Orchid Care Tips Blog

When is the best time to repot my Orchid?

After the Orchid is done blooming. If it is an Orchid with numerous canes or Pseudobulbs (Dendrobium, Cattleya, Oncidium, Miltonia, etc.), wait until the new growth starts. If it is an Orchid without Pseudobulbs (Phalaenopsis, vanda, etc.), just wait until after blooming.

My Orchid just dropped all of the blooms after only a very short time blooming. Why?

Could be any one of these reasons:

• Got too cold or hot
• Smog problem or air not good
• Not enough humidity
• Too much sunlight

What kind of Orchid should I grow as a beginner?

Easiest Orchid for shade: Phalaenopsis
Easiest Orchid for bright light: Dendrobium

What kind or Orchid do I have? It looks like this…..

Post a photo to a site such as flikr.com for free, post to our discussion board and provide a link to see a photo of your Orchid, and we’ll answer your question on the discussion board.

Why should I grow an Orchid?

It will be with you a long time if you care for it well. Orchids are amazing plants for many reasons which you can read about here.

Hi everyone, we’ve had a lot of people joining this blog - thank you for participating. Your emails, posts to our discussion board, and guestbook comments are much appreciated. I want to make sure you know where to go for what on the Orchid Tips website - there are different places to go for different things.

As you have Orchid care questions, the best place to post them to get answers from me in the evening is here:
http://orchidcare.imagine123.com/discussion-forum/
It doesn’t take long at all to create an account.

If you have comments on the Orchid Tips website, but no Orchid care questions, please post comments about our website here:
http://www.imagine123.com/guestbook.html

If you want to read the blog entries, you’re already in the right place, and can enter comments if you like. Please, though, post comments about posts on this blog and save up your Orchid care questions to post on the discussion boards.

Enjoy!

Orchid Care and Troubleshooting - Things to look out for and fixes for common Orchid care problems

Orchid has small plant growing on flower stem
Plant is in distress, some part of the growing conditions are incorrect, probably over watering, not enough humidity, or too much light. For care information go here

Orchid has spots on flowers
Bacteria is forming on flowers from watering too late in the day - make sure to water earlier so that leaves and flowers fry out by night.

Orchid hasn’t bloomed in over a year
Either not enough humidity (get a humidity tray), roots not happy (repot), light incorrect (read about Orchid care at URL above for correct amount of light)

Orchid flowers fall off days after they open
It got too cold or warm and dry for the flowers - make sure temperature doesn’t get too cold or too warm. If it does get too hot, cool the plants with ventilation/fan, and mist.

Orchid plant bulbs were once firm and are now shrinking
Over or under watering - if roots are now dead plant needs to be repotted, if plant has been under watered, start watering more.

Orchid plant seems healthy, but frozen in a sense, where it never grows much or starts flower spikes
Pland needs a humidity tray and to be fertilized

Orchid mix is degrading fast
Make sure you have a mix meant for Orchids

You feel this is all overwhelming and there are too many things to learn
Read this website, or get a good Orchid book for reference

You feel your Orchid/s don’t bloom for long enough
Get more Orchids as there are Orchids that bloom at all times of the year. Here are some long blooming good ones.

New Orchid care website updates!

Orchid Care Section Updated

New Frequently Asked Questions

Top 10 Orchid Care Techniques to Help an Orchid Plant in Need

1. Get a humidity tray
   
2. Don’t over water your Orchid
3. Give the right amount of light
4. Make sure you have the right temperature range
5. Mist your Orchids if it is hot and dry
6. Don’t let fungus or bacteria grow on the Orchid leaves - take care of this right away
7. Increase air ventilation for your Orchids
8. Repot your Orchid
9. Give your Orchid time, and don’t over care for your Orchid once you have improved growing conditions
10. Make sure not to fertilize your Orchid too much or too little

Make sure to choose the right Orchid variety for your care conditions.

Here are some fun, interesting Orchids to grow that we recommend. Again, there are interesting, not mainstream choices. =)

Enc tampensis alba ‘Mendenhall’ AM/AOS (Cattleya Type Orchid) This is a nice clear green and white Orchid. Very interesting sprays of flowers. Award winner. Link on Amazon.

Eplc. Butterfly Kisses ‘Mendenhall’ AM-AD/AOS (Cattleya Type Orchid)This is a very floriferous orange Cattleya award winner variant. Award winner. Highly recommended. Link on Amazon.com.

Darwinara Charm ‘Blue Star’ HCC/AOS(Orchid plant) (vanda type orchid plant) This is a Vanda Orchid with small fragrant blue flowers. Award winner. Link on Amazon.com.