Orchid Planting Care
With their delicate, graceful lines and gorgeous varieties, orchids are many a would-be gardener’s favorite flower. You may have considered planting or keeping orchids around your house, but were afraid they might take too much care. Don’t worry about orchid planting care—all you need are the proper orchid growing basics for these delicate blossoms, and your garden and home will be beautiful in no time.
Indoors and Out
In temperate regions, potted orchids may be taken outdoors in the summer. Many cymbidiums, for example, thrive in those conditions. Coelogynes, Dendrobiums, and Encyclias also do well outside in temperate regions. Very young plants and plants in small pots are best left indoors.
Some varieties of terrestrial orchids can be grown outdoors in the ground in these areas. Cypripedium calceolus, Cypripedium reginae, and Dactylorhiza have all been successfully cultivated outdoors in Europe and North America.
Be careful: summer can be very hot and dry in temperate zones. Plants that are outside will need liberal amounts of water to protect new growth from burning in the hot sun. Watering in the evening is beneficial during summer months. The cooling temperatures allow the compost to retain the moisture for a longer period of time, keeping the roots cool.
Provisions also need to be made for periods of excessive rain. Roots can decay if left in extremely wet soil for extended periods of time. Tenting the orchids can protect them from too much moisture, but must be removed when the rain stops. Leaving the plant tented can trap heat and cause damage.
Mounting Your Orchids
Orchids may also be mounted outdoors as an alternative to potting. Brassia verrucossa, Dendrobium miyakei, Encyclia polybulbon, Laelia anceps, Oncidium flexuosum, and Trichopilia tortilis are a few species that grow well on bark.
Whether you use a piece of cork bark, a piece of wood, or tree fern will depend on the needs of the species you choose. Adding a hook to one end of the wood or bark will allow you the option of hanging the plant later.
You will also need sphagnum moss and plastic coated wire or fishing line. Remember, wear gloves when handling sphagnum moss, as there may be a chance of an orchid fungus when handling it. Place moss on the bark or board as well as loosely around the roots of the orchid. This will cushion the roots and prevent damage from the wire or string used to hold it in place.
Gently wire or tie the moss to the bark. The plant must not be loose; it needs to be secure so it will root into the bark. Trim any excess moss for a neat appearance and good orchid planting care habits.
The same procedure can be adapted to mounting orchids onto tree trunks or branches. Keep in mind that plants growing in these ways will need adequate water to keep them moist. They do not have the benefit of the potted growing media to maintain moisture.
The Best Orchid Planting Care for Year-Round Outdoor Growing
Tropical regions host many orchids year round, and several varieties can be found flowering on tree trunks and branches. Genera that do well in shade and are comfortable with day to night temperature changes, will love this environment.
For example, Promenaea xanthina, Masdevallia infracta, and Oncidium longipes can all be found on trees in Brazil. Often, in tropical gardens, orchids become permanently attached to trees and require little external support. The high humidity and diffused sunlight in the rain forests of Brazil allow several kinds of orchids to thrive and flourish naturally.
Endangered Species?
On the downside, there are weather extremes in the tropics that can be harmful to plants. Hurricane winds can dislodge orchids and damage them. If the host tree falls, the plants will easily die.
Luckily, orchid societies monitor these events and try to rescue orchids that may be in danger to keep the beautiful orchid alive, growing and thriving…so we can all continue to enjoy this bloom’s pristine beauty.
