Orchid Growing: A Beginner’s Guide to Cultivating Orchids

Orchids are usually seen as beautiful and rare but a lot of the populace find them intimidating. All the same but with the right information and attention, anyone can manage to grow these amazing plants starting from the scratch. Everything about starting out in your orchid growing is covered in this guide for beginners, starting from when you need to select orchids that would suit your house best up to caring for them in the simplest way possible.

Choosing Right Orchid

You have to choose the right type of orchid plant that is suitable for both the available space and your expertise as the initial step toward growing an orchid. There are more than 25,000 species of orchids, with countless hybrids. For every environment and taste, there is a suitable orchid. Steps that can be followed while choosing the right orchids:

Light Requirements: Orchids have different light requirements according to their species. While low to medium light is enough for some orchids like the Phalaenopsis orchid, others need intense but indirect light like the Cattleya, which might survive without water during daytime due to luminosity of its surroundings.
Temperature and Humidity: Orchids in general, grow in temperatures that are between warm and hotness and humidity that are either moderate or high. Although, there are certain types that are more adaptable than others. If you live in places that are very dry or are not capable of creating humidity, then you may want to go for Dendrobium or Oncidium because they can grow in lower levels of humidity.
Potting and mounting options: Orchids are mainly cultivated in vessels or mounted on trees or on pieces of bark. On bark is where you would find the Vanda orchid thrive more, but potted ones such as the Paphiopedilum are comparatively popular. The space available and your ability to take care of it should be taken into account. In case you are a beginner in orchid growing, then potted orchids might just be what you need.
Blooming Cycle: There are orchids with different blooming cycles, and some species bloom more often than others. To start with, you should consider the ones that take time before they are in full bloom or the ones that blossom many times in a year especially such as Phalaenopsis and Dendrobium respectively, this way enabling you to appreciate its blossom over a longer time span.

Preparing the Right Growing Environment

After choosing your orchid it is time to set up the right growing environment. Some factors to keep in mind are:

Potting Mix: Usually orchids don’t grow in standard potting soil but they need a special orchid potting mix which helps in maintaining a good balance of draining, aeration as well as retaining water in it. You might either buy ready-made orchid plant mixes or prepare your own using such ingredients as charcoal, sphagnum moss, bark or perlite.
Containers: When you are choosing a container for your orchid you should be aware of the size, the material and the drainage ability. Most of the time, orchids need shallow pots so that their roots can spread outside whereas if you overwater them it is better to prevent drought by simply using clay or ceramic pots.
Light and Temperature: For most orchids, it is important to keep them in a spot where light is suitable for their needs; should there be no adequate natural light then you may find grow lights appropriate. Keep temperatures of 16-27 °C (60-80 °F) steady for most of the orchid type.
Humidity: Orchids usually do well in places where water is available. If your house is too dry, you may want to get a greenhouse humidifier or set up a tray containing some water and pebbles to which your flower pot will be placed. Another way of achieving this is to grow other vegetables with them so that the air around them becomes humid.

Basic Orchid Care and Maintenance

It is important to provide orchids with proper care and maintenance so that they can blossom well. Some tips that can be followed for care and maintenance are:

Watering: Orchids need only occasional watering, and too much water can kill them. Do not overwater; instead let their pots get a bit dry between one watering time and the next. It is advisable if you water them deeply but infrequently. After watering, make sure that all excess liquid drains away from the potting mix into the drainage holes located at its bottom. Never allow standing water around the orchid’s crown since this may result in decay.
Fertilising: Regular fertilisation is particularly beneficial for orchids when they are actively growing. It is important to use well-balanced, water soluble fertiliser that is exclusively designed for orchids. The mixing instructions and application rates as instructed on the package should be adhered to.
Repotting: Orchids usually require repotting once or twice a year depending on how fast they grow. When you re-pot orchids, you give them a new potting mix, divide large clumps and cut away roots that are dead or plagued by disease. For the plant not to be stressed during its flowering season, orchids should be reported after they bloomed.
Pruning: To keep your orchid shaped and promote healthy growth, prune it. Also, remove any withering or dead flower, leaf or root. When it blooms again after being pruned, you may also decide to cut off the spike. Cut it using aseptic tools to avoid infections and have precise cuts.
Monitoring for pests: Orchids are usually strong but they may still become affected by pests and diseases. Always check your orchid for signs of pests like mealies, scales and mites. It’s very important to notice when an infestation starts and then take care of it promptly. Besides, look for leaf spots as well as root rots among others such as infestation.

Final Thoughts

It can be a satisfying and engaging activity for both beginners and experienced farmers to grow orchids. Remember to select the right orchid species for your area, set up the proper conditions for their growth, and learn how to take care of these beautiful plants. Don't forget that every orchid is different, so as long as you are patient enough and practice, you will be able to know what your own orchids need.

Hydrofogger have humidifiers for all your farming needs.