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Posted on October 24, 2007 by Jason Petrina | Posted under Landscaping Gardening
How to Grow and Maintain Orchids
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Keep in mind that some orchids do just fine in low light situations while others need bright light to thrive and flourish. If you are not providing enough light to your orchids, it may take on a lanky appearance and will not bloom properly. Orchids that receive too much light will actually take on a sunburned look. Phalaenopsis and Paphiopedilum are examples or orchids that do well in low light situations. Miltonia and Oncidium orchids do well in medium light situations while Vanda and Cattleya orchids have high light requirements. If you do not have enough natural light, you can substitute with artificial lights. At the very least you would need four 48-inch fluorescent bulbs. Keep in mind when choosing a lighting system that you need a mix of warm and cool lighting. Special plant growing light tubes can be found at most gardening and nursery supply centers. In addition to lighting, orchids are very selecting about temperature; requiring separate day and evening temperatures. It's best to measure this with a thermometer. Orchids can be classified into three categories; depending on whether they are warm growing, intermediate or cool growing. While most orchids fall into the intermediate range, there are a few that require either warm or cool temperatures. Examples of warm growing orchids include Phalaenopsis and Vanda; which prefer day temperatures between 75-85 degrees and night temperatures between 65-70 degrees. Cool growing orchids, such as Cymbidium prefer day temperatures between 60-75 degrees and night temperatures at around 50 degrees. Examples of orchids that fall into the intermediate range include Cattleya, Dendrobium, and Oncidium. These orchids thrive in day temperatures between 66-75 and night temperatures between 55-65 degrees. The most common mistake made with growing orchids is over watering. Be sure to find out the correct moisture level for your specific type of orchid. If you are buying your orchids at a flower shop, ask the amount of water and how many times you should water your flowers. Some varieties of orchids prefer an evenly moist soil while others need to be watered less often, only when they are almost completely dried out. It really depends on the type of orchid you have, many do not need a lot of water, but some do. To keep your orchids healthy make sure you have constant air movement in their growing environment. The air should be gentle; similar to the orchid's only natural tropical environment. When selecting potting medium for your orchids, it is best to choose a mix that is specially designed for orchids rather than using a generic variety. Some orchids cannot be exposed to too much sunlight or else they will dry out and die. Putting them in a well (natural) lit room and indirect sunlight is a good idea. Be sure to ask if you are not sure. Finally, make sure that you occasionally wash your orchid leaves to prevent the buildup of dangerous debris and possible infestation. Orchids are very susceptible to disease so it's best to always wear gloves when handling the plants to protect them as well as using tools that have been cleansed with a mild bleach solution for further protection. When your orchid begins to outgrow its pot, be sure to repot it in a larger pot immediately. This is a good time to check your root system. Roots that are black instead of beige or white have begun to rot and should be removed. About The Author: Jason Petrina is the Editor and Publisher of Article Click. For more FREE articles for your ezine and websites visit - www.articleclick.com |
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