Archive by Author | Carl Harrison

The Best Places for Orchid Delivery

If you think that the only places that you can find orchids is in its natural habitat or in very rare places, then you must learn the proper facts about flower delivery before buying any of them. With the advancement of communications and the internet you can now begin ordering these wonderful plants anyway that you can literally think of.

Where To Purchase These Unique Flowers

There are various places where you can get advice about them and where exactly you can purchase them to get the most out of your money. Sometimes they can be expensive if you are not aware of the best places around. In this article you will find out the amazing facts about orchid delivery and where are some of the great areas that you can start purchasing them immediately.

Using The Internet

With the many different places that you can receive some of the best flowers where should you actually start? One of the best places to start is with the internet. If you have a computer with internet access then you are one step closer to having these magnificent flowers in your home immediately.

Even though there are many different places on the web for this purpose you can find the best ones in the top of the search engines. The great thing is that you don’t have to research any of these places because this article will give you the information that you need. Here are the best places where you can have the simplest flower shipping that you need to know about.

Purchasing Beautiful Flowers From 1888Orchids.com

This is probably the most well known and respected warehouse that you can choose from a large variety of species that you would like to grow in your home. You can either buy them cut for show or you can purchase them live to begin growing them in your home for the beauty they will bring for you and your family. The choice is up to you, but most commonly people are actually looking for live plants they can grow for years to come with this amazing store.

Since they have all there plants being sent through the mail or a special delivery system, they need to ship them out real fast. The great thing about this website is that they have a freshness guarantee that they offer to all their customers. It is not good to purchase an expensive flower and when you finally receive them they are already dead. This is probably a business that you would never use again for this reason.

This is what makes orchids such a reliable and credible association to deal with online. They always strive to meet and exceed your expectations so that you get everything that you need with your purchase of them. When you first start buying them I would recommend that you start right here for the best delivery system available for these plants.

If you are interested in growing orchids then I would suggest that you hurry up and buy these flowers immediately. Use this delivery website and you will be surprised at the quality of plants that you receive with your shipment.

The Basic Guide To Pruning Orchids

Jun6

Once the flowers have died, it’s time to start pruning your orchids. This is the time you want to shape and control the size of your plant and can be done periodically throughout the year, or you may choose to do it during Fall or early Winter. Don’t leave it till late winter as you may accidentally remove new flower buds.

Determining When You Should Prune

The first indication that it’s time to trim is when the stalk begins to yellow or brown and you know that it will no longer flower. They can also be cut when the stalks are green, providing you don’t mind losing a few flowers.

Using The Right Equipment for This Simple Process

Hand pruners or shears are generally used for cutting stems no thicker than ¾ inch in diameter. There are two different types of trimmers you can use. Scissor-types, as the name suggests, have a scissor like action, with curved blades overlapping when making the cut. This one is the preferred implement, as it produces a close, clean cut.

The Anvil-type ones have a sharpened upper blade which cuts against a flat surface, but they don’t cut as close as the Scissor-types and are more likely to cut the stems when pruning.

Take These Simple Precautions Before Starting This Task

Be sure to wash your hands, or wear gloves before you start pruning and cut it with either a new or sterile cutting blade, cutting it within an inch of where the flower stalk is. Alternatively, you can remove the end of the blossom stalk to shorten it, but leave enough of a stump for it to flower again.

This should not harm your plant, but some may produce bloom shoots from the nodes of the older blossom stalks. Others may produce new plants from these new shoots, so once their roots are established, they can be removed from the mother plant and repotted.

Some of them don’t do either of the above actions, so it doesn’t hurt the plant if you remove the old bloom stalk. All it means is that you may miss out on new blossoms or a new baby plant.

Certain Plants That Will Need Special Instructions

Dendrobium orchids bloom from the leafless cane, so if you cut it back all the way, you will prevent your plant from blooming again in the future. At the end of the blooming season, Dendrobium and Cymbidium orchids will benefit by having their roots trimmed.

