Caring For the Vibrant Beautiful Blooms of Your Orchid

Orchids produce some of the most spectacular and intriguing flowers in the world, but they can also be among the most difficult plants to care for. Despite the challenge of maintaining them, orchids have a continuing popularity among plant enthusiasts, and there are a variety of orchids available for both the expert botanist and the novice orchid hobbyist.

You can probably find an orchid or two for sale at your local garden center at an affordable price, while specialty shops will carry orchids that are extremely rare and expensive. Whatever your level of commitment to nurturing an orchid, there are a few things that you can do to help your plant produce beautiful flowers.

Orchids are accustomed to warm, humid climates and usually require plenty of light. Whether you're raising your orchid in a greenhouse or keeping it in your office, be sure to choose a spot for your orchid where it will be warm without drying out. Above all,
make sure that your orchid receives enough sunlight to enable it to bloom.

Most orchids require a lot of exposure to sunlight, and failure to provide enough light will result in an otherwise healthy plant that simply doesn't bloom. However, the leaves of an orchid can become very sensitive to sunlight if they have been in low-light conditions for a prolonged period of time. Therefore, if you decide that your orchid is not getting enough light, move it little by little to an area with greater sun in order to avoid injuring the leaves with sudden overexposure.

When you water your orchid, make sure to thoroughly saturate the soil. Orchids like a moist environment, and allowing the plant to dry out could endanger its health. An orchid's soil should also not be too heavy, and there should be good air circulation around the base of the plant.

A certain mixture of orchid-specific nutrients is also essential for a healthy orchid, and you can purchase a substance called orchid bark to mix into the soil for potting your orchid. While supplying vital nourishment to your orchid, the addition of orchid bark will also improve air circulation through the soil, keeping your orchid beautiful.

If you truly want to appreciate your orchid, you will also have to understand that orchids do not flower all the time. After your orchid has flowered, you will need to care for the plant until it is ready to flower again. Once the blooms have faded, you should cut off most of the stem, leaving at least an inch intact. As long as you give your orchid adequate nourishment, water and light throughout its growing cycle, it will
eventually flower again.

Over time, you may find that you want to expand your collection of orchids to include more exotic and challenging varieties. Orchid nurseries and specialty shops will have products specifically designed for the care of orchids, and you will be able to find a lot of advice to help you care for these amazing flowers.

Jon Kelly is a published author who writes articles, that includes information on gardening and Orchids. Learning about the orchids history,charm and mysticism will make it an even more addictive hobby.To find out more please visit: Please visit: http://www.theorchidguide.com

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Buying Your First Orchid - Things to Know Before Orchid Fever Turns Into Orchid Panic

Try to walk past a florist's shop window full of orchids without turning your head. Go on, I dare you! How could you not pause to look at something so exquisite in beauty and complexity? There is an undeniable star quality present in orchids that sets them apart from garden-variety geraniums and pansies. Many a wallflower has been left behind in the orchid's rise in popularity over the years to its current status as one of the most popular flowering plants sold the world over.

Now, before you rush out and buy the first orchid that catches your fancy, you might want to pause for a moment to get better acquainted. For starters, you should ask how long the blooms last. Will it bloom again and is there anything you should do to help it along? Do you plan on keeping this plant for a few years, or will you simply discard it once its blooms have faded?

Most orchid flowers should last somewhere between two and six weeks in the home. For a much longer bloom period, choose phalaenopsis orchids, which can last anywhere from one to four months or more in bright, indirect light. Since the great majority of orchids sold every year are phalaenopsis, commonly called moth orchids, chances are this is the variety that you are most familiar with.

Moth orchid blooms can measure anywhere from 2-4" in diameter and are mostly found in white or shades of purple. For an interesting variation, look for striped or spotted moth orchids. Among my personal favorites are the white Harlequin-style varieties bearing spots in shades of burgundy and purple. Also of note are the harder to find, but spectacular-looking, yellow moth orchid cultivars with red stripes. Miniature moth orchids are also available in diminutive 1" diameter blooms and can be found in a wide range of colors.

If your conditions tend to be a bit on the shady side, try the very exotic-looking paphiopedilums, also called lady slipper orchids. You might also have success growing Ludisia discolor, the jewel orchid, which has wonderful blackish-brown leaves with reddish-brown stripes and bears tiny columnar clusters of white flowers.

