Download Growing Orchids in Your Home

Growing Orchids in Your Home
Light
Light requirements will be one of the following three, and will
be dependent on the type of Orchid you are growing.
1. Low light - north or east window
2. Moderate - east or west window
3. Bright - south window or sunroom
Note: All varieties will require protection from direct afternoon
sun in summer.
Water
Plants should be allowed to dry out between watering. Orchids
should never sit in standing water, nor dry out excessively. To check for moisture,
insert your finger into the moss/ growing bark.
Fertilizer
While actively growing, orchids should be fertilized “weakly, weekly” (once per week
at half the strength recommended on the package). For plants with rest periods,
fertilizer should be reduced or eliminated during the rest period. Plant Prod Orchid
Fertilizer (25-10-10) or a balanced fertilizer such as 20-20-20 are good choices.
Kelp can also be mixed with your fertilizer every second or third time you fertilize
to promote extra root growth and branching.
Humidity
Orchids prefer humidity levels of 60% and higher, but will tolerate lower humidity
levels around 40%. You can maintain humidity by grouping plants together, or by
placing pots on humidity trays. Small household humidifiers are also very helpful.
Repotting
Orchids require a very well-drained potting mix that maintains plenty of air around
the roots. Conventional potting soils are not acceptable; most orchids are grown in
media made up of chunks of fir bark, large perlite, charcoal, and sphagnum moss.
These are available in pre-mixed blends. Always soak bark mixes for 24 hours before
use.
Orchids should be repotted generally every 2 years, when the plant is just starting
into active growth (new roots and leaves are starting to appear). If the mix has
decomposed, the plant should be repotted ASAP. Trim off dead roots when repotting,
and choose a pot that is just big enough for 1-2 seasons of growth. Clear plastic
pots are recommended.
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Reblooming Your Orchid
If your orchid is not reblooming, it’s usually because you are not getting the proper
temperature fluctuations in your growing area. Ensure that your nighttime temperatures
are 5-6ºC cooler than your daytime temperatures year-round, and try giving your orchids
a period of cooler temperatures overall for 6-8 weeks in the fall to help trigger flower
spikes. Orchids that require bright light will also fail to bloom if grown in low light. Finally,
optimum flowering can only be achieved if you are striving to meet all its requirements
- do your best to make it happy!
Popular Types of Orchids
Cattleya
• Medium-sized plants from tropical America with large, showy,
often fragrant flowers.
• Flowers last about 3-4 weeks. Have marked seasons of growth
and rest, needing less water and fertilizer when resting.
• Generally prefer bright light and average household temperatures.
• Miniature hybrids are available.
Cymbidium
• Tall spikes of many large, vibrant flowers in a variety of colours; one of
the more popular florist orchids.
• Long, deep green, sword-shaped leaves, which can crack if humidity is
low.
• Requires bright light and a period of cool (down to 10ºC if possible)
temperatures for 6 weeks in fall to bloom.
Dendrobium
• Huge and variable genus with over 1200 species from Asia and
the Pacific.
• Most popular are the Phalaenopsis types, which resemble the
orchid genus of the same name.
• Have tall bamboo-like “canes” and sprays of many flowers in a
variety of colours.
• Flowers last about 6-8 weeks.
• Prefer moderate to bright light, and warm temperatures.
• Like lots of water and fertilizer when growing, less when resting.
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Miltioniopsis
• Often called “pansy orchid” because the large, rounded flowers resemble
the annual flower of the same name.
• Sensitive to heat and bright light; grow it on the cooler side with good
air circulation and moderate light. Also appreciates higher humidity.
• Leaves will get “accordion pleating” if plants dry out too much between
watering (keep moderately moist).
Oncidium
• A large and diverse group that includes a
number of genera and intergeneric hybrids, all originating
from tropical America.
• Multiple to many flowers in a huge range of colours, shapes
and sizes are borne on often branching spikes, and are
sometimes fragrant.
• Flowers last from several weeks to a couple
months.
• Generally don’t like to dry out completely. Cooler growing types (big flowers) like
moderate light, warmer growing types (small flowers) like brighter light.
Paphiopedilum
• The tropical Asiatic relatives of our native lady’s slipper orchids
• Another diverse group with single-flowered and multifloral varieties.
• Flowers last from several weeks to several months.
• Plants can be compact to quite large.
• Many have beautiful mottled leaves.
• Prefer to stay moist (not wet).
• Grow in low to moderate light (brighter for multiflorals).
• Thrive in average household temperatures.
Phalaenopsis
• Also called moth orchid, this is the most popular type.
• Sprays of long-lasting flowers (several months) that come in a variety
of colours.
• Spikes can be cut back to the third or fourth node to rebloom.
• Easy to grow in low light and warm home temperatures.
• Prefer to stay moist, never wet.
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[email protected]