Lift the plant from the pot and if the roots are brown, then they are dead and need to be pruned. Healthy roots have a grayish appearance.

Vandas can be trimmed if their roots are black or yellow, but make sure you don’t cut the green, as they are healthy and have proper water absorption. Potting the Vanda plant is not recommended as they need their roots to spread and will quite quickly outgrow the pot. They can be planted in baskets but once established, they will be very hard to remove.

The flower of the Phalaenopsis orchid should be trimmed off as soon as it begins to wilt. Once the flowering season is over, the plant is ready for pruning. Trim right down to the second node, and If you’re really lucky, regrowth should be immediate.

The Amazing Beauty of Various Green Orchid Species

Jun6

Although there are thousands of varieties of orchids, there are relatively very few that are green in color. Coveted for their unique appearance, they offer a distinctive elegance among their multi-colored peers. Ranging from vivid lime to yellowish hue, the pine colored ones are exceptional and stunning.

Verdant Varieties

One genus, the Platanthera, has a variety of of these types of flowers. Interestingly, these flowers are not found in a remote tropical climate as you might expect. The Platanthera grow across North America and in Europe. In several states, the Platanthera hyperborean is considered a threatened and endangered species. Platanthera huronensis, commonly known as the Huron Green Orchid (referring to Lake Huron) grows predominantly in the northeast US and parts of Canada. The Platanthera types grow flowers on a tall, upright spike.

Cymbidiums Also Known as The Beginner Plant

Cymbidium orchids are favored for bridal bouquets, adding lovely sage color of a floral variety rather than from foliage. Native to China and Japan, there are many hybrids of the this particular plant. They are in general considered a beginner flower, easy to grow and reasonably priced. Cymbidium Loch Lomond is a stunning hybrid with pea colored petals and a white lip accented with red. Sweet Dreams have distinctive pale green blooms with lovely medium type leaves. Cultivating these wonderful plants is extremely easy with the right information.

The Hue of the Paphiopedilum Can be an Appealing Choice

The Paphiopedilum, also known as slipper orchid, has several varieties of green types. Found mainly in China and Vietnam, they differ from others in appearance with a lip shaped like a cup, a fanned leaf display, and the uppermost sepal appearing similar to an inverted heart. Species embody these characteristics to varying degrees. Flowers range in sizes from 12 inches across to a scant 2 inches.

Several Paphiopedilum types contain shades of color. The Paph.anhinga incorporates a deep evergreen color with vivid ruby. Paph. insigne combines shiny apple-green with brown, yellow, and purple in its flowers. Paph. glaucophyllum is another species with large flowers of muted colors. Paph. fairrieanum has very elaborate 2 inch flowers. White, lime, and violet combine on the curling petals.

Paph. Malipoense, a very recently discovered species, are predominantly sage with red reticulation on the petals. Paph. Maudiae, another popular one for beginners due to its ability to adapt to lower light conditions and average temperatures, has beautiful petals of varying shades of pine and white.

The Aeranthes, Dendrobium, and Phalaenopsis Species With Green Flowers

Aeranthes arachnites and A. grandiflora have large star shaped flowers. Aeranthes are primarily found in Madagascar. Aeranthes Grandiose, a hybrid of A.grandiflora and A. ramose, is also known as the Shooting Stars species. This hybrid has won numerous awards from the American Orchid Society.

Dendrobium Burana Jade is one of the hybrids originating in Thailand. Abundant lemony lime flowers grow on stalks that can reach nearly 3 feet in height.

Phalaenopsis Yellow Treasure is a very light yellowish flowering hybrid. It is a very sought after color among many enthusiasts. This genus developed in Asia and Australia.

Exceptional Beauty

All of these blossoms are striking in appearance. The shape of the sepal, leaves, lips, and foliage vary significantly. In some varieties, this hue is the predominant color, while in others it is merely a highlight. The hues range from deep evergreen to a translucent lime.

