Orchid Growing Tips – How to Care for Home Orchids

Many would have you believe that orchids are among the hardest plants to grow, and in some cases, they're right. There are, however, some species that are as easy to care for as an African Violet. Others are as low maintenance as a cactus.

Providing your orchid with the proper humidity is likely the biggest challenge you will face. For this reason, hothouses and greenhouses are among the most popular places to grow them. These environments allow you to control humidity and other variables.

Even without the controlled environment of a greenhouse, it's not that difficult to provide your plant with the proper humidity. There are ways to add the moisture to the air near the plant without affecting the rest of the room. This can be done with an automatic humidity tray.

Most orchids prefer a humidity range of between 40%-70%. You'll need to know a little about your specific plant to know where it falls in this range. Obviously, those that are native to tropical environments will lean toward the high end of the scale.

Just as important as humidity to the health of your orchid is the amount of light it prefers. Most will fall in the medium light range. On a light meter, this range would be from 1,000-2,000 foot-candles. An indication that your plant is receiving too much light would be black spots on the tips of the leaves.

Most orchids do not prefer growing in full sunlight. Epiphytes, for example, usually enjoy the shade provided by the tree they cling to. With the vast amount of orchid species in the world, the amount of light they prefer varies as much as anything else.

If you are growing one of the species that is toward the high end of the light scale, it is fairly easy to provide that light. This can be provided by using an incandescent light bulb that emits a temperature close to that of it's natural environment. Caution should be used when dealing with heat lamps because the low frequency infrared can burn your plants.

It may take some time to get the right mix of light and shade for your plant. Experiment with where you place the orchid and for how long. Try different lengths of time in the sunlight and in the shade until you find a combination that works. You could also try a set of automatic blinds that will regulate the amount of light your orchid receives.

Any more than a little direct sunlight should be avoided no matter what species of orchid you are growing. Again, there are exceptions and this will depend on the species you are attempting to grow. Using these tips, you should be well on your way.

         

Orchid Care - Orchid Growing Tips