Culture
HOW TO GROW ORCHIDS
- IT'S EASY
Orchids
have a notoriously dual-natured reputation, that being as
the most beautiful flowers in the world, and unfortunately,
the most difficult to grow and keep alive. Fortunately, both
are changing for the better.
Hybridizers
around the world, including Zephyrus Orchids, are continually
breeding new and exciting hybrids, with more stunning and
vibrant colour combinations on plants that are easier to grow,
easier to bloom, and longer lasting.
Let's
be honest here: there are nearly 30,000 species of orchids
in the world, and about 75,000 man made hybrids ultimately
derived from those species. Not all of them are easy to grow.
Many are difficult, some impossible. Most hybrids today are
much easier than their wild counterparts.
At
Zephyrus Orchids, we have focused on approximately 100 varieties,
from only a few families: Phalaenopsis, Oncidium Alliance,
and Ladyslipper hybrids. This elite group focus represents
only 0.1% of the world's orchid gene pool, so you can rest
assured that our hybrids have been carefully selected to represent
only the best of what's currently available.
Orchid
care can be divided in to three basic sections: Light,
Temperature, and
Water.
Once those three components are addressed, then the rest is
easy. Each section is discussed below generally,
with specific references to each family following.
Light Light
levels in the home are usually sufficient for many orchids. An east
or west facing window, shaded south, or bright north are good for
many types. Remember, heavy curtains, outdoor trees and bushes may
all affect the 'light rating' of your window. Direct sun is usually
not a good thing for extended periods. Sunburn shows up within hours,
and is a permanent scar taking years to grow out of. If unsure,
start at a lower level and gradually increase. Although seemingly
healthy, dark green leaves are usually a sign of low light levels,
a symptom that usually expresses itself with little or no blooms.
Temperature Orchids are highly adaptable to a wide range of temperature conditions. Most of our mature orchids do fine at 'people temperatures' in the home, i.e. 70 F/21 C during the day, and 60 F/16 C night. Seedlings usually like it warmer as it accelerates their growth. Be sure to take in to consideration light levels, air currents, drafts, etc. as this will indeed have an effect on the micro climate your plant lives in. Good locations are often near kitchen sinks or in the bathroom, as the plant can also benefit from warmer, steamier conditions in these areas.
Water Watering
is without a doubt the single most important factor in orchid success.
One more time: watering is without a doubt the single most important
factor in orchid success.
Many
people want to schedule their watering on their calendars: every
Tuesday at 4:00. This will not work! A plant's need for water changes
throughout the season, so you need to be able to judge. An easy
way to tell when to water is when the pot is light. How do you know
when it is light? Drench it with water and then lift it up. This
is what the pot feels like when it is heavy!
Most
orchids require a cycle of wet and then dry. Orchids are not like
ferns or many other houseplants that need relatively continual moisture.
Each different type will have slight differences between how long
they like to go between waterings. Orchid success will depend on
your attention to theses cycles. Remember: the length of time will
vary depending on each and every one of these factors: stage of
growth, light, temperature, humidity, and air circulation. All of
these things change seasonally, and therefore, so do the plants
water needs.
Over watering
is the number one cause of death of orchids in the home. I tell
people: If in doubt, wait two days and then water.
What about fertilizer? EVERYBODY
is concerned about fertilizer. Understanding the above is about
five times as important as fertilizer. A general 20-20-20 is a great
all purpose blend. You can usually fertilize 3 out of 4 or 2 out
of 4 waterings at about ¼ label recommendations. Remember:
WEAKLY, WEEKLY. Would you rather have one big meal a day, or three
meals throughout? Plants feel the same way, just ask.
Air
Circulation and Humidity These
two topics also receive a great deal of attention, and justifiably
so. Orchids do not like stagnant air, and definitely appreciate
a light breeze. Humidity is also important, and ideally should not
dip below 50%. Remember, do not increase air circulation unless
you can also maintain humidity, or you will have just the opposite
effect and dehydrate your plants.
What do I do when
it is done flowering? This is definitely the most frequently asked question we receive. Basically, you need to judge the health of the plant, and know what type you have. If it is anything other than a Phal, cut off the spike and repot it (in nearly all cases). If you do have a Phal, decide if it is happy and healthy: turgid leaves, not too dark or long and skinny, good root growth. If it is happy like this, you can snip the spike just above the highest node on the spike. A new spike may eventually emerge from that point. Otherwise, if the leaves are a little tired looking, give the plant a rest and cut off the spike and repot it. Phals can indeed flower themselves to death if you let them!
Additional
Recommendations:

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Paphiopedilum (Paph.)
Unlike most other orchids, ladyslippers do not have water storage capacity
in their leaves or pseudobulbs. For this reason, they need to be kept consistently
moist, with little drying between waterings. Strap leafed or multifloral
Paphs with long, uniform coloured leaves, usually like it brighter and warm.
Mottle leafed Paphs need more shade to thrive, but also like it warm or
warmer than strap leafed.
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Phragmipedium
(Phrag.)
Closely related to the southeast Asian slippers (Paphs.), Phrags come from South America and are like jungle bog plants. They require even more water than Paphs, and are sometimes grown by experienced growers in standing water. Their leaves tend to be skinnier and grassier looking, and will flower continuously, making new flowers as older ones fade.
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Phalaenopsis
(Phal.)
Easily the most common orchid, Phals are easy easy to grow. They do well
under home conditions with good light. They like it bright, warm and humid
to flower well. Plants should dry out between waterings. Usually I tell people when they think they need to water, first wait two days and then water. Thick, fleshy roots and thick fleshy leaves both provide some degree of water storage capacity |
Propagation
Most people don't realize that a fast growing orchid
will not flower until it is 5 years old. Many take 8 -15 years before
they flower. This is why most orchids tend to be higher priced than
other houseplants.
In
nature, a single seed pod the size of your thumb might contain 100,000
seeds. Only a fraction of these seeds will survive to maturity. Under
cultivation, these seeds can be harvested and taken to a sterile lab
where they are sown in test tubes, giving nearly 100% survival! The
next 2 years of their lives are spent under lights in test tubes until
they are first introduced to greenhouse conditions. There they must
be grown for at least 2 or 3 years before they reach maturity and
flower.
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