Whatever the tint, they will add something indefinably special to a collection. The unexpected surprise of finding green in a flower, coupled with the unique assortment of sizes and shapes make these flowers an orchid enthusiast’s dream.

Taste The Flavor Of Vanilla Orchids

Jun6

Did you know that vanilla is an essence which comes from orchids, and is the only agriculturally profitable by-product extracted from orchids? Vanillin is harvested from the plant known as Vanilla Planifolia.

This flower is a native to Mexico, but Madagascar is now the largest producer in the world. The plant grows as a vine attaching itself to existing trees, and if left alone will climb to the highest point of the tree with hardly any flowers.

The Life of The Vanilla Flower

One flower produces one fruit and the flavored compounds of vanilla are found there. They last only one day, sometimes less, so the vines have to be inspected daily, which is very labor intensive. The vine can be grown on wood such as trees in a forest, in a plantation on trees or poles, or in a shade house which increases the productivity.

Some Unique Species That Will Peak Your Interest

The Planifolia types are hermaphrodites, which means that they carry both male and female organs. To avoid self-pollination, there is a membrane which separates these organs. There is only one species of bee which can naturally pollinate the flower, and that’s the Melipone bee only found in Mexico. This one species of bee had a 300 year monopoly pollinating the Planifolia. They are also pollinated by the hummingbird.

How Hand Pollination Helped These Flowers Thrive

In 1836, a botanist named Charles Francois Antoine Morren, was sitting on his patio in Veracruz, Mexico, drinking coffee, and he noticed black bees flying around his flowers sitting on his table. He watched them working their way under the flap inside the flower and transferring their pollen.

He noticed that within a few hours the flowers closed up and a few days later, seed pods began to form. He immediately began experimenting with different ways to use hand pollination, but it wasn’t until 1841 that a slave named Edmond Albius who resided on Reunion, developed a simple hand pollination method which is still practiced today.

The Europeans and French transplanted the vines overseas, but could not find a substitute for the Melipone bee. Today they are cultivated so that they are at a convenient height for harvesting, and the only way they can pollinate the flowers is through artificial pollination.

The fruit, if left to ripen on the vine, dries out and the phenolic compounds crystallize giving it a diamond dusted appearance called “hoarfrost”. It is at this stage that it releases it’s distinctive smell. The fruit consists of tiny black seeds or specks.

How Fungi is Used To Help These Flowers Procreate

The seed from these organisms will not germinate without certain mycorrhizal fungi, so growers reproduce the plant by cutting off sections of the vine with five or six leaf nodes with a root opposite each leaf. The two lower leaves are removed and the plant is buried in loose soils at the base of a support. The remaining roots will cling to the support and will often grow down into the soil, which promotes the rapid growth of the plant under good conditions.

Interesting Characteristics of These Unique Orchids

The vanilla orchid is a perennial and can climb to 15 meters. It supports itself by the use of aerial roots. Its’ leaves grow between 8-25cm in length and they are fleshy and bright green in color. The flowers are yellow-green in color and are followed by 10-25cm long pendulous capsules, which are incorrectly referred to as “beans”.

They grow best in hot, humid climates with adequate rainfall and well drained soil enriched with organic material.

The curing of the pod gave the world the delicious aroma that is so well loved throughout the world. It’s not only used as a delicious scent, but also used to flavor many foods and drinks. This “essence” was first discovered by the Aztecs who used the seeds to flavor their cocoa drinks.

Some Simple Tips To Know About Orchid Flowering

Jun6

Everyone wants their orchids to have flowers, but not only that, to have them when they want them to have them. This, for the most part, is totally impossible with these plants. There are all kinds of articles written on how to make plants open by controlling their water, light, temperature, humidity levels and proper nutrients.

But for orchids, there is very little research to support any correlation between these factors and when with flowering or blossoming. Although, you can definitely increase the chances of your plants blooming by using and setting up proper conditions.

