Many people are not sure how to grow orchids, and they believe that orchids are both expensive and difficult to
cultivate. While it’s true that this is the case with some varieties,
there are many others that are well within the average budget and no
more difficult than any other flowering plant to cultivate.
Orchids are an extremely popular flower. With up to 35,000 species
available, they actually comprise the largest family of flowering
plants on earth. One seventh of all plants are orchids.
The range within the orchid family is quite staggering.
Never seeing the light of day, 2wo varieties of orchid actually flower
completely underground. Some are purely aquatic. Some varieties can be
found in the Arctic. Most live in the tropics. There is also a wide
variance in the size of the different species. The flower of the
smallest variety is just 2 millimeters ( .08 inches) while the giant
orchid has a flower that can measure up to 38 centimeters ( 15 inches).
The popularity of the orchid is no doubt partly due to the wide variety
available. Take the colors available for example. According to your
preference you can get your orchids in red, orange, yellow, green,
purple, brown and even a rare type of blue. Orchids are also wonderful
mimics. Species resemble various objects that we are familiar with,
including a lady’s slipper, butterflies, kites and even birds in
flight. So, how about beautifying your own environment with a display
of orchids?
- Orchids are different from your average houseplant in that they don’t grow in soil.
- Putting you lovely new orchid in soil is actually a good way to kill the plant.
- Rather, grow your indoor plant in a pot that is filled with
loosely packed bark, stone or similar material. You need to allow for
the roots to readily receive air and water.
- You should water your orchids about once every week. Once the flower has dried out rewater it.
- Do not, however, over water them. A trick to get
the most out of your flowering orchid is to adjust the day and night
time temperatures to more closely simulate the temperature variation
that occurs when the plant is grown in the wild.
- If you are able to lower the temperature on your thermostat
in the area where you have your orchids at night, do so by ten degrees
Fahrenheit. This is especially important in the autumn and winter,
which is when many species begin to bud.
- Try not to expose your orchids to temperatures above ninety degrees Fahrenheit.
- Fertilize your orchids once per week with a weak solution of 20-20-20
fertilizer. Don’t overdo the fertilizer however. In the Autumn switch
to a blossom-bloom fertilizer. They really appreciate good humidity.
If you have a humidifier in your home palce it near to your plants.
Otherwise you can place your orchid pots on a tray of flat pebbles to
which water is added. Ensure sufficient air movement around your
plants to ward off infections and bacteria.
If you want to know how to grow orchids, you need to know how they are classified. They are classified according to their ideal growing temperature.
Thus there are warm growing, intermediate growing and cool growing
ones. Be aware that the temperatures given refer to the minimum
overnight temperature that the plant can withstand during the winter
period. When choosing your plants be aware of what type of temperature
classification it has. Warm growing orchids have a minimum winter
temperature of sixty degrees Fahrenheit, intermediate growing orchids
being fifty five degrees and cool growing orchids at fifty degrees.
They are also classified with regard to the amount of light they
need to function optimally. The classifications are high, medium and
low. You will want to expose your orchid to at least six hours of light
per day, regardless of it’s classification. Generally the more light
provided the better the plant will perform. You can tell if your
plants is receiving adequate amounts of light by observing the color of
the leaves. If the leaves are a dark green color, this indicates that
the plant is not getting enough light. The ideal leaf color for
adequate light is about the color of grass, that is light or medium
green. The best windows are generally southern and eastern facing ones.
Floow these tips, and you should have mnay beautiful flowers for many years to come. |
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