Nice Orchid in my garden

In this article I do not want to give only some guidelines regarding phalaenopsis orchid care and maintenance but to say something about how to care for orchids in general.

Instead of writing about cattleya, cymbidium or dendrobium orchid care or even indoor orchid care, I think it is better to give some orchid care tips, so that we can learn how to take care of orchids of whatever species.

Apart from the typical orchid flower care tips you can find in different places, I want to stress that caring for orchids means, first and foremost, caring for a living thing, for a living creature. If we share this approach, our orchids will be grateful, for they can “feel” the vibration we emanate when taking care of orchids.

After this digression, let us enumerate some general guidelines that will help us how to take care for orchids properly:

The temperature range in which orchids thrive goes from 55 degrees Fahrenheit up to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. If they are exposed to higher temperatures than that, they risk to loose their buds and so their flowering capacity.

A good tip to help our orchid care efforts is to fertilize our orchid plant just before the blooming season. That way, the blooming will linger a greater amount of time since the orchid is well fed. For this, use a diluted form of fertilizer that does not contain the component urea.

Ventilation and drainage. Use an orchid media (usually bark) with enough ventilation and drainage. The media should be a little damp but not soaked with water. Remember the factor that your orchid should sit in a place with a humidity level between 55 and 75%.

Once or, depending on the humidity level, twice a week could suffice for the watering of your orchid. Do not over water your orchids since the roots could rot. Again, make sure that the drainage of your media is good enough.

These simple and easy orchid care tips will help you maintain your orchid plant very fit and in a good shape. That way, your orchid will surely display a gorgeous bloom during the whole blooming season.

To know more about Phalaenopsis and other Orchids specimens, I recommend the reading of the ebook Growing Orchids Indoors and Outdoors.