The Orchid Basic

sakura flower orchid -

Orchid is a fantastic plant because of its beautful flower. Here are the basics to plant the lovely orchid.

Watering:
The single biggest reason for orchid problems is over watering. To prevent this, you must adjust your watering to the plant’s environment. The environment includes temperature, humidity, light, the type of pot and the type of media. For example, an orchid potted in peat/perlite mix in Florida requires much less water than one potted in straight bark in Arizona. Rather, remove the plant label from the pot and feel for moistness. If it does not feel almost completely dry, hold off your watering. Try to water only in the morning so that the plant has time to dry somewhat before dark. Problems come not from the amount of water you give a plant, but with the frequency of watering.

Drainage:
Proper watering can only take place if you have proper drainage to go with it.
Fertilizing:
You can fertilize with your watering. The warmer the temperature, the more water your plant will need.

Light:
Orchids generally like as much indirect light as you can give them. If the plant is a rich dark green, it is probably not getting enough light. Orchid leaves should be a light green color if they are getting enough light. Remember, the more heat and light, the more often you will need to water the plant, and the more air movement the plant will require.

Pots:
See references to watering above. If you wish to use a decorative pot, let the orchid grow in a pot with good drainage, and only place the plant in the decorative pot when it will be shown. Note, a clay pot dries out faster than a plastic one. Orchids in clay should be watered more often. To compensate, flush the plant with plain water more often than in a plastic pot.

Potting Media:
There almost as many potting medias as there are varieties of orchids. Many will work well if you adjust your watering to match the media used. Peat and sphagnum will hold water much longer. Watering must be much less frequent. It is easier to over water plants in these medias. Plants need repotting for two main reasons. Pot after blooming, when growing stage is active. Orchids prefer to be under potted rather than over potted. With monopodial plants like phalaenopsis, the plant should be centered in the pot. Moisten the media before potting.

Flowering:
Each variety of orchid has its own flowering frequency and time. Some orchids, like phalaenopsis, are primarily triggered by temperature. Leaf Care:
Periodically, wipe down the top and bottom of the plant leaves with warm, dish type, soapy water.