Thursday, October 29, 2009

Phalaneopsis Orchid Care


Tips for Phalaenopsis Orchid Care

by Chairil Amin Umar








The phalaenopsis orchid is also known as the moth orchid is one of the most popular orchid varieties. This particular type of orchid it's easy to recognize because this particular type of orchid is well matched to growing indoors. 

Phalaenopsis orchid care is not so difficult as one might think though. Just like any orchid, Phalaenopsis still needs a little tender love and care. The late winter is the main flowering season into spring , although commercial growers nowadays can make flowering phalaenopsis available year round. These are the following tips to make sure your phalaenopsis orchid continues to flower year around.

 ·        Lighting


A sufficient amount of light is needed for healthy growth and to make sure your flowers bloom. Direct sunlight can severely harm your orchid, that is why you have to provide a good amount of light. By looking at its leaves, you can see if your phalaenopsis orchid is getting the proper light care. The color of the leaves should be a medium olive green, if the leaves are dark green or limp meaning the orchid is receiving too little light.
·        Temperature
You need to ensure the right temperature for correct care of your phalaenopsis orchid. Usually the temperature difference between night and day should be around 10 to 15 F is needed for a mature plant. You can check the leaves for this, but the room temperature is sufficient  as a rule of thumb. Avoid extreme hot or cold spots of the home.
·        Watering
You will not need drying out between watering for a mature phalaneopsis, but it has no meaning that you can over watering. Water the flower a good soaking first but then leave it for a few days without watering. Because it simulates the plants natural environment and this is very important.
·        Fertilizing
Feed your phalaenopsis orchid with fertilizer on a regular basis because most potting media have very little nutrients. The exact fertilizer you use will depend on the mix in which your plant is growing. A good common rule is to use a balanced fertilizer "weakly, weekly."( 10-10-10, 12-12-12 or similar ratio). That means, feed fertilizer every week at one quarter to one half of the recommended dilution.
·        Humidity
Phalaneopsis needs humidity 50 to 60 percent, at home, place plants on trays over moistened pebbles. In a greenhouse you have to use a humidifier if conditions are too dry, or by misting the plants with a small water sprayer. Or you can buy humidity trays from gardening stores but it’s much better and cheaper to just make your own.



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Orchid Growers


Useful Tips For Orchid Growers
By Chairil Amin Umar



Most interesting orchid growers are familiar with the exotic features of the orchid plants and also, how interesting  it is to plant these orchids in the house. Many people are actually hesitant to take their aspiration further and grow these beautiful plants, since they imagine that great amount of care needs to be taken into action, that most likely a novice or an amateur won't be able to fulfill.
A frequent question that mostly asked to the orchid grower is connected with the kind of orchid that needs to be ideally grown as a novice. Purple bloomed Cattleyas are the most common nuance to the word orchid, because they are in the trade since several years. Anyhow, this species has only about 50 genus, out of the known 30,000 species. In fact plenty orchids thrive beautifully in the confines of home.

Factors:
The orchid growers have to consider  four most essential factors when growing orchid plants :
1.     Humidity :
Primarily tropical plants that need tons of humidity are orchids, and most of the orchid growers are concerned of this fact before growing a beautiful orchid plant. The orchids require for  a minimum of 50 percent humidity and hence,  the condition for growing needs to be settled to achieve that. There is an easy way to achieve this by filling a tray with pebbles inside and water outside. By means of a stand, put the orchid pot on the tray top  but the base of pots is not submerged in water.

2.     Water
Orchids also require water, like most growing plants. However most the orchid growers  have an opinion that orchids need high level of humidity they may require water continuosly. This is absolutely wrong because excessive watering will cause in killing the orchid plant. The orchid plant need to be watered only once the medium at the top layer is dry. If the medium remains dry for more than 24 hrs in the pot, then you have to water your plant a bit more than usual one.
3.      Growing Orchid Mix
Orchids need good growing orchid mix  filled with nutrients to bloom. You can purchase this orchid mix in the orchid store available in your hometown. Mostly the orchid mix consist of Organic Choices : Coconut Husks - Ideal. Light in weight and holds water well. Good value but may decay faster. Osmunda Fern Fiber - Difficult to find but offers great drainage and decays slowly. Pine Bark - Inexpensive and popular. Rots slowly but may not hold water well at first. Redwood Bark - good at holding water and doesn't decay quickly. Sphagnum Moss - provides good air and water retention. Pot should be packed loosely.
Inorganic Choices :  Alifor - these consist of tiny pieces of clay. Offer moderate drainage and don't decompose. Charcoal – An excellent choice, decomposes slowly and absorbs toxins. Lava Rock - heavy but has good drainage and doesn't decay. Pearlite - lightweight and doesn't decay easily, absorbs water well. Turface - used with Pearlite, this is heavy and might  be expensive. Vermiculite - absorbs water well and aids air circulation around the root.



4.     Light:
Most orchids need  light very much, and it is very essential so that they can maintain healthy growth. They need bright light up to 50 percent sun, in the home, an east, west or lightly shaded south window especially in the winter.
Conclusion:
If you want to become a successful orchid grower, it is different from growing any kind of plant. The basic 4 factors that are mentioned above should be kept in mind, for the novice grower you can start your hobby by growing Paphiopedilum, Oncidium, Dendrobium and Vanda.



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Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Dendrobium Orchid


Tips for Dendrobium Orchid Care
By Chairil Amin Umar



Dendrobium orchid care is just the same than caring for any other species of orchid. They are normally used as cut flowers because they have a very beautiful and distinctive color and a very string stem. Dendrobium orchid can be made perfectly for occasions like weddings or a good romantic gift.
The following tips are the basic ways to learn how to take care of Dendrobium orchids :
·        Lighting
These orchids love light very much, and it is very essential so that they can maintain healthy growth. They need bright light up to 50 percent sun, in the home, an east, west or lightly shaded south window. Dendrobium orchids in a greenhouse need about 30 to 50 percent of full sun, or you place them under lights, four 40 watt flourscent bulbs directly over plants. Orchid plants should be naturally upright without need of (much) stalking, and of a medium olive-green color.
·        Temperature
The other important orchid care for Dendrobium is the temperature as well. The temperature and the light should be proportional, so both should be looked at carefully. As a guideline temperature below 50F and above 90F are not a good ones. The ideal difference of about 10 degrees between night and day should be ok.
Keep your orchids  moist consistenly while in active growth. Let them dry between waterings after growth is mature (indicated by terminal leaf). This trick is to maintain them in wet, but not too wet.
·        Humidity
Dendrobiums need humidity 50 to 60 percent, at home, place plants on trays over moistened pebbles. In a greenhouse you have to use a humidifier if conditions are too dry, or by misting the plants with a small water sprayer. Or you can buy humidity trays from gardening stores but it’s much better and cheaper to just make your own.
·        Re-potting
Repottings hould be done every two to three years before mix medium loses consistency (decays). Pot plant firmly in medium, giving aeration and ample drainage, allowing enough room for two years' growth. Dendrobiums thrive in pots small for the size of the plant. The best Dendrobium orchid care, do not repot plant unnecessarily as it will cause more harm than good.
There is much more to learn about Dendrobium orchid care and this article is just the beginning. There are factors such as fertilizer, humidity and general orchid care to be considered..

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