How to Grow Orchid Plant

 

One of the most popular houseplant is Orchid plants and the scientific name is Orchidaceae. Orchid plants belong to the family Orchidaceae. Actually the Orchid plants are very easy to grow and care for once you understand the plant ideal growing conditions and maintenance requirements. There are a lot of Orchids species you can choose to grow but the most popular and the most commonly sold species are Cattleya, Phalaenopsis, Cymbidium, and Dendrobium. The Orchids species has similar physical characteristics and spectacular blooms.

The following are the basic information about Orchid plants:

The common name: The common names are Orchid, corsage orchid, moth orchid, and boat orchid.

The botanical name: The botanical name is   Orchidaceae.

The family: Orchid plants belong to Orchidaceae family.

The plant type: The Orchid plants are herbaceous perennial plant.

The mature size: The mature size is about one to three feet tall, six to twelve inches wide.

The sun exposure: The Orchid plants prefer partial shade.

The soil type: The Orchid plant does well in a well-drained soil.

The soil pH: Acidic

The blooming time: The blooming time actually varies.

The flower color: The flower colors are white, yellow, pink, purple, green, red, orange.

USDA hardiness zones: Five to eleven.

The native area: The Orchid plants are native to Australia, North America, Europe, South America, Central America, Asia, Africa, and Caribbean.

Plant toxicity: The Orchid plants are non-toxic to cats and dogs. 

Orchids varieties 

According to research, about thirty thousand species of orchid plants live in the wild along with more than one hundred thousand registered hybrids. Actually, knowing the orchid plant variety you have is very important for its care. The following are the major orchid varieties that are available for purchase:

-         The phalaenopsis moth orchids variety: The phalaenopsis moth orchids have round flowers with a pronounced lip that can grow on a single tall stalk arising from a whorl of fleshy, oval leaves. The flowers are typically purple, white, pink, or a combination.

-         The Dendrobium Soft-canes variety: The Dendrobium Soft-canes have small flowers that can grow in rows on stalks that rise from thick canes, often with a lot of flower clusters per plant. The flowers are typically purple or white. The Dendrobium Soft-canes leaves are narrow and they emerge from the sides of the cane. Below is the image.

-         The Cattleya (corsage orchids) variety: The Cattleya (corsage orchids) variety are actually the most frequently used orchids in corsages, the Cattleya orchid plants have been widely hybridized, leading to a large variety of colors and forms. Several varieties of Cattleya orchid are quite fragrant and many have appealing freckles, streaks, or other bicolor features.

-         The Boat Orchids (Cymbidium) variety: The Boat Orchids (Cymbidium) variety has multiple flower spikes to ensure a satisfying display. This particular variety is a good choices for beginners include the lime green 'Chica', the red and yellow 'Showoff', or the bright pink 'Frae', all are the recipients of the American Orchid Society’s Highly Commended Certificate.

How to grow Orchids

Actually one of the golden rules for indoor orchid plant care is to duplicate the orchid plant's natural growing behavior as closely as possible. In the wild the plant cling to rough bark and their plant roots are exposed.

Once you first get your orchid plant, the orchid plant will likely be healthy and in bloom. Unfortunately a lot of store-bought orchid plants are potted in a medium that can actually cause root rot.

Don’t ever repot an orchid plant while it's in bloom, just reduce the amount of water the orchid plant receives until the blooms fade. You can follow these care tips to keep your orchid plant alive and thriving:

- You need to choose a location that has ample of bright, indirect light; a south- or east-facing window is actually perfect.

- Make sure you allow the growing medium to dry out between watering.

- You need to feed the orchid plants with an orchid-specific fertilizer or you can easily apply a balanced fertilizer formula such as 20-20-20 at ¼ strength after thoroughly watering the orchid plant once a week. You can also reduce fertilization throughout the months when your species of orchid is dormant after flowering (usually in winter).

Light requirement

The orchid plants actually need bright light to produce blooms. On the other hand, direct sun can burn the plant. Make sure you locate the plant in bright, indirect light from the south- or east-facing window around your home.

Soil requirement

The orchid plants will not actually thrive in regular potting soil or potting mix. You can buy or make a DIY orchid-growing medium, which should be lightweight and fast-draining. The common mixes comprise sphagnum moss, bark, perlite, and peat. A slightly acidic soil pH is perfect for growing orchids.

Water requirement

The orchid plants usually need water twice a week in the warmer months when the orchid plant is actively growing and only once a week in the colder months. You can use a room-temperature water, and then water the plant slowly until the water flows out of the pot's drainage openings.

The orchid plants actually need to dry out between waterings in other to prevent rot. If actually the growing medium feels dry to the touch and the container feels light, then it is time to water the plant.

Temperature and humidity requirement

Depending on how the plants are classified, the orchid plants do best in ranges between fifty degrees and ninety degrees Fahrenheit. The orchid plants prefer humidity levels from around forty percent to seventy percent.

