Orchid Care

Orchid care varies widely depending on the type of orchid and the person growing it!

I live in Central California (Sacramento area) where summers are very warm (often over 100 day time highs and nights 60-75) and winters are mild.

I believe that very little special care is needed to get a hybrid Phalaenopsis to re-bloom. Over watering is the biggest threat to plant health.

Potting Mix

Most of my orchids are potted in small bark chips in ceramic, perforated orchid pots. Two exceptions are Miltoniopsis and mini Cymbidium, which are potted in terracotta clay pots using house plant potting mix with added perlite. I repot all the orchids with fresh material after they finish blooming.

Summer

Nearly all the orchids go out into an east-facing lath house. The only exceptions are Miltoniopsos and Paphiopedlum--lower light lovers that stay inside in a north windowsill, and Cymbidium--higher light lovers get direct outdoor morning sun

The redwood lath is a "lean-to" against the east side of the house and gets only morning sun. Redwood lath is the standard diamond pattern roof and sides, and the roof has a layer of 50% shade screen covering it.

Because of the heat and dry conditions, I water the plants 3-4 times a week and every day on really hot days. I use a garden hose with a diffuser nozzle that sprays a soft rain. I fertilize "weekly weakly" using a grow formula mixed with water.

Fall/Winter/Spring

Plants come inside and live under florescent "grow" lights till they show signs of flower buds.

The humidity in our house stays about 50-60% for most of the winter. I water/feed the plants once a week by immersing them in warm water which is mixed with a low dose of fertilizer. At watering time I also clean the foliage and follow up by spraying the leaves with Safer Soap (non-insecticidal soap), which makes the leaves glossy.

Flower buds appear at the base of the leaves in early winter. Once inflorescences reach 12 inches in height, I move the plants to a south facing window with a sheer white curtain where they remain until flowers begin to open. When flowers are open, plants are used about the house as decorations, and get very little light till flowers are gone.

When flowering is finished, repot and start all over again.

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