Caring for My Orchids
Whenever I am home, I love spending time in my greenhouse caring for my large collection of houseplants - among my favorites are my orchids.
Caring for orchids is a daunting process for many, but if one takes the time to understand their basic needs, and to use all the proper orchid care supplies, there’s no reason why these beautiful plants won’t continue to thrive and bloom. Not long ago, in between my busy day of Zoom meetings and phone calls, I had a little time to spend in my head-house to pot some of my newer specimens.
Here are some photos.
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- Right now, I have some of the most beautiful cut orchids displayed on the kitchen counter of my Winter House. I love seeing these gorgeous blooms, especially during the dreary days of the cold season.
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- Orchids grow on every continent except Antarctica. They are native to the tropical regions of Asia, Australia, the Himalayas, and the Philippines. The orchid forms one of the largest families in the plant kingdom, with more than 25,000 species worldwide.
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- The size of orchids depends on the species. They can be quite small or very large. However, every orchid flower is bilaterally symmetrical, which means it can be divided into two equal parts.
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- My growing orchid collection takes up space on long tables in the greenhouse. When blooming, visitors always stop by to take a look – this photo was taken last year. Paphiopedilum orchids are often called ‘lady slippers’ or ‘slipper orchids’ because of their unique pouch-like flowers.
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- Another big bloomer last year was this Phalaenopsis schilleriana ‘Wilson’. Phalaenopsis, the moth orchid, is perhaps the best orchid for growing in the home and is a favorite with greenhouse growers. Well-grown plants can flower often, sometimes with a few flowers throughout the year, though the main season is late winter into spring. The key to growing these plants is to keep the root systems strong and healthy. These plants have no bulbs or stems to store moisture and nutrients, so it is important to maintain their roots.
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- Oncidium orchids are popular indoor orchids because of their large sprays of flowers. A large, well-grown Oncidium will have several branched sprays of beautiful, colorful blooms.
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- Rule of thumb – orchids that receive a proper balance of light, humidity and temperature will have healthy bright green leaves. Too little light would make the leaves very dark. The size, shape, and texture of leaves depend on the habitat. Orchids that live in dry climate have large, thick leaves covered with wax, while species that live in warm and humid areas have thin, elongated leaves. And certain species of orchids do not have leaves at all.
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- This is one of my newer specimens. Whenever possible, I love working in the head-house and tending to my plants. A head-house is an addition or section of the greenhouse that serves as the “work center.” Optimum temperatures for orchids in winter are 45 to 55-degrees Fahrenheit at night and 65 to 75-degrees Fahrenheit during the day. When plants are in bud, temperatures must be as constant as possible. I am fortunate to have greenhouses, where temperatures and humidity levels can be closely monitored.
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- When potting orchids, choose a pot that can accommodate two years of growth, or about two inches larger than the one before. Specialized orchid containers have holes all around the surface to increase the air circulation in the roots – these are the best.
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- Orchid Myst is a ready-to-use nutrient solution that replicates how an orchid receives fertilizer in the natural environment. It contains mineral and organic nutrients, marine plant extracts, humic acid, fulvic acid, and pure plant oils and acts as a fertilizer and growth enhancer, as well as a plant tonic.
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- Orchids don’t grow like other houseplants. Instead, they exist in a container of loose materials such as bark, charcoal, and moss.
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- At the bottom of this pot I placed some sphagnum moss. Sphagnum moss is a fine substrate. Its water retention ability makes it an excellent potting material for young orchids.
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- Then I put in a layer of a coarse orchid bark mix, which will allow air to circulate naturally around the roots of the orchid.
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- The specially formulated mix in Miracle-Gro Orchid Potting Mix Coarse Blend is blended specifically for epiphyte orchids, including Phalaenopsis, Cattleya, Epidendrum, and Dendrobium. It includes Canadian sphagnum moss, moss chunks, charcoal orchid bark, and lava rock mix. Get a bag on Martha.com.
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- I place the orchid inside the pot to see if it is sitting properly – it should be at the same height as it was in the original container. If it is too high, I just take some of the medium out from underneath the plant.
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- Healthy orchid roots are firm to the touch and white to green in color.
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- I also used just a little floral wire to anchor this orchid securely to the pot.
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- Place bark mix around the roots and firm the bark down, making sure the orchid rhizome or crown of the plant is flush with the top of the bark. I like to also place a straight apple branch from my trees as a stake to keep the orchid from leaning. It can be secured to the stem, or stems, with natural, thin raffia.
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- Here is a closer look at the base of this orchid. Potting bark and other potting mediums need to be replaced every two years or so.
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- Lastly, a bit more sphagnum moss to top the bark. When watering, it should be thorough and the medium should be dry at least half way through before watering again.
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- Orchids are such gorgeous plants – the new ones will be added to my giant greenhouse collection of interesting plant specimens. I love getting rare and unusual orchids. I will be sure to share photos when more of them bloom in the coming weeks.
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