Although widely considered a tropical plant, orchids are hardy just about anywhere. They do well in temperatures ranging from as low as 40 degrees in the winter to as high as 90 degrees in the summer.
Caring for orchids needn’t be a difficult task. While it is true that orchids prefer humid environments, be aware that their natural environment is a pretty Apartments, the majority of Orchids are found in tropical rain forests, the Andes mountains, and other hot climates. Orchids found in the arid parts of the world will be thriving in those conditions, with the exception of course being the tropical rain forests where they grow.
When you decide that caring for orchids is something you would like to do, there are a few things you need to know about them before you go ahead and buy your first orchid.
You’ve probably noticed it yourself: orchids are ugly. There are many naturally beautiful orchids, but you’ll have a much harder time finding an orchid that is not naturally ugly. There are, of course, some wonderfully ugly orchids, but you’ll have even harder choices to make if you’re looking for the “right” orchid. Find an orchid that has the markings and characteristics that you find admire and club it with the right colors and you’re sure to have a lovely plant.
Orchids are also prized for their relatively long lasting blooms. Some gardeners choose to care for an orchid to enjoy the blooms for months at a time. This is why some orchids are freely available in many places, making them quite popular.
The care for orchids strongly depends on the type of orchid that you have. The care for epiphytes, or aerial orchids that are popular, will call for quite a bit of effort. Epiphytes orchids root themselves to the bark of trees with their fleshy roots. This is why their care requires such high standards. The care for terrestrials is a lot easier. They do well in soil and adore direct sunlight. Although they too call for attention when it comes to light, they don’t require the constant, heavy horticultural exposure that the epiphytes will.
The care for cattleyas demands fertile, well-drained soil. With over 1000 species, cattleyas are the least susceptible of the orchids to call for attention. That’s a very high demand for fertile, well-drained soil.
When repotting, the new roots should be thoroughly washed to remove all the old potting mixture and decomposed odors. Put the roots into new pots with new potting mixture directly on top of the roots. Washing the green leaves helps to remove some of the heavier parts of the root. The new potting mixture, the same as with the cattleyas, must be sterilized.
Potting these orchids into smaller pots will help to contain their growth. This is important, for the health of the orchid. Like most orchids, these orchids needmedium that holds water but is porous and allows air to circulate around the root system. They don’t like too much water, and cardinal to their health.
The care for cattleyas requires bright light, but not direct sunlight. Avoid the direct rays of the sun, for the leaves of these orchids often turn yellow. Normally, the cattleyas are given as much as 16 hours of light daily, the same as other orchids.
A free air movement around the orchids is one of the things that keeps the orchids healthy. Unlike the typical garden plant where the gardener is responsible for fertilizing the plant, the orchid owner is only responsible for making sure the orchid receives enough air circulation to circulate air and help the orchid remain healthy.
