How to Care for Orchids

Orchids are of many types. They can be small as a finger nail, and large as a football. They can be dull or really colorful. They can be single colored or multi-hued. They can be sweet smelling or stink like rotten fish. Or they may not have any smell at all. The sheer variety of orchids
is mind blowing.

Some of them are very sensitive and can't be moved without dying. Others are hardier and will survive in your home under your care. They are always more sensitive than other plants that you might have growing in your garden and will need special attention. If you are willing to put in that extra effort get a rare plant to grow in your home.

The care components come down to three basics Sunlight, Water and Temperature. The orchids are most sensitive to these three factors and any one of them can cause problems with the plant. Now let's quickly consider all three. And discuss some general dos and don'ts.

The Light is all important. Not all orchids can survive regular sunlight. They will die in direct sun. So they need to get a dose of early morning or late evening sun for an hour or so. An artificial source of light in a regulated manner can also do the trick. Especially if you intend to place the orchid in a green house. This will reduce the physical effort of moving the pot every day.

The Water is next. Orchid plants need to breathe from their roots. So if you clog up the soil in the pot with a lot of water the plant will suffocate. As the roots will begin to rot. Only water the plant when the soil is absolutely dry. Yes, in the summers you need to keep a close check to see if the soil is getting dry too soon and water the plant. Otherwise once a week is usually enough.

The Temperature is again vital. The sensitive plant is usually found to thrive at 60 to 70 degrees F. Anything less than 45 will spell its doom. Anything more than 80 likewise. So don't expose it to the elements in winters or severe summer. The snow or the heat are both likely to kill the cultivated plant. Think of it in human baby terms. Just protect it from both extremes.