Do you know how to care for orchids? Well if you don't then you might want to read this short post that I have written. The secret to caring for these plants is to have the knowledge and tools it takes to grow beautiful blooms. These exotic flowers do take some time to get used to and you may need some extra knowledge especially if this is your first time caring for these plants.
After reading this article you will know exactly how to grow and easily care for these plants, and you will be able to cultivate them any time that you desire. They will continue to bloom throughout the years as long as you apply these simple yet effortless techniques right now.
The Important Elements You Must Understand
Knowing the exact process for caring for these flowers is an important element if want to have a beautiful blooming garden, amazing greenhouse, or just want to show off your skills to family and friends. Proper orchid care includes many things such as watering, proper soil, sunlight, temperature, humidity, air movement, and even diseases. This may all seem like much work, but with just a little knowledge of all this becomes a breeze for any beginner enthusiast.
Using The Exact Medium That Best Suits These Flowers
Let’s just discuss one of these techniques so you don’t feel overwhelmed. If you learn one method at a time you will soon be a professional orchid grower! The first thing you should know is using the proper soil or medium. This is the first step in cultivating these flowers and it happens to be the foundation to growing beautiful flowers. If you get this step wrong then you will not have a healthy and vibrant plants.
You need to create an opportunity for yourself and your orchid to be able to bloom. Without the proper medium all your chances of growing them have been tossed out the window. These mediums consist of many different materials that are usually naturally occurring substances found on this planet and are readily available in many different areas.
The Different Types of Material Used In Orchid Mixes
There are organic materials that you can use and are found in most greenhouses and garden stores. There are also inorganic ones which are much harder to find, but can be used if necessary. I prefer to use organic types of materials because they are much easier to find. These organic types include coconut husks, fir bark, sphagnum moss, and osmunda fiber.
Inorganic types include lava rock, alifor, and charcoal. If you go to any garden store you will usually find a small section of specially made mixes that already have the proper materials in them. This is the easiest way to get the proper materials that you need. With the correct medium you now know what it takes to keep these plants thriving and blooming for years to come.
Knowing how to care for orchids is not as complicated as many make it out to be. With the right knowledge you can grow any species that you desire with very little effort.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Understanding The Colors of Your Orchid Leaves
Orchid leaves are what are used to store food for all your plants. They need these leaves in order to flower beautiful blooms and live for many years. Many types shed their leaves as soon as their flower has opened and bloomed. Others however can keep most of the leaves they have for the next season. Although, these older ones will be the first to die once the new season begins.
What Should You Do When Your Leaves are Turning Yellow?
So you’re beginning to see yellow leaves on your plants. What does this mean? Sometimes the older leaves which are usually located at the bottom of the plant tend to turn yellow and die. Other times it could mean you may have a problem with your orchid flowers. Spotted leaves may tell you that a fungus of some kind has infected your flowers and you may need to seek help immediately.
Some Reasons Your Plant Could be Turning Yellow
The health of your orchid can be seen through the leaves of all your plants. Sunlight is also another possible reason for these conditions. As you know orchids do not like bright light and you need to be careful when taking care of these delicate plants. Filtered light is better for them than direct sunshine. This is why you may see spots on your plants because the sun has literally burned your plant.
Avoid Cold Weather at All Costs With These Sensitive Flowers
Cold weather is a killer for pretty much every orchid plant. Not only will your flower die, but the leaves of your orchid will turn yellow as well. It’s not safe to place any of them near windows that often have a cold draft coming through. This cold draft can easily damage your plants quickly. If you need to place it near the window make sure it is at least one foot away from it to avoid the cold air.
Water is Another Problem Beginners Tend to Make
You can even cause your flowers to turn yellow by too much watering as well. This is the rarest reason for your orchid leaves to turn yellow. Black rot can also be located on your plant if you happen to over-water your plants. Keeping your orchids dry will allow them to avoid fungal infections, bacterial infections, and other illnesses that could seriously affect the performance of your plants. Make sure not to water them everyday unless you are using a pot that has really good drainage or your plant is outside in the hot summer months.
These are just some reasons why your orchids may be turning yellow. Just remember whenever you see changes in your plant whether it’s in the leaves, stem, flower, or roots to take note of it. Have a great time growing beautiful blooms.
What Should You Do When Your Leaves are Turning Yellow?
So you’re beginning to see yellow leaves on your plants. What does this mean? Sometimes the older leaves which are usually located at the bottom of the plant tend to turn yellow and die. Other times it could mean you may have a problem with your orchid flowers. Spotted leaves may tell you that a fungus of some kind has infected your flowers and you may need to seek help immediately.
Some Reasons Your Plant Could be Turning Yellow
The health of your orchid can be seen through the leaves of all your plants. Sunlight is also another possible reason for these conditions. As you know orchids do not like bright light and you need to be careful when taking care of these delicate plants. Filtered light is better for them than direct sunshine. This is why you may see spots on your plants because the sun has literally burned your plant.
