Orchids are one of the oldest known flowers on planet earth. Orchids have grown out from being the prehistoric plants to the most loved flowers these days. You can send them as a thank you to someone or send it as a love message or cultivate and grow them. These flowers can turn a drab room into a lively one with their extravagant looks and colors. Yet if you want to keep them at their best, then you must know how to take care of orchids.
Here are some simple steps on how to take care of orchids.
- Water the orchids. You must always water them thoroughly when they become dry and allow it to dry completely before watering them again. Remember that the plants will use more water than the flower. You can mist the foliage between watering, but never spray water directly on the flowers, as this will make them susceptible to fungus and they will start rotting. Always try to keep them moist evenly and do not allow the medium to dry out completely. Take out the inner pot of the flower and then water it.
- Add a little orchid food inside the water container and then you can water the base. Let the water drain completely before you place this pot back inside the main plant container. Always remember that you must never let it sit in the water, as this will start killing the plant. Always remember that orchids are not planted directly in the earth, they are planted in the coconut cork or bark. The roots will start growing from the top and not from the base. Also, you must avoid putting too much water in the middle of the plant, because new leaves grow from there and they will start rotting.
- Keep the right temperature. For orchids, 65-85 degree Fahrenheit is the ideal temperature. For a longer time, they can easily withstand up to 100 degree Fahrenheit temperature, but they do not like a sudden change in the temperature. If they are kept in cold temperature then this will turn the leaves yellow and they will drop off. If this continues, take out the yellow foliage and continue the normal care for the plant. In winters, never feed the plant. During late spring, start using a balanced fertilizer with watering, but use only one third of the concentration.
- Watch for any new growth. This will usually be in the form of a new cane, which will grow from the base of an old one. Under the right conditions, the new cane will be longer than the main cane even before it is ready to bloom.
- You must maintain the blooms. The peak blooming time will start from the late winters between February and March. These blooms will last for nearly 4-12 weeks. Once the blooms start fading, then you will have to cut the spike at least half inch from where the foliage is projecting. The cool temperature in the nighttime will help the foliage to bloom. If you give proper care, then the plan will grow and bloom annually.
- Re-pot whenever required. All the orchids will be root bound with their roots coming out from the top of the medium. However, as the plants start producing more medium and spike, they will start outgrowing from the pot. At this time, you will have to repot them carefully with some porous medium and good drainage. Whenever you are watering them, take out the inner pot from the main outer clay pot, and make sure that all the water is drained out and then replace it.
- Use the right growing medium. Orchids will usually die if you plant them in soil. Many orchids are epiphytes and they will need various mediums to grown in the houseplants. Epiphytes will have a fleshy and thick root, which will be attached on the tree and it will absorb all the nutrients and water. These will grow best in soil less mixtures or if you attach them on the cork or bark.
- Get the best container. You can get a clay or plastic container, although clay will be a better choice due to its porosity. If you have a clay container, then you will have to enlarge the drain hole or make some extra holes on the sides of the pot you have. Fertilizing and watering will have to be practiced and this will depend on the kind of medium or container you choose.
- Have good air circulation. If you have good air circulation, then this will increase the health of your orchid. This will also heal the orchid if it has fungus or some pest infestation, which can be treated. Air circulation is like the biggest medicine for treating any such infestations for keeping the flowers and leaves dry.
Tips and Warnings:
- Once the orchids start growing normally, you must water them once in a week and let them dry before you water them the next time. At every watering, you must use enough water, so that some of it can drain out from the base of the pot.
- Once the plant has flowered, the foliage growth of the plant will stop. At this time, you will have to stop watering or fertilizing the plant until there is a new leaf production on the plant again.
- Orchids are very sensitive and susceptible to many diseases. Some of the common insect pests are mealybugs, scales, thrips and spider mits.
- Apart from the insect problem, another common problem is the failure of the plant to flower, which is always due to improper growth conditions, especially due to inadequate fertilizer or light.
- Sometimes there is a virus attack on the plant as well, which is incurable and difficult to identify. In such situations, you must always get an expert opinion. If a virus has hit your plant, then throw away the plant and disinfect the pot properly for next use.
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