How To

How to Care for Intermediate-Growing Orchids

Contributor
By eHow Contributing Writer
(4 Ratings)

Intermediate-growing orchids, including cattleyas, dendrobiums, many oncidiums and some paphiopedilum, prefer nighttime temperatures between 55 and 60 degrees F and daytime temperatures between 65 and 80 degrees F. Here's how to keep them healthy and beautiful.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  1. Step 1

    Give orchids a humid environment - they require between 30 and 40 percent humidity. Bathrooms and kitchens are usually good, humid environments.

  2. Step 2

    Increase humidity in the environment by setting the orchid pot on a tray filled with gravel and water; this helps raise the humidity around the plant.

  3. Step 3

    Give orchids bright but not direct light. Place the pots on a shelf by an east- or south-facing window or under a skylight.

  4. Step 4

    Grow orchids under a wide-spectrum fluorescent light if you don't have enough light from windows.

  5. Step 5

    Spray the orchids with a fine mist of water daily.

  6. Step 6

    Water orchids that are in pots less than 8 inches in diameter twice a week. Water orchids in pots bigger than 8 inches once a week.

  7. Step 7

    Fertilize weekly using half the recommended amount of specially designed orchid fertilizer.

  8. Step 8

    Repot orchids approximately every two years (see "How to Repot Orchids," under Related eHows).

Tips & Warnings
  • Use a device called a hygrometer to measure humidity.

Comments  

Anonymous

Anonymous said

Flag This Comment

on 11/22/2005 Even if you don't have a humidifier, a quick way to give your orchids a boost every now and then is to set a kettle near them after you've boiled water. I do it every time I have a cup of tea.

Post a Comment

Post a Comment
  • Have you done this? Click here to let us know.
I Did This

Related Ads

Home & Garden
Ruby Bayan,

Meet Ruby Bayan eHow's Home & Garden Expert.

Get Free Home & Garden Newsletters

Copyright © 1999-2009 eHow, Inc. Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of the eHow Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.   en-US

eHow Home and Garden
eHow_eHow Home and Garden