Growing Orchids

Choose an orchid that is already a mature plant with blossoms. You want to be able to see what type of plant you will be growing. Mature orchids grow much more easily than young plants. Plant the orchid in a plastic pot with holes on the bottom for proper drainage. Do not use soil, as the orchid roots need plenty of air flow for quality growth. Use a growing medium such as, peat moss, fir bark, sphagnum moss, dried fern roots, perlite, rock wool, stones, lava rock, cork nuggets or coconut fiber. Each of these products allows for proper air circulation.

Place your potted orchids in plenty of sunlight. Orchids need lots of sun for quality leaf and flower production. The orchids must have 14 hours of sunlight each day. If you live in a cloudy area or if it is in the middle of the darker winter months, place your orchids under artificial lighting. The plants must be placed within eight inches of the bulbs. There are a few lights to choose from, but the proven best are the full spectrum bulbs. For orchids that have a very high light requirement, high-density discharge lights may be needed.

Drought-tolerant orchids thrive best with minimal watering. Because the roots need ample airflow, too much water can drown your plants. A water logged pot is death to your orchid. For best results, water your orchids once a week. This allows plenty of time for the growing medium to dry out. Because the growing medium has little nutrient value, make sure to add a liquid fertilizer to the water. Use a 30-10-10 fertilizer while the plant is in active growth. Do not fertilize during the mid-winter season or after re-potting. Fish emulsion and seaweed extract also provides orchids with proper nutrition.