December 25, 2010

Five Vital Orchids Info Tips to Grow Healthy Blooming Orchids!

By Luther Perry


Resourceful orchids info related to growing and care, is essential for new growers to create orchids that have lasting beautiful blooms, year after year. Focusing your attention to the important orchid information subjects will greatly lead to your success as an orchid grower! Below are the five necessary orchids info topics to understand so you can begin enjoying these wonderful plants.


1. Choosing the Right Orchid To Grow


When deciding on your first orchid to grow and care for, it is important to research orchids info related to orchids types, so you can have an understanding of the various species available. For the first time orchid grower, Phalaenopsis known as moth or Phal orchids, are arguably the perfect choice. They are a relatively low maintenance plant with extraordinary blooming frequencies and durations compared to most orchids types. Their beautiful stripes, pinks, whites, and purple colors will add a vibrant addition to any home or garden. If kept healthy, you can expect Phal orchids to bloom multiple times a year, for two to three months at a time!


2. Your Orchids Need Light


When researching orchids info related to lighting, you will find that there are two ways to provide light for your orchids. You can either create artificial lighting with fluorescent blubs, or you can place your orchid in an area that receives plenty of indirect sunlight. If you would like to use artificial lights you will need to match up the species of plant you are growing with the light intensity of the bulbs. Each species requires a different vibrancy of light to achieve healthy blooms.


When choosing to grow your plant with natural light, the best location to grow an orchid in your home is near a window facing east. This will provide your orchid with ample amounts of sunlight and shade, keeping your plant healthy and happy.


3. Combat Orchid Disease


This is a very important orchids info subject to investigate, so you can identify and potentially heal any diseases that your plant contracts. There are many types of orchid diseases that your plant can become infected with. Certain diseases such as viruses, brown rot, and black rot can be deadly to your plant if they are not isolated and treated immediately. One common symptom of a curable orchid disease is the yellowing of leaves. If you notice your orchids' leaves turning from their lush green color to a yellowish tan, this is likely due to your plant receiving too much light. Increase the amount of shade your plant receives, and remove your plant from an area where direct sunlight is abundant. This should reverse the yellowing, and bring back the deep green color.


4. Orchids Need Media, Not Soil


One of the most important steps to growing healthy orchids is using the correct potting media (soil). Orchids need soil that will allow their roots to circulate air and drain water easily. Two very common and popular types of orchid media are bark and New Zealand sphagnum moss. Typical potting soil is not good to use for orchids, since the soil will compact together and suffocate the roots, ensuring the plant will wither and eventually die. It is important to note that the type of media (soil) used, will affect the watering frequency necessary to keep your orchids healthy. Typically, watering your orchids once to twice a week will be sufficient. But if you are using sphagnum moss, water your plants once every 7 to 10 days. Moss retains more water than the bark, keeping your orchids hydrated for longer periods of time. If you research orchids info related to media types, you will discover the many media choices available, all having their own benefits and drawbacks.


5. Creating a Natural Climate


Orchids are commonly native to tropical climates in South East Asia, Japan, India, and Northern Australia. Because of this, orchids thrive in warm temperatures around 65 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Providing plenty of sunlight and warm temperatures will encourage the beautiful blooms and lush colors the plants are capable of producing. As you will discover when starting to grow varying species, each will react slightly different to varying climate conditions. But as a general rule, keeping your orchids hydrated in warm temperatures with plenty of light, should keep them healthy and beautiful.


By understanding these basic yet essential orchids info care topics, you will be able to grow and produce healthy vibrant blooming orchids with your plants. Once you witness the beautiful blooms and intoxicating scents your orchids can produce, you will be hooked on using your orchids info knowledge to produce healthy beautiful plants.

No comments:

Post a Comment