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orchid you not easy
growing tips for orchid newbies
by Yee-Fan Sun | 1 2 3 4
continued from page 2
.
air
‘em out
Orchids are generally happiest when you provide them with good air circulation,
a fair amount of humidity, and decent water drainage. Your pot should, of course,
have plenty of drainage holes already when you bring it home from the store or
nursery. To help increase the humidity and avoid letting the plant sit around
in water, place some small rocks or stones on a saucer or in a pot that’s bigger
than the actual plant pot, then pop on the orchid. Any excess water will drain
out from the potting mix and onto the rocks. The water evaporating off the rocks,
meanwhile, will up the humidity in the air around the plant. If your pad is particularly
dry, you can also give the plant a light misting of water between waterings.
Speaking of watering… |
open air | During the warmer weather months or if you live in a balmy climate,
try moving your orchids outdoors. Many orchids will only bloom when there’s
a big temperature differential between day and night -- hard to achieve in
your average temperature-controlled digs, but part-and-parcel of life in
the great outdoors. Just give your orchid the same sort of lighting conditions
you would inside the house (generally this will mean bright morning light
or mid- to late- day light that’s filtered by the shade of a tree; if you
notice brownish-blackish spots appearing on the leaves, the plant’s getting
scorched, and should be moved to a shadier spot). Make sure to keep an eye
on the weather reports as you’ll definitely want to pull your plant back
in if you get a freak early frost. My mom, who lives in wacky-weathered New
England, generally moves her orchid collection outside sometime in early
June, then shuffles them back inside sometime in late September. |
water
please…
One of the big reasons why orchids like Phalenopsis and Dendrobiums make such
excellent houseplants is that they don’t require constant watering -- perfect
for the semi-neglectful caretaker. Different varieties can vary as to exactly
how much moisture they like, so pay attention to the care instructions
on the tag that comes with your particular plant (Paphiopedilums, for instance,
are a little unusual in that they prefer a constant level of moisture).
In general, though, you’ll want the potting mix to feel just about dry
before you water your orchid again. In most homes, this will mean you only
have to water about once a week.
One of the best ways to ensure
you’re not drowning your poor plant is to take the whole pot and
place it in a sink. (If you’re doing the pot-within-a-pot method,
remove the inner plant pot from the outer one.) Pour the water over
the potting mix (try to avoid pouring the water on the plant itself;
you don’t want water sitting around in the leaf junctures), ensuring
a thorough and even soak, then let it run through the pot to drain.
Return your plant to its usual spot.
let's perambulate...
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