Blooming Can Take Some Time

Some of them do not bloom the first time for anywhere from four to seven years. This makes it a little hard to predict at all when a plant might bloom. The floral industry has done a lot of studies of poinsettias and lilies, and then been able apply certain formulas involving temperatures and light so that now they can get poinsettias to bloom at Christmas and lilies to bloom at Easter.

The Most Popular One You Need To Get Your Hands On

These plants are the second most popular types sold at garden shops. But what is interesting is that out of 25,000 different kinds of plants, seventy-five percent of all of them sold are Phalaenopsis. This family includes fifty different species. They originated in the tropical and subtropical regions of the Asia and the South Pacific. Of all the ones available, members of the this family have had the most studies done on how to regulate their process of blossoming.

How To Get Your Phalaenopsis To Blossom

Most of the species in this family of orchids need to be exposed to cool temperatures to promote spiking. While some scientists thought that shorter periods of light also contributed to blooming, now most of these claims have not been supported, as cool air temperatures were also present. What studies have shown is that the Phalaenopsis species begins to open when plants have day/night temperatures of 77/68 or 68/59. The buds may die if the daytime temperatures exceed 82 degrees.

Some Recommendations to Consider

Scientific research on many of them has proven that several of the recommendations given to growers to initiate bud opening are misconceptions. One example is to reduce nitrogen when plants are not actively growing. The varieties that are capable to grow outside in all types of habitat from tropical forests to prairies and even deserts have flowers, whether they are growing on rocks, trees or the ground.

There is no fluctuation in nutrient levels to stimulate this production. When you withhold nutrients you only cause stress to the plant, which is not healthy and is not going to sustain flowering. You can always try planting them in their natural habitat to help them bloom.

A Few More Orchid Flowering Tips

Other tips often given to produce blossoms is to give your plant Epsom salts. There is also no scientific evidence behind this theory. Both magnesium and sulfur, which are in Epsom salts, are involved in the metabolic functions of plants but there are no facts to suggest that these will help them or any other plant to bloom.

As far as petals on orchids go, some studies have been done on Cattleya, Cymbidium, and Dendrobium plants suggest they can be manipulated to grow by providing certain day and nighttime temperatures along with less daylight for some species. Overall though, there is very little research done on this process as compared to opening in other plants.

Some Interesting Facts Surrounding The Rare Ghost Orchid

Jun6

One of the most mysterious flowers that are one of the hardest to find are known as ghost orchids. These flowers are rarely seen in any controlled habitat maintained by man because they happen to be an endangered species. They cannot be found in dry areas and are similar to tropical ones because they love the hot and humid areas of Florida and even Cuba.

If you do happen to find one of these rare species where ever you are they really are a sight to see and may be one of the only times that you get to them at all. It is much rarer to see them blooming since only a handful of them actually get to bloom and become pollinated by a particular moth. Make sure to take as many pictures as possible of this flower if you do see them in the wild.

A Closer Look at The Characteristics of This Rare Breed

If you want to go on the hunt for them then you are going to need some basic understand of what to look for and what are some of their characteristics. When these flowers first start to grow in their beginning stage they will grow two leaves like any other orchid does, but eventually will get rid of these two leaves after it gets older. When this flower gets older the roots take the role of the leaves and actually perform photosynthesis directly to the plant.

The roots are very noticeable and they will usually look like long green shoots that are extended from the plant stem. They also will be around five inches tall and can sometimes be taller. They can extend up to 3 inches wide making them a plant that cannot be ignored. The flowers of these plants also are pure white and sometimes resemble a frog which is why some people call them frog orchids.

How They Live in Their Natural Environment

Like many other flowers such as dendrobiums, the ghost one is also known as epiphytes and have the ability to grow directly on tree trunks. This is not that unusual since many other species also can achieve this task and are able to easily be grown on trees. You will most likely find them growing on or around trees in their natural habitat so make sure to check these different places when searching for them.

