Growing Orchids
If you can grow African Violets
You can grow Orchids
The main components for growing orchids are;
Light,
Water and
Temperature.
It takes these three things to make any plant grow, and it is the same for orchids.
Starting Out - A tip for beginners.
Orchids need bright, but diffused light. In nature they grow in or under trees in dappled sunlight. Rarely would you find them growing in the direct sun. Our homes provide the diffused light they require. You should place them at or near a window, in a porch, patio or in a sun room. East and south facing windows are good for growing orchids. West windows get too hot and may cause the plant to burn.
The only orchid maybe. safe to grow in a west window would be a dendrobium. They like lots of light. Some oncidiums may grow in a west window, if they are the mule-ear type of oncidium because they have very heavy leaves. I definately would not put the thinner leaved oncidiums in a west window. If a west window is the only window in the house available in your house for growing orchids, and it is not covered by an awning to cut down on the hot afternoon sun. You could put some shade cloth over the window to decrease the sun. The danger of too much hot sun is that the plant will transpire (evaporate water from the leaves) in an effort to cool itself. If it can't keep up or if it runs out of water, the leaves will burn or scorch. North windows are great for African Violets, but they may not provide enough light for orchids. Some Paphiopedilums may be an exception, but put them right up by the window. If they do not flower for you, you'll have to move them to another location.
When there is not enough light where you are growing orchids, they may grow leaves, but they won't flower. They have to have enough light to make enough food for the plants to flower. No they don't pick up food through their roots. Fertilizer is called "plant food" but it just actually salts and minerals.Plants pick up water and minerals through the roots. The food or carbohydrates in the plant are produced in the leaves by photosynthesis which requires light for the process. So a lack of light means a lack of food production and not enough food to produce beautiful orchid flowers. If you don't have windows for growing orchids, you could put them under artificial lights, florescent lights. Make sure you buy a full spectrum light that is make for growing plants. In some temperate areas of the country you may grow orchids outside. If you live where it is cooler and you want some flowers outside grow some
easy flowers.
Growing orchids need regular watering just like any houseplants. How often you water depends on the type of orchid, the environment and the pot size and. Sounds like a lot, not really - Its simple.There are two general types of orchids and each type require different watering.
One: Epiphytes, orchids with a pseudobulb
What's that? Epiphytes live up in trees and a pseudobulb is an enlarged stem, like an enlarged bulb above ground. See, its simple.
In nature this type of orchid would have dry periods without regular water. So the plants got smart - They enlarged their stems, so they could store extra water when it was available. Sort of like a camel's hump storing water. I think God gave them their way to survive. Orchids with pseudobulbs - an enlarged stem must dry out between waterings. This simulates their natural environment. If you don't let them dry out between waterings - their roots will rot. Examples; cattleyas, oncidiums and dendrobiums (just look at their stems) Two: Terrestrials, plants with just leaves, no pseudobulbs They have no pseudobulbs to store extra water. They must not dry out completely between waterings. Examples; Paphiopedliums, called Lady Slippers. See the photo and just image a lady slipping her foot into the pouch of the flower. And Phalaenopsis, sometimes called a moth orchid. Some leafy types of orchids also grow in trees where they get regular water. Their roots are able to store a certain amount of water, but not near the amount the ephiphyts are able to store. When you are growing a leafy orchid that has no stem water them regularly.
How do you know when to water? First the surface of the potting medium must be dry for both the leafy and pseudobulb types. When the top is dry there is still water down in the pot. I tell by picking up the pot to see how heavy it is. When you are learning, pick up the pot 10 minutes after you water. You are waiting for the extra water to drain and then pick it up and gauge the weight. See how heavy the pot feels when it has water. When I was teaching horticulture the students maintained two greenhouse full of plants. Each student had their own assigned plants to care for. Sometimes they would ask, "Do you think I need to water this plant?" They were asking because the plant was looking a little peaked. I had no idea when the last time it was they had watered the plant. So I would pick it up and feel if it was still heavy - no watering needed. I don't remember ever finding a plant that was too dry. The error was always too much water. The plant was looking peaked because the roots were rotting from too much water. Not because they needed water. Roots require air as well as moisture. There must be a balance between the two. You get the balance by letting the roots to dry enough between waterings, so they can get the air they need. Orchid pots usually have holes of large slots on the sides. This is so the roots can get air. When you are growing orchids you must learn to judge each plant's water needs individually because there are so many variables of how often a plant needs to be watered - temperature, how much light and how much air circulation. I don't like it when I hear people say for example - water two times a week. How can they say that? They can't see the plant or the environment. Okay - so you want a generalization. In the house I would not water more than once a week. If they are in very strong light and have a lot of air circulation and it is hot maybe twice a week. But I am not there, you are and you have to learn to gauge the plant's situation.
Plants with pseudobulbs may go two weeks in the winter maybe even 3 weeks between waterings. The 3 weeks would be for large pots. This is another rule of thumb for growing orchids or any other potted plant - the larger the pot - the less often it is watered. Smaller pots are watered more frequently. Water thoroughly, so you see water coming out of the bottom of the pot. This flushes the salts out of the pot. Salts may be from fertilizer or from your water. Too much salt burns the roots. So when you water, give enough water to do the job. Roots require air so don't water when the pot still feels heavy. If you keep the roots constantly wet, the roots will rot. The plant will decline and possibly die. I would not water until the pot feels at least half the weight it was after watering. Actually for mine I wait until the pot feels about one quarter the weight. This is a lot about watering - but it is the most important thing in growing orchids or any other potted plant. It is better to err on the side of not enough instead of too much. When you learn watering you can grow any type of plants.
Learn more tips for landscape plants.
This is simple. Orchids like the same temperatures people like in their house - 60-80 degrees. Most orchids will not flower properly if the temperature is maintained below 60 degrees.Paphiopediliums and Cymbidiums on the other hand like cooler tempertures. They would be happy at 50-55 during the night. And 60-70 during the day. Actually Cymbidiums will not flower unless they have cooler temperatures. Cattleyas,dendrobiums, onciduims and hybrid paphiopedilums like 55-60 at night and 65-75 during the day. Phalaenopsis, vandas, and tropical paphiopedilums are warm growing orchids; they like 60-65 at night and 70-85 during the day. During the winter keep the cool loving ones near the window glass. And the ones that need to stay warmer out away from the window where they get more of the room temperature.
When you are starting out, buy mature flowering plants. You can see what the flowers look like and you don't have to wait for a long time for them to flower. Many orchids take several years before they flower. An exception is Phalaenopsis, they flower while very young. Growing orchids is very rewarding because they have such beautiful flowers. And they last a long time, too, especially the Phalaenopsis and Dendrobium flowers. There are more species of orchids throughout the world than any other type of plant.
I hope you enjoy growing God's beautiful gift of orchids,
as much as I do.
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