Orchid Care - 10 Easy Steps for Beginners
Orchids are beautiful plants that will thrive with proper care and nourishment. If you are new to orchid ownership here are 10 basic steps to help your orchid prosper.
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Watering your orchid, this common misconception that orchids need to be watered frequently. The exact opposite is true; a general rule of thumb is to water every 5 to 12 days. Judging the weather, type of orchid and temperature , slightly more often in hot summer days and less often in cold winter days.
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When dealing with the type of orchid, remember there are 3 basic types of orchids:
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Plants that require to be kept evenly moist. Plants that fall in this category are: Paphiopedilum, Cymbidium, Miltonia, and Odontoglossum.
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Plants that should be allowed to dry a bit in-between waterings: Plants that fall in this category are: Cattleya, Brassia, Oncidium, and Dendrobium.
And lastly:
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Plants that should almost dry out between watering. Plants that fall in this category are: Phalaenopsis, Vanda, Ascocenda. This is a basic guideline, check with your nursery for correct watering instruction for the plant you purchase.
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Fertilization is the next thing to check. Buy a orchid food specially formulated for orchids, follow instructions on the label. But a basic guide would be once a month, more often could burn the roots, less often can stunt growth.
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Place your plant in a place where there is good light and comfortable airflow. Too much light or direct sunlight can make the leaves blotchy, and damage them. They will thrive better with light behind filter curtains.
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Inspect your plant on a regular basis, look for any changes in the growth, color of leaves, texture or any changes and make note.
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Use water from the faucet, comfortable temperature no hot or cold.
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When you water your orchids avoid wetting the leaves, if you do get water on the leaves or between the leaves, use a piece of tissue or cotton ball and wipe them gently.
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Check the temperature of the leaves if they are warm then check their location, maybe exposed to too much sun, in their natural habitant they are not usually exposed to the direct sun.
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Common orchid pests you need to watch out for are snails and slugs, these pests hide in the potting medium and chew on the roots of the plants. They will also come out at night and chew the leaves. Other pests include aphids (this is a small insect that sucks the leaves) and thirps (an insect that chew on the leaves). Mealybugs are another common pest; they attack the leaves and stems leaving a cottony mass. Consult your garden centre and follow instructions on pest control.
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Repot your plant every two years, if the roots are growing out the top of the pot then it’s time for a bigger pot. Check roots before repotting to make sure that there are no dead roots.
Overall good care will ensure that your orchid remains in tip top condition for years to come.