They require a certain fungus to allow them to soak up nutrients much more efficiently which allows them to continue to thrive and stay healthy. If this fungus is not present in their habitat it is most likely that the plants will begin to die.

Other Facts That Will Interest You

Many years ago it is said that you could find these flowers practically anywhere around the swamps of Florida, but in the past few years this plant has actually become an endangered species and it is impossible to actually find them in their natural habitat anymore.

I am sure that you can find them around if you really look for them, but you will most likely be searching for a very long time. Try searching during the summertime because this is when they begin to bloom naturally and they might be easier to spot if their white flowers are out and about.

Seven Steps To Propagating Orchids

Jun6

Have you ever thought of propagating orchids, but you didn’t know where to start or how to begin with this process? Well this is a very simple and easy chore that needs to be done with these exotic flowers. It is important that your plants are propagated correctly in order to get more beautiful blooms for years to come.

This process involves repotting your plants into new containers that are bigger and have enough room for your overgrowing roots. If you want to continue to get blossoms from your plants, then you are going to need to complete this process to have everlasting blooms that will brighten your home and garden.

The Exact Steps for Successful Propagation

1. Removing the orchid from its pot should be the first priority. Making sure that you do not harm the roots carefully remove it from its old container and place it on some used or old newspaper for the time being.

2. For the most part when performing these steps your plants will have much decaying and old roots that will need to be removed before transplanting it into a new pot. To make this step easier you can use a knife to remove all this matter that has collected on the roots. Be certain that you don’t harm the roots of your plant because any slight damage can severely harm your chances of getting blooming flowers.

3. Sometimes you will find more decaying material on some plants and with others you might not find any or very little. With plants that have much decaying roots or matter you will need to get a smaller pot for your flower. If you have a plant that does not have much decaying matter, then you will need to find a much larger pot for optimum growth.

4. Your flowers will need proper drainage inside of its new home that you will use so make sure that you insert Styrofoam, broken clay pieces, or stones to allow for the proper drainage of water.

5. When it is time to place your plant in its new home you will need to ensure that the plant is at the same level as it was in its previous pot. Add proper medium into the pot and make sure the roots are level with the rim to ensure correct air circulation in the roots.

6. When placing the soil in the pot press firmly on the soil to make sure that you plants will not be able to move or fall out of the pot if a gust of air blows by them. Don’t press down too hard or you will damage the roots of your flowers. Be certain that you will slowly press down and do it very lightly when carrying out this step.

7. To secure the plant in place you can place a stick in the soil and use ties to secure your orchid in the pot. Most of the time you will not have to do this, but this will ensure that your plants are supported correctly.

If you use these steps to propagate your plants, then you will be able to have beautiful flowers that will last and bloom for many years to come. All it takes is knowing exactly how to execute this task you can easily see the benefits rather quickly.

Repotting Orchids Correctly Using These Simple Steps

Jun6

Sometimes repotting or transplanting orchids is necessary for keeping the life and beauty in these exotic plants from time to time. It doesn’t take that much time to complete and is very easy to do if you have the exact steps that are needed.

The Most Amount of time that this process could take is about 15 to 20 minutes and it could be much shorter once you understand exactly what you are doing. In this article you will learn all the steps that it takes to properly repotting them so that these flowers can thrive and bloom for many years to come.

All The Supplies That You Will Need To Use For Successful Transplanting of Your Orchid

The first thing that you will have to keep in mind is the different materials and supplies that you are going to need in order to properly complete these coming steps. Many tools that you will need include a small shovel, a hand rake, a sharp pocket knife, a pot, and a simple soil mix. You can find most of these supplies in your local hardware or garden warehouse at a pretty decent cost.

Disinfecting and Keeping Your Tools Clean is Critical

When performing these steps you will have to make certain that all the tools are free from bacteria viruses. Some people use bleach to disinfect the tools that they will be using during this process. You will also want to cleanse your hands of any bacteria as well so you don’t spread any disease.

