Having Trouble with your Orchids? Try These Tips for Beautiful Blooms

By gardener | May 31, 2009

If youve had problems in the past growing orchids, dont despair. Anyone with sufficient plant abilities to keep a philodendron alive can do it. It just takes determination and following a few simple instructions. Like all plants, orchids come with a set of requirements for light, temperature range, water, humidity and nutrition. Provide these carefully, and you will be rewarded with orchid blossoms that your fellow gardeners will envy.

Though all orchids are at base tropical plants, all tropical areas are not identical in the amount of heat and water they provide. The best way to get off to a great start growing orchids is to determine which varieties will do best where you live. For example, Cymbidium, Odontoglossum, Miltonias, and some Paphiopedilum and Dendrobium orchids like relatively cool weather in the 55-70 degree range, while Phalaenopsis, Doritis and some Paphiopedilum and Dendrobium do best between 65-80 degrees in a home or greenhouse.

When growing orchids indoors, locate plants near an east, south or west window that can be protected from direct sun during the warmest midday hours. An ideal indoor growing area would be a bright, sunny room that can be closed off from the rest of the house to maintain the plants preferred temperature. Cooler temperature during the night will also encourage growth.

You can set pots on trays filled with gravel and water to help fulfill orchids needs for humidity, but keep plants away from heat sources such as electric heaters and fireplaces. Orchids need to dry out occasionally, so dont allow them to remain wet more than four to six days between watering. Placing sphagnum moss around pots helps to keep plants at the correct moisture level and encourages growth.

Orchids can be successfully grown outdoors where temperatures range from 55 to as much as 100 degrees provided that good humidity comes with the temperature. Set potted orchid plants on stones or wood in shade area, submerging them for Cymbidium orchids, which need more moisture, and provide protection from wind. When temperatures begin to drop to 50 degrees, move your orchids back inside.

Different varieties of orchids have different light requirements: Vanda, Cymbidium, Renanthera, Brassavola, Laelia, Aerides and some Epidendrum prefer very light shade, while Cattleya, Dendrobium, Phajus, Stanhopea, Clanthe, Lycaste and Cycnoches prefer medium shade. Small orchid seedlings, phalaenopsis, paphiopedilum, Odontoglossum, Miltonia, Brassia and many soft leaf varieties need heavy shade.

Feeding is essential for orchids growing in potting mixes or fir bark. Plants potted in osmunda fiber need no feeding or very little feeding. During spring, or when new growths appear, plants can be fertilized twice a month to promote additional and stronger growths.

Youll need to repot your orchid plants every year or two depending on the variety. This is best done in spring or early summer. First remove any old or decayed potting material from the roots, and cut off any dead roots and replant in a pot large enough to hold the growing plant for two years, using only an orchid potting mix, fir bark, osmunda fiber or tree fern fiber.

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