Caring for Orchids Essentials: Orchids and Humidity

Wild orchids live in environments where there is a lot of moisture in the air - this can be anywhere between 50% an 80%. Unfortunately, the humidity of most homes is far lower than this, so to look after your orchids properly you need to artificially increase the levels of water in the air around your plant.

Many orchid growers use humidity trays to do this, however there is a lot of debate within the orchid community as to their usefulness. As far as I am aware, there has been no scientific study into whether humidity trays work or not.

You can purchase humidity trays from most garden supply stores and they cost between a few pounds and around £30. Alternatively you can make your own - Care-of-Orchids.Info have some nice information about making your own humidity tray.

Misting is another method that can be used to increase the water levels around your orchid. Simply spray water onto the foliage and flower of your orchid using a spray gun (either purchased from a garden store or a recycled surface cleaner/window spray bottle). There is a myth circulating that misting that misting orchids can cause them damage. I will simply say that it is not true and refer you to a great article on the subject.

The most expensive (and perhaps best) way to increase the ambient humidity around your orchid is to use a humidifier. Humidifiers cost between around £25 and £50 and keep the amount of moisture in the air of the room they are in constant.

Well, that's my third post in this series of Orchid Essentials. Tomorrow, I will move on to fertilizer and feeding your orchid.

Caring for Orchids Essentials: Orchid Temperature

Most orchids can be grown successfully in normal household temperatures, but it is worth checking out what is optimum for your orchid by looking up your genera in the American Orchid Society's Culture Sheets. The absolute minimum temperature for almost all species of orchid is around 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

It is believed by many experienced orchid growers that a drop in temperature of around 10 degrees Fahrenheit at night-time is essential for your orchid to bloom. Although this seems to be the general consensus, I have known of many orchids that have produced beautiful flowers in climate-controlled environments and am aware of no scientific study that proves (or disproves) this. In contrast, I have seen wonderful blooms on orchids that have been subject to the natural fall in temperature at night, so my own opinion is that is not all that important - your orchid will adapt to it's surroundings.

Because most orchids are placed on window sills, it is important to make sure it's foliage (or any other part of the plant, for that matter) is not touching the window pane during the winter months. This will cause your orchid to freeze and eventually die.

Exposing your orchid to direct sunlight in the Summer months can cause it to get sun-burnt. This is indicated by dark blemishes on the foliage and is, for all intents and purposes, irreparable. Your orchid does need lots of light, but you will need to ensure it is shaded appropriately.

I think I've covered everything temperature-related here today. Tomorrow, I will be discussing how to get the best humidity levels for your orchid.

Caring for Orchids Essentials: Watering Orchids

One of the most common mistakes beginners make when growing orchids is to over-water their plant. This causes the roots to rot and very often kills it. Remember most orchids do not grow in soil (instead they cling to rocks or other plants) and so they are not used to vast amounts of water around their roots.

So, how often should an orchid be watered?

As a general rule, you should water your orchid around once a week. If it is particularly hot, for example in the middle of Summer, a more frequent watering schedule of around once every 5 days should be used. And in the winter, less frequent watering, such as once every 10 days is appropriate. A good rule of thumb is to water your orchid the day before the potting media dries out completely. If in doubt, wait another day before watering.

Watering should be performed early in the day. This gives the roots and potting media time to dry out before the temperature drops at night.

You should water your orchid over the sink or outside, allowing the water to flow freely through the potting media and out of the bottom of the pot. It may seem as if your orchid is not getting enough water as most of it is flowing out as quickly as you pour it in. Rest assured, your orchid is getting ample.

Rainwater collected from outside is the best form of "drink" for your orchid. Tapwater has very often been treated with chemicals that make it good for us humans but are harmful to your plant. The temperature of the water is also important. Ideally, the water should be tepid or at room temperature so as not to 'shock' your orchid.

Well, I think that covers everything you need to know about watering your orchid. Tomorrow, I will discuss the ideal temperature for your orchid. In the meantime, if you have a question, please do not hesitate to ask.

About This Blog: How to Look After Orchids

In this blog, I want to impart practical advice, tips & tricks that will help you to grow beautiful blooming orchids.

Learning how to grow orchids is really not that difficult as long as you dedicate a tiny amount of time for their care. Orchids have gotten a reputation over the years as a specialist plant that is difficult to look after. Whilst it is true that some orchids can be a pain to grow successfully, this is not true of the majority. Providing you follow the simple techniques set out in this blog, you will become an expert orchid grower in no time.

So, lets get stuck in and learn how to look after orchids.