Once only grown by the very wealthy, Orchids, have now become affordable due to modern ways of reproduction and have become one of the most popular sold houseplants.
Many new cultivars that are ideal for growing in the home and if you can grow a houseplant you can grow an orchid successfully.
If you can provide the right light, water, and humidity you can have orchids growing and blooming in your home throughout
the year.
Generally orchids prefer to be placed in an east, or north window or a shaded south window as they like filtered light. Do not place them in direct sun such as a south window in the summer.
Water is one area that can cause problems for orchid growers.
Allow orchids to go on the dry side before giving them a thorough water of luke warm water, draining out any excess water. You can place them in the bathtub or sink and give them a gentle shower periodically as this mimics nature.
Humidity is an important part in an orchids health. They require a high humidity which many homes may not have, especially during the winter months.
A window sill in the kitchen or bathroom where there is lots of moisture would be ideal. If that is not possible then another option would be a humidity tray.
A humidity tray is a large (larger then the pot the orchid is in) plastic saucer or tray filled with rocks and water so that the water is just below the top surface of the rock.
The pot with the orchid is placed on top of the rocks making sure that the plant is not sitting in the water.
Most orchids are epiphytes meaning they grow on other objects. They do not thrive in soil but rather in charcoal, styrofoam, cork, fir bark, or stones.
They need good air circulation and special orchid pots available that will allow for this with holes in the sides.
Orchids enjoy regular room temperatures of 20 to 29 C but to get some of them back into bloom again they can be placed into cooler night temperatures of 15 C for six to eight weeks.
The blooms can last for several weeks and some types will bloom two to three times a year.
The most available and popular orchid is the Phalaenopsis, it is also the easiest to grow. To get it back into bloom, after the last flower is finished blooming, the flower spike is cut back half way and a new flower spike may emerge.
New spikes can also emerge from the plant and these grow up while the roots don't.
Over the past few months we've been trying out new ways of planting orchids. We've put them into planters mixed with ferns. Fill the container full with a high quality potting soil. Leave the orchid in its original pot and place the orchid, pot and all into the container so that the top of the pot is even with the top of the container.
Next plant the ferns into the soil surrounding the orchid and fill any remaining spaces with soil. Finish it off by placing some moss over the surface of the soil.
By leaving the orchid in its pot it will continue to grow in its medium and the surrounding soil, and ferns not only add to the beauty but help with the humidity.
Another option would be to leave the orchid in its pot and place it into a large clear glass vase much like a terrarium. The orchid can also be taken out of the pot and placed into a clear vase filled full of water beads. It is a very stunning affect.
Don't let the idea of growing orchids in your home scare you because it is very easy and once you get started, you will want to have more then just one.
