Essential Guidelines on Watering Orchids

It may well be said that of all the available species of exotic plants, orchids are probably one of the most popular and much loved varieties of indoor plants. This may well be due to the fact that many orchid varieties are freely available in a truly diverse range of absolutely spectacular colors and possess the most beautiful delicate blooms, some of which may bloom continuously throughout the entire year. There is an orchid variety to suit every type of lifestyle and budget, from the city apartment dweller to those on sprawling country estates with magnificent landscaped gardens.

Orchids are no different to any other plant in that they require an environment very similar to their native habitat if they are to thrive and grow to their full potential. It is therefore, essential to thoroughly research the species of orchid that you are interested in acquiring, so as to ascertain the necessary climatic conditions for your desired species of plant under consideration, such that it can genuinely thrive. Most importantly, you must make a decision as to whether or not it is financially and physically viable to achieve the necessary environmental conditions within in your home or garden, considering budget constraints and the time and effort needed to successfully propagate your chosen species of orchid.

The natural habitat of the majority of exotic species of orchid is found in the equatorial regions of the planet. It is therefore, self evident that a lot of forethought will need to go into the planning, construction and creation of a suitable environment for your orchid, if it is to grow healthily and thrive to it's full potential. Orchids are found within the equatorial rainforests where the environment is extremely hot and the humidity levels can be as high as eighty percent. You may well be thinking that creating this sort of oppressive atmosphere in your own home would be extremely uncomfortable for all concerned. Don't let this analysis deter you, it is fairly easy to create this highly humidified ecosystem within your orchids growing area by constantly watering your plant, strategically placed under artificial lighting. The heat from the lights will evaporate the moisture within the growing medium and humidify the surrounding air within close proximity to the plant. The most sustainable way of achieving this without too much time and effort is to place your orchids pot in a watering tray, that has been lined with medium sized pebbles and slowly pour your water on top of them, never overfill, as the roots must never be fully immersed in the water. Spraying water directly onto the blooms will not only keep the plant moist but also assist in creating a highly humidified environment around the plant.

It is imperative that you never give your orchid too much water, if in doubt push a stick a few inches into the plants growing medium, extract the stick and if it feels moist do not water the plant. The growing mediums used for orchid propagation retain moisture extremely well especially New Zealand Sphagnum Moss whilst the bark variety slows the evaporation rate, even if the bark looks very dry on top, it is very often the case that there is plenty of moisture present lurking just below the surface. Always, let the bark dry out fully before watering. As a general rule of thumb water at least once per week or every other week depending on the amount of moisture retained in the potting medium.

Several species of these exotic orchids attach themselves to the branches and trunks of trees, this type of orchid is known as an epithyte the terminology used refers to any type of flora that has an above ground root system, it does not designate a particular species of orchid. Dendrobium orchids are the most common variety of epithyte. Although they attach themselves to trees by their fleshy root system they are not parasitic, i.e. they do not feed from the host tree but gain sustenance and nourishment through the accumulated organic matter found in between the branches of the tree. When this type of orchid is fully saturated the normally white color of the root system will turn green, which gives you a very good visual representation of the watering needs of the plant. The terrestrial orchids are the ground dwelling plants where the floor of the rainforest is littered with decaying organic matter naturally nourishing and fertilising the plants. It is therefore, necessary to fertilise these plants sparingly with a special orchid fertiliser that can be purchased from your local reputable nursery. Orchids are sometimes known to be very temperamental and sometimes may go years without blooming or not bloom at all. Usually this is a symptom of propagation within a suboptimum environment. A well planned and executed fertilisation and watering routine will guarantee that your plant remains healthy and you will enjoy the sight of the most delicate and beautiful blooms for many seasons to come.

It is a fact that if given the appropriate levels of care, orchids will generally grow healthily and thrive within your home or garden. Just Remember to take care of their watering needs correctly, fertilise sparingly and stop fertilising completely once blooming and most importantly give them the right amount of light and shade. Orchids are not that complicated and can be grown to absolute perfection if properly researched and grown in an environment that as closely as possible matches their natural environment.

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