Caring for Orchids – No Big Deal

I don’t know about you, but when I walk through the garden section at my local home improvement center, the orchids always catch my eye. I think of how beautiful they are, but I never bothered to buy one because I had always thought about how difficult they must be to care for. However, caring for orchids is rather easy, and anyone should, and can, have one in their own home.

I believe that orchids can be grown by anyone and just about anywhere. Yes, orchids seem intimidating, but their delicate looking blossoms are misleading. Don’t let the gorgeous petals and elegant colors make you feel that your less than green thumb can’t handle the care that it requires. All you need is to be informed about the plant that you are choosing and get some great tips on how to properly care for it.

History on orchids will advise you that, at one time, only the wealthy had orchids growing in their greenhouses. This was because it was believed that caring for orchids was extremely difficult, and the rich had people to tend to the flowers when needed. Over time, someone realized that the average person could properly tend to an orchid, and ever since, orchids are readily available to anyone who would like to enjoy their beauty.

You already know what the basic requirements on caring for orchids are, but let’s review them just to make sure you have everything covered. When you buy an orchid, the pot that it comes in can be the pot it stays in, at least for a while, if you so choose. Take a look at the potting material that it is in. When you need to repot it, try to use the same type of material which will be either a bark material or a type of moss.

Placement within your home, or perhaps your office, is also important for the orchid’s health. Although orchids are rather hardy plants, the sun can do a number on the petals. The petals can be burned and will eventually die and fall off. This is an ugly scene, which you don’t want, so placing the orchid in filtered light or under a grow light is best. Florescent lights are okay too but you won’t get the blossoms that you might with natural light.

I don’t know about you, but the amount of water that the plants in my home require vary with each plant. It’s easy to forget when it’s time to water or even how to tell how much, if any at all, water a particular plant needs. An orchid’s roots should be allowed to dry out as this is a natural occurrence. This is not to say that you should only water them when the dirt has separated from the inside wall of the pot, but when caring for orchids, the water should be allowed to properly drain but still maintain moisture if needed. This is done by using a deep saucer and filling it with marbles or small pebbles. Water can stay in the saucer as long as it doesn’t touch the bottom of the pot.

I know that you can do everything that has been discussed here. So, the next time you are in your local garden center and that orchid you’ve been wanting is calling your name, put it in your cart and take it home!

Sam M Connelly is an orchid enthusiast. For more information on caring for orchids and how to grow healthy and vibrant orchids, please visit OrchidCareCenter.com where you can also choose to subscribe to her FREE 10-part mini-course on easy and simple orchid care.