Avoid Cold Weather at All Costs With These Sensitive Flowers
Cold weather is a killer for pretty much every orchid plant. Not only will your flower die, but the leaves of your orchid will turn yellow as well. It’s not safe to place any of them near windows that often have a cold draft coming through. This cold draft can easily damage your plants quickly. If you need to place it near the window make sure it is at least one foot away from it to avoid the cold air.
Water is Another Problem Beginners Tend to Make
You can even cause your flowers to turn yellow by too much watering as well. This is the rarest reason for your orchid leaves to turn yellow. Black rot can also be located on your plant if you happen to over-water your plants. Keeping your orchids dry will allow them to avoid fungal infections, bacterial infections, and other illnesses that could seriously affect the performance of your plants. Make sure not to water them everyday unless you are using a pot that has really good drainage or your plant is outside in the hot summer months.
These are just some reasons why your orchids may be turning yellow. Just remember whenever you see changes in your plant whether it’s in the leaves, stem, flower, or roots to take note of it. Have a great time growing beautiful blooms.
Friday, August 6, 2010
Taking Care of Orchids With These Simple Strategies
Every orchid enthusiast loves to ask this same question “How do I take care of orchids”? It’s amazing how much false information is out there and it’s real easy to get confused because most information you receive usually will contradict each other and you don’t know what to do. This is where the problem lies because you need to have the correct knowledge in order to properly maintain your plants. Once you get the right information then you will understand how simple it is to care for these flowers.
Choosing The Right Flower for Your Home or Garden
Once you have decided that you want to grow these plants you should decide what type of flower you would like to grow. There are a couple of flowers that are the easiest to grow and are great for beginners. Try looking for moth or lady slipper orchids. If you are just starting out with this fun hobby then you may start with these because they will not need as much attention as other difficult plants may need.
Once you have picked your flower or flowers it’s now time to decide where to place them. Your plant requires a certain environment in which it will thrive. They are found in many rainforests therefore it will need lots of humidity water and filtered sunshine.
Giving Your Plants The Sunlight They Require
Sunshine is pretty simple to accomplish especially if you have a south facing window. If you have a bay window this would be an excellent spot to place your orchid. Although, they do not direct sunlight and when taking care of them you should always place a piece of cloth or even a curtain in front of these plants. During the summer months is when you need to be careful because too much hot sun could burn the plants leaves and it may not flower properly or at all. If you don’t have a bay window, then any window at all should do just fine. Just remember to filter that sunlight.
Humidity is Something Not To Take Lightly
Now let’s discuss the amount of humidity you need to keep your flowers happy and healthy. Humidity is essential for your plants and you mustn’t skip this step at all. You will need to provide your orchids with at least 60-80% humidity at all times otherwise bad things could happen to your plant. And you don’t want that right? Giving your plants humidity is pretty simple. If you have humidifier then this is self explanatory. But if you don’t have one there is also another simple and cheap way to supply your plants with humidity.
Get a tray of some sort and put gravel or rocks inside of it. Fill it with water making sure that the water does not go above the medium you placed inside. Put your plants on top also making sure the flowers are not touching the water. That’s it; you have supplied your plants with enough humidity for the season. Periodically add water into the tray if you happen to see the water level getting to low.
Make Certain Water Levels are Correct
Watering is very simple when it comes to growing these exotic plants, but many people are mistake of how to properly water their plants. First of all you want to avoid over-watering them because this leads to trouble. Your plant may end up becoming infected with disease, bacteria, fungus, and even viruses. Leaving them to dry for a long time is also a bad idea because this may kill your plants and dry out the roots of your orchid.
When you are watering them you will need to test the soil for moisture. Place your finger down about an inch into the medium and if it feels moist you can avoid watering your flowers for now. If it happens to be dry then water them immediately, but not too much. You just want to get the medium moist, but not damp or wet.
These are just some simple orchid care tips you can use to grow beautiful blossoms. As you can see making these flowers bloom in your home is a really simple task as long as you have the right information. Now that you have the proper knowledge to easily grow these flowers you can now keep them healthy for many years to come.
Choosing The Right Flower for Your Home or Garden
Once you have decided that you want to grow these plants you should decide what type of flower you would like to grow. There are a couple of flowers that are the easiest to grow and are great for beginners. Try looking for moth or lady slipper orchids. If you are just starting out with this fun hobby then you may start with these because they will not need as much attention as other difficult plants may need.
Once you have picked your flower or flowers it’s now time to decide where to place them. Your plant requires a certain environment in which it will thrive. They are found in many rainforests therefore it will need lots of humidity water and filtered sunshine.
Giving Your Plants The Sunlight They Require
Sunshine is pretty simple to accomplish especially if you have a south facing window. If you have a bay window this would be an excellent spot to place your orchid. Although, they do not direct sunlight and when taking care of them you should always place a piece of cloth or even a curtain in front of these plants. During the summer months is when you need to be careful because too much hot sun could burn the plants leaves and it may not flower properly or at all. If you don’t have a bay window, then any window at all should do just fine. Just remember to filter that sunlight.
