a drier and cooler location when they are in bloom. Most of them will definitely benefit from it. Still , you should make sure that the temperature where you place your blossoming orchid should not fall below 50 degrees Fahrenheit at night.
Here’s an experiment you can try if you happen to have two orchids of the same type that come into bloom at around the same time. Leave one in your growing room, and place the other in a cool, dry place as recommended above. You will almost certainly notice that the plant in your “cool room” will have fresh flowers for a much longer time than the one that was left behind.
Naturally, the flowers of even the best-cared-for orcnhids will eventually begin to fade. When this happens it is time to move the plant back to its warmer room. Take care to shade it from direct sun until it has re-adjusted to the warmth. If you neglect this, the plant could become scorched.
One of the keys to success in growing orchids is understanding their life cycles and the different stages they go through. Every stage requires a different kind of care, and the blossoming stage has its own unique “rules.”.
The most thorough guide to contemporary orchid cultivation, I have found, is Orchid Care Expert by Nigel Howard, which can be downloaded online. Mr. Howard’s ebook is a comprehensive course of study, enlightening for beginners as well as more experienced growers alike. Also, be sure to visit the Orchid Secrets web site, which features an ever-growing database of postings on many facets of orchid cultivation.
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