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Temperature General
•Avoid temperatures below 50 F or above 90 F
•Avoid placing plants directly against the glass of a window
•Avoid placing plants directly over heater or air conditioning outlets
•Many orchids require a 15-20 F fluctuation between day and night temperatures
Orchids can be divided into cool, intermediate, and warm growers. Below you will find the temperature ranges that correlate to each group.
Cool (C)
Night Low: 50-55 F Day High: 70-75 F
Intermediate (I)
Night Low: 55-60 F Day High: 75-85 F
Warm (W)
Night Low: 60-65 F Day High: 80-90 F
Water and Humidity
Humidity is critical for proper growth and blooming. In the home, humidity can be increased by placing pebbles in a tray filled with water and then placing the orchid on top of the pebbles. Don’t allow the pot to be submerged in standing water.
General
•Avoid over watering. It is the fastest way to kill your orchid.
•When in doubt – don’t! Whenever you’re not sure if an orchid is ready to be watered, wait an additional day or two before watering.
•To check moisture in the pot, stick your finger an inch or two into the mix (or use a pencil).
•The time between watering is dictated by factors such as the type of orchid, the type of pot, the type of potting mix, and most importantly, the amount of humidity and light as well as the temperature range in the growing environment.
Light
General Light Requirements
•Low light orchids include Phalaenopsis and Paphiopedilums
•Medium light orchids include Cattleyas, Cymbidiums, and Oncidiums
•High light orchids include Dendrobiums and Vandas
Light trouble shooting
•Dark, limp foliage usually indicates too little light
•Too much light can cause sunburn to the leaves of the plant
•Light should always be filtered and not direct to prevent burning
•If an orchid has new growth, but no blooms it may get too little light
Air
Movement of air around orchids is very important, as it simulates their natural habitat and prevents pests and diseases. It also provides a cooling effect, circulates humidity, and helps dry off orchids after watering. Oscillating or overhead fans in the home can easily provide the required air movement.
Fertilizer
Orchids require nutrients to ensure good growth and great flowers. They can be grown and bloomed without fertilizer, but with a significant loss in quality.
General
•Use Urea free fertilizer
•Balanced (10-10-10, 20-20-20, etc.) fertilizers are recommended
•Regular (weekly) application of a very weak (½ to ¼ of recommended strength) solution of a balanced fertilizer is recommended.
•Flush pot every 5th watering thoroughly with plain water to remove excess salts.
•High phosphorus (e.g. 10-30-10) fertilizer (bloom booster) can be used to encourage flower spike development if applied at the correct phase in the growth cycle (this is dependent on the type of orchid).
Repotting General
•Always follow the recommended repotting schedule. The right time to repot an orchid is usually right after blooming or as new growth and roots emerge. The exception to this is if a plant is unhealthy, in which case immediate repotting many be required regardless of the growth cycle.
•Select the pot size based on the size of the root system; not by the size of the plant’s pseudobulbs or leaves.
•Under potting (smaller size container) is better than over potting (too large a container), as orchids love being snug in their pots.
•Prepare the correct potting mix for the orchid in advance.
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