The orchid plant will keep blooming for a long time if you provide a warm and somewhat humid environment. Do not place the orchid plants where the plant will experience cold drafts, exposure to direct sunlight, or dry air from heating vents.

Fertilizer requirement

You can use an orchid-specific fertilizer during the plant growing season which is spring and summer, make sure you following the label instructions. Do not fertilize the plant during the winter months.

Pruning Orchid plants

Pruning the old growth of the plant will actually make way for new blooms. If you are pruning your orchid plant, make sure the tool you are using is sharp and sterilized. A clean cut will actually help to keep the orchid plant healthy.

Furthermore, different orchid plants actually require different pruning methods, all you just need is to remove the faded orchid plant blooms to keep the plant from spending energy on old growth. After the flowering is complete, just cut off the flower spike. There are some certain orchid varieties (like Phalaenopsis) that are known to re-bloom on the same spike. In that case you can just remove the faded blooms of the plant but not the spike.

Orchid plants propagation

Actually propagating an orchid plant by seed is very difficult because the minuscule seeds need extremely specific conditions that are really hard to duplicate. One of the best ways to propagate an orchid plant is by division:

You need to moisten the growing medium to make it easier to remove the orchid plant from the pot.

You need to examine the roots of the orchid plant, and then remove any damaged or dead parts that appear black, mushy, or paper-thin. Healthy roots are actually firm and plump.

You need to tease apart some of the roots and stems. If you don’t won't to separate them by hand you can use a sharp, sterile cutting tool.

Repot each of the plant in a new orchid growing medium, stake the plant if necessary, and then water the plant. 

Pest and Disease control

One of the best ways to prevent pest and diseases on orchid plants is by caring for the plant properly. However, orchid plants also face some pest and disease challenges despite the optimal supply of nutrients, water and light. The following are the pest and disease that attack orchid plants:

The Mosaic virus on orchids: The Mosaic virus is a disease that attacks the orchid plants by appearing on the underside of the older leaves as mosaic-like black spots, it begins to spread onto the upper surface of the orchid leaves as the disease progresses. The orchid plant stems will begin to rot from the inside out. You should immediately dispose the affected orchid plants. If you discover an infestation, there is actually no successful treatment for this particular viral disease. 

The Black rot on orchids: Black rot is actually caused by the fungi Phytophthora and Pythium. The orchid plants that are affected will turn yellow and then black, before eventually dying. Try and avoid cool and wet conditions which promote fungal growth. All you can do is to remove the infected plants because root infections are incurable.

The Grey Leaf spot diseases on orchids: Actually the grey leaf spot diseases occasionally occur on the Orchid plants. The grey leaf spot diseases are caused by fungi of the genera Colletotrichum and Cercospora. The fungi actually cause brown, yellowish, black or reddish leaf spots on the orchid plants. These parasite are secondary parasites, one of the best ways to prevent this disease is to find a suitable location for the orchid plants and to look after the plant correctly. The infected orchid plants can be save by removing the affected orchid plant leaves, and then put the orchid plants on the patio and then treat the orchid plant with a suitable fungicide.

Spider mites on orchids: Spider mites are actually one the most common pests that attack orchid plants. Spider mites are insects that are most often found on the underside of the plant leaves of the affected orchid plants. What you will observe on the orchid plants are brightly speckled leaves that will become brown and then dry as the infestation progress to the next stage.

The Spider mites insects normally inject toxins while sucking on the orchid plant leaves. This normally has a severe impact on the orchid plant’s growth. Make sure you remove all the affected plant leaves. You can also use predatory mites to fight the spider mites. You can also use potassium soap or canola oil to combat the spider mites.

Scale Insects on orchids: The scale insects are common with the new bought orchid plants from the nursery, it is very important take a close look at the desired orchid plants in the nursery before buying it. The scale insects are mainly found on the underside of orchid plant leaves, where the insects actually match the color of their surroundings. These pests feed on the sap of the Orchid plants with the help of their sucking trunk. As a result of this, the orchid plant leaves will start to appear deformed and droopy. By sucking on the orchid plants, the insect also create small holes in the plant, making it an ideal entry points for fungi and viruses, such as the mosaic virus disease. These pests also make the orchid plant leaves sticky by secreting a sugary liquid on the orchid plant known as honeydew.

To actually prevent the spreading of the disease to other plants, the first step is for you to put the infested Orchid plants into isolation. Once you have put the infested Orchid plants in isolation, the next thing to do is to scrape off the scale insects using a blade.

You can also apply tea tree oil onto the affected parts of the orchid plant using a cotton swabs. The tea tree oil will help to deprive the scale insects of air and the scale insects will die.

Thrips on orchids: Thrips is also known as thunderflies, this tiny insect can cause serious damage to orchid plants.  These tiny insect puncture the surface layer of the orchid plant tissue, filling the cells of the plant with air. The damage of this insect causes a characteristic silver shine on the affected parts of the orchid plant. You can apply an organic treatment containing potassium soap or canola oil on the orchid plants.