Orchid Growing
Orchids grow without help, in the harsh environments of the rain forest, but some fans of the plant are still hesitant to try to grow them. They actually can be grown by anyone with a bit of study about their basic needs, and the time to look after them and treat them properly. Read this article for some simple how to grow tips and you too will be able to have thriving orchids.
It’s lovely to have orchids in your home, but you might find them easier to care for if you grow them outdoors or in a greenhouse. A lot depends on the climate in your area, and on the time you have to maintain your orchids.
The location where you might enjoy your orchids the most is inside your home. Even given the relatively dry air of a climate-controlled typical house, you can introduce humidity yourself, to give orchids a healthy growing environment.
You need to find the right spot to place them first. You will want a room or window with bright but not direct sunlight. If you don’t have this type of space available in your home, you can always use an orchid light to help.
Maintain the temperature of your new garden area above 60 degrees F constantly. Summer days may see the temperature higher, but it shouldn’t go any lower. Your orchids may enjoy some time outdoors in natural sunlight if the day is pleasant, but be sure to bring them in at night before it gets too cool outside.
You also will want to add humidity to your indoor orchid garden. We recommend placing your pots of orchids inside a tray with pebbles in it, and make sure the water level reaches the pebbles in the tray at all times. This will help the plants to bring in the moisture as they need it.
If the weather outside is temperate and comfortable, let your indoor orchids enjoy it. You can also create artificial wind by setting up a fan. This can help to replicate the breezes that blow across the orchids’ native rain forests.
If you wish to start with a windowsill garden, make sure there isn’t much direct sunlight before you place your orchids there. There are a couple types of orchids that lend themselves well to windowsill settings.
Moth orchids are the easiest orchid to grow indoors. They require the lowest maintenance levels, and will provide you with beautiful flowers that bloom two times a year, if you keep them healthy.
Lady’s Slippers are another type of orchid that does well indoors. The flowers on this plant can last for up to three months, and this orchid also boasts striped colors, hair and unusual warts, which makes it a very interesting orchid for your home.
Your second option is to use a greenhouse. Many orchids can adapt themselves to cold or warm temperatures, within their optimum range. Make sure there is no more than a fifteen degree difference in the day and night temperatures, for them to do their best.
Ensure that your greenhouse orchids get more water if they need it. During warm months of the year, you will want to water them at least once and maybe twice a week. If you are experienced in growing other plants in a greenhouse environment, orchids should do well for you there, too.
If you use artificial lighting in your greenhouse, check the needs of the types of orchids you’re growing so you don’t give them too much light, or not enough. Indirect lighting is generally more comfortable for orchids, but some need brighter light or partial shade.
Where else might one enjoy orchids? In the best location Mother Nature can give you – in your own yard. If you live in a temperate and damp area, you probably will have no trouble growing orchids in your outdoor garden. This gives them a chance to attach to trees like they do in the wilds of the rainforests, and mature in the way they have always done.
Orchids can even be grown in areas that experience winter, even though they originated in warmer areas. Just take them inside on the coldest days, and place them back outside when the weather is milder.
Growing orchids is not as hard as you might think. And they can grow well in almost any area you decide to plant them. These are just some of the orchid care basics that you should know about.
