Growing Orchids
A popular myth about orchids is they are very difficult to grow. Well I’m going to let you in on a little secret; they are not difficult to grow at all. Yes, it’s true with the right information, knowledge, and techniques you too can begin growing orchids in no time. All orchids need is the right habitat in order to thrive and flourish correctly. That’s exactly what this article is about. I will discuss some orchid growing techniques that will help your orchids to thrive in the perfect orchid environment.
The first thing you need to know about growing orchids is using the proper orchid medium. The truth is orchids will not tolerate soils that are less than perfect. What I mean is that orchids can only be grown in specific soil that consists of organic or inorganic matter. Some examples of organic matter include coconut husks, osumda fiber, and fir bark. Some examples of inorganic matter include charcoal and lava rock. You can easily find perfect orchid mixes in places such as home depot, Lowes, etc. You can even visit a local greenhouse and see if they carry any type of orchid mixes as well.
Creating the Perfect Environment
Orchids require a very particular environment in order for them to flower properly and beautifully. The whole point for growing orchids is to see them flower, right? Orchids need to have the proper temperature. It all depends on what type of orchid you grow in order to determine the correct temperature. But there are some things you should know about orchid temperature. For example, when growing orchids you should never let the temperature drop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. There are no orchids that can tolerate any temperatures below 50 degrees. If the temperature outside is forecast to get below this temperature you should bring your orchids inside. Just as well orchids do not like temperatures that are too hot as well. The temperature should not get above 80 degrees Fahrenheit otherwise your orchid can dry out too fast. These are some things to keep in mind when growing orchids.
Living in a humid climate has its advantages and disadvantages. First of all orchids love humidity and will not grow without it. There are ways to get around this even if you don’t have humid conditions where you reside. One thing you can do is place a humidifier where you’re growing your plants to increase the moisture content in the air. One cool trick you can do if you don’t want to purchase a humidifier is placing a tray filled with water and stones underneath the flowers. Make sure the plants are not touching the water and this will give your orchids the correct amount of humidity.
The last important factor of growing orchids is correct watering. Watering orchids is the most overlooked step when caring for orchids. This is a very crucial step and it needs to be done correctly. You need to prevent over-watering of your plants because water can cause fungal infections, bacterial disease, and other illnesses. Keeping your orchid too dry can cause death for your plant if you leave it dry for too long. Keeping the orchid medium moist is what you should be aiming for. Make sure the medium is moist at least an inch into the soil. You can find this out by using your fingers to test the moisture content of the soil. Placing your fingers down an inch you will be able to see if the medium is moist enough. By assuring the soil is moist will make growing orchids a breeze.
From this simple article growing orchids can now be easily accomplished without having to worry about causing harm to them. Follow these simple tips and you and your orchid will be happy for many years to come.
