Like with any other house plant, orchids need the correct amount of light, water and nutrients. If you love the look of orchids you may want to take growing orchids indoors to see if it’s a good fit for you.
The Right Lighting
If you want to grow orchids indoors, lighting is going to be a major consideration. Just like any plant, orchids need the best light possible. Your natural sunlight is okay to use for growing orchids indoors, but placing your plants near a window may not be enough.
The next consideration in growing orchids indoors is the type of light bulbs to use. The common and recommended type of artificial light for growing orchids is fluorescent lighting. Fluorescent light bulbs emit about two thousand heat rays. This type of light is very similar to the light given off by the sun during summer time. It is recommended to get a deep cuplike bulb that gives off a bright light and has a built in timer.
Watering
Watering is also a major factor in growing orchids indoors. Like most plants, orchids do not require much water but they need moisture. The humidity level has to be around fifty percent. If you are really serious about growing orchids like these, you can install a humidifier near them. Buy a humidity tray, mix some water and pebbles and place it near the plants. You will not need to water them everyday, but make sure to keep the soil moist.
Temperature
A major advantage of growing orchids indoors is that you are able to control the temperature. Tomato plants, for example, are sensitive to frost. If you are growing orchids like these you need to bring them indoors or place them in a suitable temperature. A room that is decorated with drapes is a good spot to keep your orchids. They love humidity and warmer temperatures.
Humidity
If you are interested in growing orchids, you will need to provide them with the humidity they need. Most of the orchids do not even require regular watering. There are some hybrids that you should check once in a while to see if they need to be watered. The soil may appear dry but the plant is still okay. If you water it too much, the plant will die. Green or white speckles on the leaves mean that the plant needs more water. The leaves will begin to fall off if the plant lacks water.
Potting
The final consideration for growing orchids indoors is potting. You will need small plant pots for these small plants. Pots that are not big enough to hold the roots make the process of planting and transplanting difficult. If you are using the right type of pot, the process will be much easier.
Getting the right type of pot is very important because it will be the permanent home for your plant. It is not hat you want to get when you first acquire the plant. You want to get a pot that is porous and has holes for good drainage.
After dealing with the pot, you need to deal with the plant itself. When roots are tightly packed in a pot, there is a chance for them to get damaged. This should be avoided. First, the roots must be trimmed. Secondly, the foliage must be pruned. Before, we say that pruning the foliage is important, we mean it. Too much foliage keeps the orchid from flowering. To remain healthy, the plant needs to focus its energy on its blossoms.
Orchid growing is not hard. With some key ingredients, you can successfully grow your own orchids. As long as you know the right type of orchid for the right habitat and the right amount of light, you can grow your own orchids at home no matter where you are now. There are orchid gardens at home and they are pretty fun to visit.
