Growing orchids is one of the cherished hobbies for most of the plant and orchid enthusiasts. Growing them can be rewarding and tricky at the same time. They need attention and care when being grown and demand accurate
supply of necessary conditions. The enthusiasts can find some of the useful tips for growing orchids in the article.
1. Choose orchids wisely. A proper knowledge of the preferential climatic requirements of the species can be a great aid while growing them.
2. Use appropriate growing medium for orchids. When growing indoors, they can be planted in bark chips, charcoal chips or stones since they allow water to drain quickly and keep the roots well aerated. Fresh pine bark mixed with peat or vermiculite can also be used for the purpose.
3. Take care while planting the orchids. The pot should be filled 2/3 with the growing medium before placing the orchid in the pot. Repotting can be exercised every two years or when the orchid outgrows the pot.
4. Make sure not to over water the plants. Excess water is harmful to the plants and can even kill them. Watering once a week and letting the medium dry is the appropriate method.
5. Provide the right amount of light and temperature for your orchid. These are the vital requirements for the plants and providing them in right measures gives better results.
6. Orchids like humidity and thrive well in such conditions. Ensure proper humid conditions for your plant by using humidifiers or gravel trays with water.
7. Dendrobiums are easy to handle when grown in hanging baskets. This eliminates the problem of falling over and staking problem since the plants tend to be tall and top heavy.
8. Pete moss, osmunda fiber, volcanic rock, fir bark, and charcoal make for great orchid growing media. They should however be changed often for better results.
9. Cutting the orchids at bottom of the leaves rather than elbows is advisable while cutting them after the bloom has fallen off. This helps in maintaining big and lovely blooms.
10. Employ a balanced fertilizer for growing them and follow the ‘weakly, weekly’ rule while fertilizing. Water soluble fertilizers and special orchid fertilizers can give best results. Also, adding fertilizers while watering is advisable.
