Saturday, December 20, 2008

What You MUST Know About The Foundation of Smart Orchid Care Pt2

Temperature – more significant than you realize

Orchids may look delicate, they really have the capability to withstand temperature oscillations. A variation of couple degrees here or there won’t affect your orchid, having said that there are a few rules you’ll want to follow to ensure that your orchid gets the best care possible. Orchids can be divided into three classes when considering to their individual temperature requirements. Let us consider the first class of orchids that like medium temperatures. Some of the orchids that like medium temperature include Cattleyas, Epidendrums, Oncidiums and Laelias. Don’t let these flowers experience anything any colder than 60° F during the night and nothing higher than the 70’s during the day.

Let's now have a sneak peek at the cool temperature orchids, of which Cymbidiums, Cypripediums, Odontoglossums and Miltonias are included. These plants can withstand temperatures anywhere between five to ten degrees cooler than the medium class. But they also need high light at the same time.

Lastly we have the warm temperature orchid group. Some of the orchids you’ll find in this class include Phalaenopsis, Paphiopedilums, Vandas, Rhynchostylus and Dendrohiums. These particular plants thrive in temperatures that are about five degrees warmer than the medium class. It is imperative that you keep these orchids well above 45 degrees for them to grow well.

Humidity is important, too!

Humidity is defined as the amount of water vapour in the air. In areas that have low humidity the area is considered to be dry. In cooler areas, the humidity generally speaking is high. Tropical orchids have the best chance of thriving in warm, humid air. The reason for this is that it compensates for a poor root system. You’ll need to place a pool or tank in the center of the orchid plants to be sure that the orchid plants will get the moisture that they deserve.

These plants amazingly require 2-3 waterings per day. During the summer months, it’s crucial that the soil is not allowed to dry up. It is important to know that younger and still maturing orchids will require yet an even greater amount of water. The majority of orchids need sixty to eighty percent humidity. In our lovely country, the summer months pose no problems to the versatile orchids. This is especially true if the plants are kept outside. Orchids that you grow inside the house on the other hand will require a bit more attention. Did you know that air conditioning drys out the air? If you are growing orchids indoors and are using air conditioners consider purchasing a humidifier as well.

Here are some quick tips to increase the humidity level for your orchids: set your plants on trays filled with pebbles or gravel and with water. Make sure the plants themselves are not in contact with the water. If you can group even a dozen of these together, you can create a “micro-climate” which should increase the humidity around these flowers.
Neville Greenwood is a orchid growing enthusiast, let him show you the secrets of how to grow an amazing orchid garden. Get your free minicourse on how to do it step by steporchid seed culture

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