Humidity is Something Not To Take Lightly
Now let’s discuss the amount of humidity you need to keep your flowers happy and healthy. Humidity is essential for your plants and you mustn’t skip this step at all. You will need to provide your orchids with at least 60-80% humidity at all times otherwise bad things could happen to your plant. And you don’t want that right? Giving your plants humidity is pretty simple. If you have humidifier then this is self explanatory. But if you don’t have one there is also another simple and cheap way to supply your plants with humidity.
Get a tray of some sort and put gravel or rocks inside of it. Fill it with water making sure that the water does not go above the medium you placed inside. Put your plants on top also making sure the flowers are not touching the water. That’s it; you have supplied your plants with enough humidity for the season. Periodically add water into the tray if you happen to see the water level getting to low.
Make Certain Water Levels are Correct
Watering is very simple when it comes to growing these exotic plants, but many people are mistake of how to properly water their plants. First of all you want to avoid over-watering them because this leads to trouble. Your plant may end up becoming infected with disease, bacteria, fungus, and even viruses. Leaving them to dry for a long time is also a bad idea because this may kill your plants and dry out the roots of your orchid.
When you are watering them you will need to test the soil for moisture. Place your finger down about an inch into the medium and if it feels moist you can avoid watering your flowers for now. If it happens to be dry then water them immediately, but not too much. You just want to get the medium moist, but not damp or wet.
These are just some simple orchid care tips you can use to grow beautiful blossoms. As you can see making these flowers bloom in your home is a really simple task as long as you have the right information. Now that you have the proper knowledge to easily grow these flowers you can now keep them healthy for many years to come.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Types of Rare Orchids That are Interesting To Know
Orchids can sometimes be very popular among certain types of people and cultures. Although many people have seen them in the wild or in stores there are some that are extremely rare that not many people have seen. These flowers are often used as collector’s items rather than for growing and taking care of them.
Anything that has some type of scarcity is always being searched for by enthusiasts and collectors. Most of the time these types are usually unique in color or appearance and are usually the most beautiful flowers you can ever find. So let’s discuss some types of rare varieties that you may never have seen or will see.
Let's Look at The Albino Flowers First
One example is the albino Phal Amboinensis. Because of its very unique color of being white and having no pigmentation this plant is very hard to find. The genetic mutation was caused by just one flower and from that one flower spawned a feeding frenzy for hungry collectors. Scientists have recreated the albino orchid using genetically altered flowers, but because they are easily created this makes them worthless as opposed to albino ones that are found in the wild or in their natural habitat.
Cattleyas Are Another Options for You To Discover
Other types include the infamous Cattleya orchids. Many growers have been known to say that these are very difficult to grow them and need very special care. They are one of the most delicate types in the flower kingdom and should not be tried by beginner enthusiasts. They will not bloom unless they are supplied with the exact required sunlight, temperature, and even fertilizer. If you don’t know how to grow these flowers then it is best to just try another type that is readily available.
The Lady Slipper is a Unique Plant To Grow
Paphiopedilums or the lady slipper orchids are sometimes considered rare ones. These were once a very popular plant to have especially in Great Britain and throughout much of Europe. But because people harvested too much of them they became very rare and people stopped growing them almost going extinct. Today they are very hard to find and if you do find one of these flowers, they can be another difficult type to grow without the proper knowledge.
If you happen to want to purchase one of these plants make sure that the flower came from somewhere that was environmentally friendly. You don’t want to get ones that were grown in environmentally harmful ways. Always remember when purchasing these flowers that you are going to spend much money on them because they are not that easy to find at all. Good luck adding rare flowers to your collection.
Anything that has some type of scarcity is always being searched for by enthusiasts and collectors. Most of the time these types are usually unique in color or appearance and are usually the most beautiful flowers you can ever find. So let’s discuss some types of rare varieties that you may never have seen or will see.
Let's Look at The Albino Flowers First
One example is the albino Phal Amboinensis. Because of its very unique color of being white and having no pigmentation this plant is very hard to find. The genetic mutation was caused by just one flower and from that one flower spawned a feeding frenzy for hungry collectors. Scientists have recreated the albino orchid using genetically altered flowers, but because they are easily created this makes them worthless as opposed to albino ones that are found in the wild or in their natural habitat.
Cattleyas Are Another Options for You To Discover
Other types include the infamous Cattleya orchids. Many growers have been known to say that these are very difficult to grow them and need very special care. They are one of the most delicate types in the flower kingdom and should not be tried by beginner enthusiasts. They will not bloom unless they are supplied with the exact required sunlight, temperature, and even fertilizer. If you don’t know how to grow these flowers then it is best to just try another type that is readily available.
The Lady Slipper is a Unique Plant To Grow
Paphiopedilums or the lady slipper orchids are sometimes considered rare ones. These were once a very popular plant to have especially in Great Britain and throughout much of Europe. But because people harvested too much of them they became very rare and people stopped growing them almost going extinct. Today they are very hard to find and if you do find one of these flowers, they can be another difficult type to grow without the proper knowledge.
If you happen to want to purchase one of these plants make sure that the flower came from somewhere that was environmentally friendly. You don’t want to get ones that were grown in environmentally harmful ways. Always remember when purchasing these flowers that you are going to spend much money on them because they are not that easy to find at all. Good luck adding rare flowers to your collection.
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