For a sunny window try oncidiums, a large group of orchids commonly referred to as 'dancing ladies,' so called because their large sprays of blooms appear to dance in the wind. You might also look at cattleyas, a particularly showy, colorful, and often deliciously fragrant group of orchids.

A few other things to take note of when shopping for orchids are an equal mix of buds and open blooms, healthy looking green leaves free of spots or abrasions, and a vigorous root system. Buying an orchid with around three-quarters of its blooms already open will ensure greater longevity and enjoyment of your orchid flowers.

Black, brown, or yellow spotting on an orchid's leaves or roots could be a sign that improper watering, extreme temperatures, or a fungal problem may exist, and these plants are better off avoided altogether.

Healthy orchid roots are thick and white or greenish-white, and they may be growing so vigorously that they've escaped from their containers entirely and are hanging over the sides. This is an indication of good health, as orchids grown in their native rain forest environment like to have their roots dangling in the tree canopy to catch run-off from moisture and nutrients. You should saturate all of an orchid's roots every time you water to prevent die back of either roots or foliage.

Following these steps will ensure months or even years of satisfaction from your new orchid, as well as a refreshing taste of the tropics indoors to enjoy year-round.

TOP 10 WINDOWSILL ORCHIDS

Botanical Name          Common Name         Grow it Because ...

Brassia               Spider Orchid          Eotic, elongated flowers

Cattleya             Cattleya          Large, colorful, very exotic flowers often intensely fragrant -- miniature varieties bloom more often.

Dendrobium           Spray Orchid             Tall orchids with lots of flowers in many different colors, sizes, and shapes

Encyclia cochleata      Octopus Orchid           Unusual flower shape is eye-catching.

Ludisia               Jewel Orchid          Foliage is so attractive that plants look great even when not in bloom. Flowers open gradually.

Miltonia       Pansy Orchid        Large flowers in striking colors

Oncidium     Dancing Ladies       Tall bloom spikes covered with flowers, often fragrant, as with chocolate-scented "Sherry Baby"

Paphiopedilum           Lady Slipper              Flowers in low light, exotic looking blooms

Phalaenopsis           Moth Orchid             Blooms last longer than any other orchid, 4 mos.+

Phragmipedium          Phrags               Long bloom period, difficult to over water

More information about the author and celebrated New York City landscape designer Amber Freda can be found on her website, http://www.amberfreda.com

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Growing Orchids For Your Home

Few plants evoke more attention than an orchid; once so rare and costly, their exclusive reputation still renders them precious. Orchids in a living room immediately seem to lift the area into another dimension of luxury and ease of living.

Many orchids will only have one bloom open at a time, yet people can gaze and appear mesmerized for several minutes whilst absorbing the intricate details of the bloom.

It is only fairly recently that people have thought about growing their own orchids, yet already 'orchid societies' have grown up all over North America to give advice, to offer orchid 'swaps' and encourage the growth of them.

If you have ever thought of growing and displaying your own orchids, then it is advisable to put them in an east or north window as they prefer bright, filtered sunlight. South windows are best shaded for orchids.

Orchids do not grow in soil, but rather in charcoal, fir bark, cork or stones. In the Tropics where they are quite common, it is not unusual to see an orchid growing proudly out of a tree trunk! Most of the mixes (i.e. stones, cork etc) for growing orchids are available in garden centers.

The room temperatures for the best orchid growth are 59F to 81F during the day and dropping to around 52F to 59F at night. (This is 15 C-27 C and 11C-16 Centigrade).

Some orchids will bloom and last for weeks and others will bloom twice a year. Although orchids usually only need watering once a week, they are humid plants and like a spray spritz every day.

Many of the orchid societies run a newsletter and some have monthly meetings with guest speakers, a yearly show and many will offer tips on how to obtain, and grow, orchids.

There are over 30,000 different species of orchids in the world, but only certain ones are suitable for the window sills of North America.

The color of orchids are mostly bright and contrasting, although the pure white orchid is equally arresting. Orchids come in many varied and intricate designs and waiting for a new bloom to unfold has been known to excite the most reserved of people!

Orchids can be ordered mail order from the Internet and, in some cases, from the orchid societies. Beware though, it seems orchid ownership is like eating candy - one is never enough!

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