Orchid Cultivation
Once a home owner has succumbed and bought his or her first orchid or received one as a gift meeting a few cultural requirements will coax the plant to flower again.
Orchid cultivation. The orchid group includes several several hundred different genera and thousands of species but most people are introduced to orchids through the phalaenopsis genus which are particularly good orchids for beginners. A basic mix for growing orchids consists of coarse perlite fir bark and sphagnum moss. We now understand that these high nitrogen fertilizers arent necessary. Orchids have a reputation for being finicky difficult plants but many orchids are no harder to grow than your average houseplant.
Most experienced growers will agree that observation is the most important key to growing orchids well. Orchids are exquisite plants comprising over 30000 different species and over 200000 hybrid varieties making orchids one of the two largest families of plants in the world. The majority of australian epiphytic orchids can be easily grown in cultivation. Orchids like a variety of temperatures so choose the best position in the house to suit the needs of the particular orchid you are growing.
Orchids are far tougher and hardier than most people think and are by and large extremely adaptable. Since 1947 the oregon orchid society has brought to portland oregon its mission of orchid education conservation and cultivation thorugh its orchid based speakers its annual show the largest orchid show in the pacific northwest and its partnerships with local and international orchid groups. However how an orchid looks can provide clues to its preferences for light water and growing medium. Capable of growing indoors and outdoors orchids are no doubt unique and unfortunately for some potential green thumbs difficult to grow successfully.
Growing healthy orchids indoors many orchids are rewarding indoor plants. You can also. The old conventional wisdom used to be that orchids grown in bark mixes needed to be fertilized with formulations high in nitrogen ie 30 10 10. Start with an easy orchid then learn the basics of growing orchids.
Cool growing orchids such as brassia cymbidium dendrobium lusidia discolor and oncidium cool need a minimum winter night temperature of 100c 500f. Most can be grown in adelaide if the correct cultural requirements are provided. With 30000 different species of orchids it is impossible to give general care and cultivation instructions. These are thick leaved plants with elegant arching sprays of bloomthe orchids featured in so many design magazines sitting on coffee tables across america.
Most orchids require moist well draining conditions.