Starting The Process

Take your new pot and place it to the side because you will be using this very soon. Put a little bit of the mix inside of this pot and just enough so that your orchid will have room inside of the pot. Now when removing the previous plant from its pot sometimes it may not want to come out. This is usually caused by leaving the plant to long in this pot or the roots are in there real tight.

You are going to have to take it out in order to successfully begin repotting them, but avoid pulling on the plant. I prefer tapping the bottom of the pot because it will usually loosen up the soil that is inside. If this doesn’t work then you can always break the pot open to get at it.

Checking The Plant’s Roots for any Damage

Once you get the plant out of the pot you will need to inspect the roots to make sure that there are not any dead roots or dying ones. It is okay to remove any old debris that happens to be still attach to your plants.

Old roots are not useful anymore and will not serve much purpose for the new flowers that will emerge. Use the knife to cut off any useless material and clean them as well before placing them in their new home.

Start repotting orchids by taking the flower and putting it inside of the new pot that we prepared beforehand. Now that the plant is inside of the new pot add some more mixture into the pot so that it is filled to the top and pack it down nice and firm to keep the plant secure.

Rare Orchids Are Popular Collector’s Items

Jun6

Orchids make up about 10 percent of all flowering plants on the earth. After reading this statistic, it seems like finding them would be no problem. But that’s not always the case. It’s true that some species are quite common. Others, however, are very rare. These are prized above all others because of their scarcity. And most of them are also the most beautiful in nature.

What Makes These Special Plants Rare?

Most of these varieties are hard to find because their natural habitat has been destroyed by human interference such as ghost orchids. They are adaptable plants, but they do require certain conditions to survive. When tree cover is lost because of deforestation, they cannot survive. Also, when soil and water supplies are contaminated with pollution, they can become weakened and die.

It’s funny that we humans value what we’ve helped endanger–these flowers– more than any other variety. The rarest ones which have been most affected by humans are those that attract the most attention and biggest prices.

Some of The Rarest Types That are Almost Impossible to Find

In any variety, scarcity is often dictated by color. The rarest orchids usually have unusual coloration. For example, albino Phal Amboinensis is one of the most sought-after and unique plants on the planet. This striking plant has an enormously long stem and no pigmentation. The lack of color was caused by a genetic mutation in just one parent plant; therefore, there aren’t many other albino ones found in nature.

An effort has been made in recent years to imitate the genetic mutation that produces these peculiar and unique plants in the laboratory. But since the lab-produced plants aren’t as unique, they aren’t as valuable as their wild counterparts.

Cattleyas Can be Included With These Varieties

Cattleyas are another variety that can be of great interest. They produce beautiful, delicate blooms and are extremely difficult to grow. Even veteran gardeners could run into problems with Cattleyas; they are finicky about temperatures and sunlight and need just the right amount of fertilizer to blossom. But despite their scarcity and growing problems, Cattleyas remain one of the most sought after varietals.

Lady Slippers are Next on the List

Some Lady Slippers, which are members of the Paphiopedilum genus, are scarce because of over picking. They were once ubiquitous in Great Britain and northern Europe, but they were brought near extinction by over harvesting. These days, they are very difficult to find in the wild, although their popularity with orchid aficionados makes them fairly easy to get a hold of in a specialty shop.

Typically, dark flowers are extremely rare. Blue and black types can be as hard to find as their albino cousins. One of the least abundant dark species, Coeloyne pandurata, is known to grow in just a few places in Malaysia. This black species fetches a hefty price because it is so scarce.

Be Careful When Purchasing One of these Flowers

If you’re interested in buying rare ones, be careful how you go about making your purchase. Some sellers harvest them in ways harmful to the environment. Always ask where they came from before you finish a sale. And though these species can make an exciting addition to any collection, you should be prepared to pay top dollar for them. Like any other collector’s item, these varieties don’t come cheap.

