The bulk of us have been led to believe that the propagation and caring for orchids is an arduous and complicated process reserved for the elite that have a lot of time at their disposal. The fact is that with more than 25,000 different species and well over 100,000 hybrids it is not that difficult a process to find a suitable orchid that can be fairly easily maintained, without stretching your budget and without you needing to be a professional horticulturalist.
Generally speaking most species of orchids will not require any more effort or expenditure than any other common variety of indoor or garden plants. Although some exotic varieties do have special needs and requirements. 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 you take diligent care with the cultivation of your orchid, you will be rewarded with the most glorious blooms, looking just as vibrant as the day 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.
One of the most common varieties of orchid is the 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 located about a foot or so above the plants blooms, this way you can control 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 prolonged 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. Always check the moisture content just below the surface of the potting medium, if there is moisture present do not water. The potting medium is designed to reduce evaporation and retain moisture, it may only be necessary to water once every ten days or so, but this is dependent on the temperature, during the summer months it may well be necesssary to water the 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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