Guideline To Watering Your Orchids

Home gardeners have made orchids a favorite houseplant because of their beautiful blooms, because of their many species, and because of their varying degrees of colors and sizes. Orchids, like many other plants, need certain resources to thrive. An important part of the right resources is giving your orchid an ample amount of water. Since the amount of water will differ with each specific species, it is a necessity to research your particular plant. By better understanding the orchids' needs and by knowing more about their natural habitat, you will be better prepared to care for your orchids and enjoy them more.

Orchids are found in tropical habitats around the globe. These habitats can be rain forests that average a high level of moisture making them very humid. The high humidity is what most orchids need to be their healthiest. As a matter of fact, most orchids do well when the humidity level is at 80%. But what is a comfortable environment for orchids is not so comfortable for humans. As a home gardener, you will need to devise the right environment to keep your orchids healthy and happy. One tactic to humidify your orchids is to provide enough moisture close by to simulate the high humidity. You can use a shallow pan with some marbles. Place the marbles in the pan to a height of one to one-and-a-half inches. Then place the orchid pot on top of the marbles. Pour some water into the pan until it is just below the orchid pot being careful not to touch the pot. This can closely match the high-humidity climate required by your orchids.

Do not make the blunder of over-watering your orchids. Many orchid gardeners assume that when the potting bark feels dry, it's time to water again. Although this may be true for common houseplants, it is not true for orchids. Although the potting bark may feel dry, the bark is still actually holding moisture. The general rule of thumb is water your orchid every 10 to 14 days. The exact number of days will depend upon the potting bark you use and the particular orchid you are growing. Add or subtract days as appropriate. Let the potting bark become fairly dry before the next watering. In the wild, nature allows the orchid roots to dry out before giving them water again. In addition to water, apply fertilizer sparingly. Use fertilizer specially designed for your orchids. A regular watering and feeding routine you formulate for your orchids will provide an excellent way to insure that you can enjoy these exotic plants for a long time.

Orchids raised indoors will thrive given the proper amounts of water, light and fertilizer. If you take the time to understand the plants you are growing and give them the care they need, you will find them easy to care for and will be rewarded by their beauty and stunning colors time and time again.

Zack Ryan is an orchid enthusiast. For more great tips on orchids click on orchid watering or visit http://orchidharvestsecrets.com