Growing Orchids for Beginners

By Jerry Anthony

Caring for orchids is actually an ancient custom, as people have been growing and harvesting orchids for hundreds of years. With so many different species of orchids growing in so many different climates, the different types of care are too numerous to mention. However, there are a number of general care tips and techniques that will hold true for most of the orchid species that are commonly grown.

Growing orchids, as growing any plant successfully, is a task that can be easy but must be approached with care. Beginning orchid growers will usually find that they can keep their plant alive and green and even growing, but they have trouble getting it to bloom well or at all. Choosing the correct type of orchid can help with this problem Here are a couple of orchid types that are good for beginners.

Cymbidium is another very popular type of orchids. There are at least 40 species and thousands of hybrid cymbidiums. Cymbidiums are most likely the orchid that has been cultivated by humans for the longest. Cymbidiums ca grow on the on trees, the ground, and on rocks. Cymbidiums are usually found in Japan, China, South East Asia and Australia. Cymbidiums are a forgiving species of orchid and are well suited for people who are just starting out in orchid growing. If cared for properly, they will bloom consistently every season.
Denrobiums are another large genus of orchids composed of well over a thousand distinct species. These beautiful orchids are commonly found in Northern India, South East Asia, Australia and Polynesia. Denrobiums commonly thrive at or near the equator in humid and tropical climates, as well as in climates with distinct summer and winter seasons. These flowers grow well, but are not advisable for beginners sine they are hard to get to bloom on a regular basis.
Phalaenopsis are orchids have blooms that last for a long time. Phalaenopsis are another genus of orchid that are good for beginners due to their forgiving nature of care. This type of orchid is commonly used for weddings and is a native to the Philippines.
The Vanda is yet another good orchid genus for people who are just learning how to grow them. Vandas typically have blue, orange, red or yellow flowers in large clusters that can last for up to 2 weeks.
Orchid care for beginners is also mostly about light, temperature and water. Orchids need a temperature range of about ten to fifteen degrees to bloom properly. Orchids need a good balance of shade and light. Not too much of each, or they will grow green foliage but will not bloom. Orchids require regular watering. The best watering schedule is to water early enough in the day so the plant will be fairly dried out by nightfall. While the amount of water the plant will need will vary somewhat depending the geographic location, conventional wisdom is to water the orchid once per day in the winter and twice per day during the summer.