Orchid care is the most important and easiest aspect of growing beautiful orchids . With the right information you can easily have magnificent and amazing orchids growing in your home or garden in a very short time. There are a few basic orchid care tips you should know in order to grow thriving orchids that will last for many years to come. In order to have beautiful orchids you need to learn about proper light, temperature, humidity, correct watering, and what type of soil medium do orchid prefer to grow in.
Proper Orchid Medium
The first thing you should know when caring for orchids is using the right orchid medium. If you plant your orchids in regular potting soil your orchid plant will surely die because they grow in very different soil. There are many readily available mixes that you can find including tree fiber, fir bark, and coconut husks. Inorganic types of orchid medium include lava rock, charcoal, turface, and even pearlite can be used to grow orchids. Most of the time if you go to your local greenhouse or garden store they have prepackaged orchid medium for sale. With the popularity of orchids you can find these mixes almost anywhere nowadays, and are great for growing your orchids.
How Much Light Does an Orchid Need?
Light is another important part of growing beautiful and healthy orchids as well. Most orchids are very sensitive to very bright light and can burn very easily if placed in direct sunlight. That’s why if you are planting your orchids indoors it is important not to place them directly in sunlight. For example if you place your orchid plant on a windowsill it is important not to leave it in direct sunlight for too long or at all. During the summertime is when you need to make sure your plant is not in direct sunlight because the sun is strongest during the summer months. If you live in an area that doesn’t get much sun then I suggest using artificial lights to grow your orchids. If you do happen to use artificial lights then you don’t need to leave your lights on all the time, you only need them for certain times.
Using The Right Temperature For Growing Orchids
Proper temperature is critical to maintaining magnificent orchids. Three types of temperature classes you need to know are cool, medium and warm. The cool temperature class orchids thrive between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit. These orchids include cymdiums as cool temperature orchids. Medium class orchids such as cattleyas, epidendrums, and oncidiums require a temperature of 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Warm class plants such as phalaenopsis and vanda orchids need to have a temperature of 75 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. A dark and mush orchid means that the temperature is too low and you need to put your orchid in warmer temperatures. When the temperature becomes too high you might see your orchid leaves turning black and yellow because of sunburn.
How Much Humidity Do Orchids Need?
For optimum growth your orchids need to have the right amount of humidity, because their natural habitat has much humidity. Having the incorrect amount of humidity can cause potential harm to your plants and it may not bloom correctly. During the summertime the humidity that is around should be adequate for your orchids to thrive. Unless you happen to live in a dry climate. In dry climates you need to supply your orchids with humidity. It is important to keep your orchids with at least 60-80 percent humidity environment. If you need more humidity you can purchase a humidifier which can increase the humidity around your orchids. If you have a tray and some gravel or pebbles then you can place your plants on this. Make sure to fill the tray with water and the water is not touching your orchid plants.
How Should I Water My Orchids?
Watering your orchids is by far the most critical step to orchid care. When watering your orchids you need to be careful that you do not over-water them or under-water them. Follow these simple steps to keep your orchids moist and vibrant and avoid over-watering them.
1. First make sure you water your orchids thoroughly with warm tap water.
2. Next, you will need to test the weight of your orchid when it has recently been watered.
3. Third, you need to test the weight of your orchid every day to make sure it hasn’t lost too much water.
4.If you can’t tell by its weight then you will need to put your finger about one inch into the soil medium. If the soil is moist about an inch or two into the soil medium then you do not have to water your orchids. If it is dry then you will need to water your orchids again thoroughly keeping them moist.
These are some of the basic orchid care tips that I think should get you started with growing and maintaining your orchids quickly and easily. Good luck growing your orchids and have fun at the same time!
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