Top 5 Tips For Growing Orchids for Dummies

With the popular belief that orchids are very hard to look after, most people that enjoy them for their stunning beauty and extraordinary elegance are scared to grow and look after their own. They will admire them from afar but are a bit wary to have their own collection. This growing orchid
for dummies article will let help you learn orchid's basics and hopefully stop you from fearing growing orchids of your own.

Growing Orchids For Dummies Tip #1

Start by choosing an orchid that is relatively easy to grow since you are a beginner. With over 20,000 species of orchids and not including the hybrids, it is safe to say that there is an orchid that you can look after. The Phalaenopsis variety is fairly easy to take care of. They are one of the most popular kinds in the orchid family. Most people buy them for gift giving and most groceries and nurseries have them. They are suited to survive in the home environment and do not need many special requirements apart from the basics.

Before you purchase an orchid, thoroughly check out the plant first to ensure you have a healthy orchid. You do not want to buy something that is sick because if the plant dies, you will think it is your fault and be discouraged to try again and look after another one. Select an orchid with unblemished and light green leaves and that the plant is securely in place in its pot.

Growing Orchids For Dummies Tip #2

Orchids do not grow in regular soil. In the rainforests where most orchids originate from, they attach themselves on the trees and rocks so that they can grow without restrains and that their roots are able to breath. It is an orchid 101 basic that you plant your orchids in potting mixes such as tree back, charcoal, moss and wood chips for a healthy plant. Find out from the original orchid grower the best suitable potting mix for the type of orchid you purchased.

Growing Orchids For Dummies Tip #3

Orchids love light. It is one of their basic requirements in able to grow into healthy and beautiful orchids. The best light for orchids is sunlight during the morning. Be sure to place your orchids where this is possible. Do not let your orchids receive direct midday sunlight as the ray during this time is very harsh on them. It will singe the leaves and eventually lead to your orchid's death.

If you opt for artificial light as a substitute for sunlight, make sure to place them 2 feet above your orchid. To check if your orchid is getting the right amount of light it needs, look at the color of the leaves. Light green color means your orchid is healthy, too dark of a color means not enough and yellowish to brown means that the light you provide is too much.

Growing Orchids For Dummies Tip #4

Too much water will make your orchid suffer and eventually lead to its early death. Orchids need to be watered only once or every 5 days depending on the variety. Before watering your orchid, check the pot to see if it is dry. You can test by sticking a pencil inside the pot and if the pencil is moist then there is no need to water the plant.

Growing Orchids For Dummies Tip #5
Orchids are surprising tough plants. They can stand withstand moderate variations of temperatures. The most suitable temperature however for orchids are those in the range of 60-70 degrees Fahrenheit. With this temperature, your orchid is ensured to flower during blooming season.

This growing orchid for dummies article will set you up with the basic knowledge on how to take care of your orchids. Find out as much as you can about the special requirements of your orchid to develop your beginner skills to expert orchid grower quickly.

For more valuable orchids information, please visit Orchid Growing Secrets where you will find great insights and many tips on orchid growing. Be sure to sign up for our Free Orchid Growing Mini-Course.



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6 Tips to Make Your Orchids Bloom Healthily

Taking care of orchids is not a very demanding job. Once you know what to check and what to do, you can actually leave the plant to bloom healthily. Like any other plants, there are important things that you have to keep in mind to make your orchid growing successful. There are also some mistakes to avoid to help you make your plants bloom well.

If you plan to take care and grow orchids at home, here are some tips that you might find useful. - tips - tips - tips -

1st tips - Do not plant your orchids on the ground. Orchids grow in rocks and on trees, thus you will never get to grow an orchid if you plant in on the soil or pot it with soil. Although this is the case, you may also need to have a potting medium to allow them to grow healthily. Coconut husk chips or fiber, tree bark, granular charcoal and tree fern fiber are just a few of the medium that you can use in potting your orchids.

2nd tips -. Do not over water your orchid plants. One sure way that can kill your orchid plants is to over water it. Taking care of orchids means learning how to determine if the plant needs watering or not. Keep in mind that some varieties may absorb water longer, so you have to also check out if the medium is dry until the roots to water it again. It is important to note also that too much dryness can be a lot better for orchids than too much wetness. Keep in mind not to water your orchids at night as well.

3th tips - . Keep your orchid away from direct sunlight. It may be helpful to take note that orchids love sunlight, but too much sunlight may burn the plants and kill them. Watch out for the discoloration of the leaves. A reddish to yellowish discoloration of the leaves may mean too much direct sunlight, thus you may want to find other locations best suited for your plants.

4th tips - . Put your orchids in a place where it can experience a difference in temperature. One tip is to place your plants near the window where it can get a good amount of sunlight in the morning and a change of temperature in the evening. A change in temperature can often trigger orchids to bloom, thus consider this as well in taking care of orchids.

5th tips - . Maintain low humidity for your plants. This will allow them to absorb water from the air, but if your indoor atmosphere does not permit your orchids to get enough from the humidity, you can also control humidity by creating a humidity tray. If you have other houseplants indoors, and they thrive well, the humidity may be good for your orchids as well.

6th tips -. Overcrowding is another thing that you have to watch out for in taking care of orchids. These plants do not grow and blossom well if they are to overcrowded in the medium, thus you have to do repotting once in a while to give them enough space to grow healthily.

By :  Carolyn Anderson