How to Care for Orchids - Visit the plant experts at Platt Hill Nursery

Life is busy, so who wouldn't want to add some spa-similar serenity into their dwelling house? Orchids, and Moth Orchids, in detail, have been enjoying explosive popularity over the by few years. These hit houseplants are instantly recognizable by their colorful "faces", gracefully athwart stems, and lush, sleeky leaves. Orchids are neither hard to discover nor hard to fall in love with—but they do have a reputation for being difficult to care for.

Here at Platt Hill Nursery, we're certain that this bad rap stems from a lack of data. Orchids are epiphytes, which means they do have dissimilar needs compared to the boilerplate leafy-light-green houseplant. But in fact, when you understand your Orchid'due south needs, you might find that they're some of the least demanding plants in your home!

What are Epiphytes?

Before we go into the nuts and bolts of orchid intendance, it's important to sympathise what an epiphyte is. Orchids are not the just epiphytes in the globe of mutual houseplants; bromeliads and tillandsia (or "air plants"), for instance, are epiphytes that y'all'll notice have a lot in common with Orchids when information technology comes to maintenance.

By definition, an epiphyte is an organism that grows on the surface of another plant and absorbs everything information technology needs to survive from the surrounding air, rain, and nearby organic affair. The key difference between your Moth Orchid and, say, your Weeping Fig, is that the Moth Orchid doesn't crave "soil" the same way the Weeping Fig does. In the wild, Moth Orchids grow with their roots clinging to the bark of trees. The spongy green casing effectually the roots absorbs nutrients that sit on the bark surface, and pull in moisture from falling rain and the humid forest ecosystem.

Due to their natural habitat under tree canopies, Orchids don't demand a lot of low-cal or a lot of h2o. Nevertheless, they practise need the right growing media, the correct intake of nutrients, and the appropriate corporeality of low-cal and h2o to mimic their weather condition in the wild. Fortunately, it'south easy to recreate your Orchid'south natural environment indoors.

Moth Orchid Intendance

After picking out your Moth Orchid, accept a fiddling extra time to conversation with one of our associates about Orchid care products earlier you lot go out our garden center. The right products volition make an incredible difference in the longevity of your plant while making Orchid maintenance so much simpler for you lot!

Lord's day

In the wild, the tree canopies above protect Moth Orchids from direct sunlight. Indirect sunlight is your best bet for recreating these conditions in your home. Go along your Orchid near a bright window, but out of the way of intense, direct rays. You lot can also place the Orchid next to a bright window with a sheer curtain, which helps filter out the harshness of the sun.

With the right light, the leaves should have a lovely olive greenish color. Darker green leaves could indicate that the plant needs more light, whereas a scarlet, burnished look indicates that the Orchid is getting sunburned!

Pots & Soil

While in that location's much argue near the benefits of terra cotta pots versus plastic pots for Moth Orchids, the truth is that they both have pros and cons. What'south sure is that whatsoever pot that will house an Orchid must have drainage holes, equally Orchids do not tolerate standing water.

Orchids besides seem to prefer stouter, wider pots (similar bulb pots) to taller, slimmer standard ones. You may even be lucky enough to detect an Orchid pot, which has special slits in the sides that promote airflow through the roots and growing media.

Speaking of growing media, Orchids are often sold in a sphagnum moss blend, which retains a little more moisture than is ideal. The best "soil" for Orchids is actually a specialty Orchid potting mix. This mix is a soil-gratuitous blend of bark pieces.

To repot Moth Orchids, h2o them first, and cascade a few inches of Orchid mix into the new pot. Then, gently coax the root brawl out of the onetime pot and carefully remove the moss or potting medium from the root brawl. Place the Orchid in the new pot and backfill with Orchid mix on all sides. Water again to give the roots and the potting mix a take chances to settle.

Water

Most people meet Orchid care bug due to overwatering. Orchids only need to be watered approximately once per calendar week, ideally in the morning time. In the leap and summertime, when the Orchid is blooming and producing more new growth, it may need water slightly more than often. E'er water the soil directly; never pour directly on the leaves or flowers.

The best way to keep an eye on your Orchid'due south h2o needs is to check the weight every twenty-four hours, and a second time after watering. Every bit you lot learn what a dry pot feels like compared to a moist one, yous'll be able to tailor your watering schedule and water your Orchid when the pot feels a little too light.

For your Orchid, humidity is more of import than h2o. While some folks like to mist their plants to heave humidity, Orchids don't respond well to this method. To replicate the humidity of your Orchid's natural environment, consider keeping a humidifier in the room virtually the constitute. Alternatively, y'all tin can identify a layer of pebbles on the drip tray or saucer beneath the plant'due south pot. Whenever y'all water your Orchid, the water will collect in the saucer and slowly evaporate into the air surrounding the plant.

Feeding

Contrary to what you lot'd await, the Orchid'south flowering flow is when information technology needs the least fertilizer. When the plant is blooming or in a fallow state, there's no need to feed. When the plant is in its "vegetative" country (in other words, when the greenish stuff is growing), information technology'due south happy with a dose of diluted, half-strength Orchid fertilizer weekly to bi-weekly. H2o the institute first before applying fertilizer, and make sure to h2o thoroughly betwixt every other awarding to flush out any extra salts that have congenital upwards in the pot.

With the right pot, proper growing media, and an ideal location, you'll notice that caring for Orchids doesn't take much. Equally long every bit y'all pay a little attending to the wet in and around the pot, and throw in the occasional dose of fertilizer, your Orchid volition happily grace your habitation with its serene beauty. Visit ane of our Chicagoland garden centers in Bloomingdale or Carpentersville to observe a vibrant, healthy Orchid or your own—and everything you need to proceed it blooming for years to come!

Platt Hill Nursery is Chicago'due south premier garden center and plant nursery.

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Source: https://platthillnursery.com/how-to-care-for-orchids/

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