Orchids have bright, colorful flowers.Orchids are very different from other plants so it can be difficult to plant and care for them.You will be able to see the flowers with a bit of knowledge and patience.Pick a small, snug pot for the orchid and then pick the right medium for it.Provide the orchid with plenty of sunlight, high humidity, and water once per week to keep it happy.
Step 1: If you are a beginner, pick one of the orchids.
Orchids are difficult to grow and keep alive.The cattleya ven, moth orchid, andus slipper varieties are great for learning how to grow these special plants.Ask the gardening center or nursery what type of orchid is suitable for the climate in your area.If you want to know what the flowers look like, try to pick a plant that is in bloom.
Step 2: The orchid needs a small plastic or clay pot.
The growing medium will be well-drained if there are slats or holes in the pot.The roots should fit into the pot without having to bend or twist.Orchids grow best in smaller pots that keep their root system more compact.Tolumnias and dendrobiums prefer clay pots, while cattleyas, moth orchids, and venus slipper orchids prefer plastic pots.
Step 3: For your type of orchid, choose the right medium.
There are over 30,000 types of orchids.fir bark, tree fern, sphagnum moss, and perlite are common types.Ask your local gardening center or orchid society about the best medium for your type of orchid.You can find it online.Coarse fir bark is preferred by cattleya orchids.Medium fir bark is best for orchids.The moss is ideal for the slipper orchids.
Step 4: Put 1 in of foam peanuts in the bottom of the pot.
Ensuring that the orchid has good drainage is one of the most important aspects of orchid planting.Excess water can be drained by using foam packaging peanuts.The roots will not rot.
Step 5: The orchid needs to be removed from the original container.
The container should be wiggled to loosen the orchid stalks.Pull the orchid out of the container without breaking it.If the container is stubborn, don't force it off as it could harm the orchid.To cut the container off the plant, use scissors.The roots of some orchids are free.There is no container in this instance.Orchids are sold in plastic pots.
Step 6: The orchid is in the pot.
The orchid should be suspended inside the container.Don't let the roots bend or break to fit inside the pot.As you plant the orchid, support it to prevent root damage.
Step 7: The pot should be filled with a growing medium.
Be careful not to damage the roots by packing the pot with the growing medium.When the crown is below the growing medium, stop filling the pot.The crown is where the roots meet the stalks.
Step 8: The orchid can get up to 14 hours of light per day.
Tropical orchids thrive in bright, indirect sunlight, because they grow high up in trees.A south or east-facing windowsill is a good place to put your orchid.Orchids prefer west-facing windows that are too warm.To find the ideal number of sunlight hours for your type of orchid, check the specific sunlight requirements.Artificial lights can be used if your home doesn't have enough natural light.Keep the light on for the specified number of hours by placing the orchid in a location away from a fluorescent bulb.Orchids with leathery or few leaves like cattleyas and dancing lady type tend to do best in high-light environments.Orchids with limp or soft leaves tend to grow best under more sensitive light conditions.There is an east-facing windowsill.
Step 9: It is recommended to water the orchid once per week.
There is less water where orchids are concerned.Orchid roots can rot if there is too much water in the growing medium, as the roots need good air flow to function properly.Simply hold the pot under the water for a few seconds and let it grow.Before you water it again, make sure the medium has dried out completely.Orchids cope better with dry conditions.
Step 10: To keep orchids happy, maintain a humidity level of 80%.
Orchids are hard to sustain in low humidity homes.The orchid needs warm, moist air to survive, so keep it away from cold drafts and heating vents.Orchids grow well in the bathroom where the humidity is high.You can use a dry well instead of putting the orchid in the bathroom.If you want to make a dry well, fill a plastic tray with pebbles or place a lattice on top.Keep the orchid pot on top of the tray by filling it with water.The humidity is boosted by this.
Step 11: The orchid liquidfertilizer should be given each summer.
Orchids bloom best using a liquid fertilization every few weeks.Purchase a liquidfertilizer that is suitable for orchids from your local gardening center.Follow the manufacturer's directions to get the correct amount of liquid fertilizer in the water.The water should be poured over the orchid.Try to get a liquid that is specifically for orchids.If you get a generalfertilizer, use half the recommended amount.If you don't use liquidfertilizer, water the orchid every week.
Step 12: Prune the flower.
Take the flowering stem away from the main stalks.You may get a second bloom.The orchid will grow back healthy shoots if you remove the leaves and stems with a sterile knife.Orchids can re bloom without being trimmed.
Step 13: If the roots are not covered by the pot, replant the orchid.
Orchids need to be repotting about once a year.If you see the roots creeping out of the pot, or if the growing medium has broken down too much, then it is time to repot the orchid.While many orchids need to be repotted each year, others can stay in the same pot for several years, so make sure you know what type of orchid you prefer.Don't repot the plant until it is dead for the year.