Planting Orchids Successfully In Your Home Beginning Today

Jun6

Though beautiful orchids appear exotic, delicate, and temperamental, nothing could be further from the truth. This plant is so varied and appears in so many locations around the world that you can certainly find a beginner species that will work at home for you.

The Pure Basics That You Must Understand

Though you need to know some specialized things to successfully raise them, they do not require the attention as that of the popular, less exotic rose. When you become acquainted with the specific caring requirements for successful planting and cultivation.

This article will give the basics of potting and planting these flowers, but remember, the varieties are so vast that “one size” will not “fit all.” As you become more and more adept at working with them, you will learn which particular kinds of care will work best with each.

The Beginning of Your Quest to Growing Beautiful Flowers

When beginning your foray into the world of cultivating orchids, you will need to know several very specific things—which locations are best, which climates are required, how much humidity and light are necessary, and how much moisture must be supplied. These are all extremely important, but you can’t worry too much about that until you do the basic—getting your bulb or plant in a proper pot—for either outside or inside.

So you probably have questions about potting first, like—which kind of pot do you choose? A quick trip to your local nursery or other place that sells plants and containers will let you know what some of your choices are.

The Best Types of Pots You Should Use for Healthy Blooms

The cheapest and easiest to handle are the plastic ones. These are great for the indoors because they usually have at least one hole in the bottom. They need proper drainage, so the hole is quite important. But if you plan to propagate them outdoors, plastic pots are less than ideal because the wind can blow them over easily.

Clay Pots are Another Good Choice for You

Another pot you could choose is made of clay. These too have a hole in the bottom and sometimes even side holes, like those used for planter strawberries. Clay is very good in keeping your plant drained because water evaporates fairly quickly from clay and the beauty and taste of these pots add to the attractiveness of your plant.

Even Clear Ones Can be of Great Value

Clear polyethylene pots are also good, and though they might not drain quite as well or be as attractive as clay pots, they allow the plant’s roots to get sun. Last but not least are the basket style pots. For trailing types these often work best. The baskets are frequently already filled with sphagnum moss and other material that drains well.

Sometimes you can get them ready to go. What species or variety of orchid you are choosing will help determine specifically what choice you will make, and your garden specialist can help you with this specific item.

Soil That You Must Use for Successful Plants

Now on to the kind of potting soil or organic matter that you will use to anchor your plant into its new home. Don’t even consider using bought planting soil, soil from composting, or any other kind that you have probably used with other plants as this soil will hold too much water and will overpower the plant with too many nutrients.

What you need are one or more in a combination of these: fir bark, sphagnum moss, redwood bark, coconut husks, or tree fern fiber. While these more or less dry materials may be different from what you’d expect, stick with them. Though there are some other choices, these are the best.

Inorganic Choices That Can Also Help In Growing these

Flowers

Like many other kinds of plants, these plants need inorganic matter as well. Some possible choices are ones that drain well, and some that allow the roots to have more light. As you propagate more and more different kinds of flowers, you will learn which materials or mixtures of materials work best for each kind of orchid.

Some choices are charcoal, which is particularly good because it breaks down poisons; vermiculite, which allows the roots to get the proper light and which holds the proper amount of water, allowing the roots to breathe not too much and not too little; or heavy lava rock that permits the plant’s roots to breathe without breaking down. As with the organic matter, other choices do exist as well. Just ask your plant special from who you purchase your new plant.

Some Things You Should Know about Repotting Orchids

A special note about planting and transplanting them: when you see your plants getting “root bound” or “pot bound,” you don’t need to repot them. This type of plant, like some other tropical flowers, actually thrives on tight roots. Don’t repot them until it’s absolutely clear that it’s necessary. Remember, though they are not that hard, they do require a bit of specialized knowledge in order for the beginning enthusiast to be successful at growing these wonderful organisms.