GROWING ORCHIDS IN THE HOME
There is a long-standing myth that orchids are difficult, if not impossible, to grow. It is true for some but there are many popular, easy-to-grow types that adjust to the temperatures and light conditions found on the typical home windowsill. Orchids are different from other houseplants. Unlike the typical ferns, violets, and trees, orchids do not grow in soil. Most orchids in the wild grow on tree branches like this one. We put them in pots for our conveniences.
Onc. Viperianum `J & L'
WATERING
In the house, orchids are grown in pots filled with chips of bark, stones, treefern or some other material loosely packed, this lets the water drain quickly. Nothing kills an orchid faster than letting it sit in a saucer of water; the lack of oxygen to the roots will cause them to rot. Water orchids thoroughly, usually about once a week, let them dry slightly before the next watering. It is better to not water enough than to water too much.
TEMPERATURE
Orchids need to have a temperature difference between night and day. Especially in the Fall and Winter orchids need to have at least a 10 degree difference between night and day. Orchids are usually classified into three temperature groups; warm growing, intermediate growing, and cold growing. Warm-growing orchids, like Phalaenopsis, don’t like temperatures lower than 60 F. Intermediate growers, such as Cattleyas like temperatures to stay above 55 F.
Cat. mossiae
Cool-growing orchids, like Cymbidiums prefer temperatures above 50 F. For a high temperature, most orchids don’t like to be above 90 F.
LIGHT
Most orchids require at least six hours of light a day. If you are going to grow the plants in sunlight, make sure it’s not direct, have a window sheer or mini-blinds to defuse the light. Orchid leaves should pretty-much be a grassy green color (light or medium green with yellowish tone). If the leaves are darker you need to raise the amount of light to the plant. If the leaves are lighter than a grassy green color, you need to lower the amount of light the orchid gets.
FERTILIZING
Orchids don’t need a lot of fertilizer. However, to maintain healthy plants and see blooms regularly, you should fertilize with a weak solution of 20-20-20 fertilizer once a week. Each month be sure and water with plain water to flush out any built up fertilizer salts.
HUMIDITY
Fifty percent or more humidity is necessary. Raising the humidity around the plants will help it to flower better. There are some different ways to raising the humidity; some of them are: operate a humidifier near the plants, group the orchids together, or surround the growing area with plastic (if you do this make sure there is still air movement or bacteria will grow).If you have too high of humidity, fungal diseases and bacterial infections can become a problem.