Most orchids suited for the home are known as epiphytic (epif-tik) jungle plants (in nature they grow perched high in trees, clinging to branches or in hollows in the trunk).

They get their food from the air, rain and decaying vegetation around the roots.

Many orchids don’t really need high temperatures, in fact they do better in cool daytime temperatures of 60-70 degrees and lowering to 55 at night. The plants thrive on about four hours of sunlight a day in the winter months so leave them in the brightest place you can.

HUMIDITY The lack of humidity will be the worst thing for an orchid, if you think how high the humidity is in a rainforest duplicating this will be difficult. They need at least 50% humidity which means that you may have to put the plant on a tray with pebbles and water in it, stand the plant so that it isn’t sat in water as good drainage is important. Misting the leaves will help, but do it early in the day so the water doesn’t sit on the leaves at night.

WATERING In the growing season orchids can be watered about once a week when the soil becomes dry, don’t allow them to get too wet for long though as this will rot the roots. Use rainwater if you can, as it is softer and more natural. Water very sparingly in winter and leave in a cool room.

COMPOST Orchids don’t use compost as such, as you can imagine they grow on the bark of trees so that is the ideal medium to put them in if you need to repot the plant. There are special potting mixes that you can get from the garden centres that contain fern fibre and ground bark, which doesn’t cost a lot, the plant that I have growing now has lived quite happily for two years on the tiniest bit of bark, but I would recommend a fortnightly feed of plant food in the growing season if you want a glorious flower display.

 Grow your own fabulous orchids with the help of this e-book.....

TrackBack URI for this entry

Comments (1)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

tip for good orchids
written by adam, May 18, 2010

Provide orchids with usually not less than 40% and usually not more than 70% atmospheric moisture (relative humidity) during the day.

• 
• +0
• 
•