Orchid Care Tips Blog

Orchids thrive in varied climatic conditions and each climatic zone has helped evolution of unique characteristics of this plant. Lets have a look at the climate profile of the top 10 counties where orchids are found.

Thailand has a tropical climate with a high temperature as well as humidity, and is dominated by monsoons during most times of the year. April and May are the hottest months of the year. The month of June is the beginning of the South West Monsoon that brings with it the rainy season, with intermittent rains lasting until the end of October. From November to the end of February the climate is pleasant with low temperatures and a reduction in the humidity level. The minimum temperature is 29oC and maximum reaches 37oC during the hotter days of the year.

India has hot tropical weather with climatic variations occurring from region to region. While the coolest months are from November to mid-March, the hot days are from April to June. From mid-July to September is the time for the Monsoon rains. Except for the North and North East regions, winters in India are pleasant with plenty of sunny days. Depending upon the region, the minimum and maximum temperatures can range from -5oC to 47oC in the entire country.

Hawaii : The climate of Hawaii is warm throughout the year, with an average temperature of 24 to 29°C, and no considerable difference between summer and winter temperatures. Heavy rainfall occurs in some mountainous areas during December to February, but most regions only receive short showers, while others remain totally dry.

Philippines : This land experiences a tropical climate tempered by constant sea breezes. There are three distinct seasons: the rainy season which is from June to September, the cool and dry season occurring during the months of October to February, and the hot and mainly dry season during March to May. Typhoons occasionally occur from June to September.

Mexico : The coast and lowlands are hot and humid all year. The interior highlands and the plateaus are milder and drier, but can become freezing between December and February. Rainfall is scanty throughout most of the country. Minimum temperature is 6oC and Maximum goes up to 27oC during the hotter days.

Peru : The climate of Peru varies according to area. In the coastal regions, winter lasts from June to September. During this period, the mountainous areas are often sunny during the day but cold at night. Heavy rains in the mountains and jungles last from December to April.

Brazil : The climate of Brazil varies from hot and dry in the interior to the hot, humid tropical rainforests of the Amazon jungle. Coastal Brazil tends to be hot and sticky for most of the year but it can get cold in the south and in the mountains during the winter months. Rainy season occurs from January to April in the north, April to July in the northeast and November to March in the Rio and Sao Paulo area.

Japan experiences four different climates. Spring occurs during March and April. It is not too hot and not much rain. The summer months between June and August receive some rainfall. During this period, the temperature and humidity are high. Autumn is from September to October with tolerable temperatures. Winter, during November to February is miserably cold.

Ecuador has warm and subtropical climate with the weather varying within the country due to the Andes mountain range and coastline. Andean regions are cooler and it is especially cold at nights in the mountains. Rainfall is high in coastal and jungle areas whereas in the Galapagos region the weather is dry and mild.

Indonesia experiences a tropical climate varying from area to area. The country is split into halves by the equator. The eastern monsoon brings the driest weather, which is from June to September, while the western monsoon brings the main rainfall during the months of December to March. Rainstorms occur throughout the year. The higher regions are comparatively cooler than the coasts and lowlands.

Orchids have intrigued serious gardeners for centuries more than any other plant. In fact, if people think of exotic and delicate flowers the first thing that comes to their mind are orchids. Orchids have been loved by many for a long time but it looks like their popularity still hasn’t dimmed to this date as there are still thousands of people who grow and take care of orchids in their own houses.

There are actually a wide variety of orchids; you will simply be astounded by the number of plant species of this flower. The orchid species number around 30,000 and each of these orchids has its own characteristics that make it unique from other types of orchids. Of course, with such a wide variety, you can expect that the care and maintenance of each plant varies from one plant species to another. In addition, not all orchids have the same beauty because some orchids stand out from the rest.

The Purple Dendrobium orchid, in particular, is a favorite among many because it is very beautiful while being easy to grow and maintain at the same time. The Dendrobium makes for an excellent houseplant because it blooms extraordinarily; thus it gives the house the enlistment and embellishment it needs.

Another great advantage of orchids compared to other types of plants is their longevity. They can last indefinitely as long as they are cared for properly. Because of this, the the Dendrobium Orchid is the favorite of many. It stands at around 18” – 26” tall and it comes with its split bamboos planter. You will also find care instructions for this plant so you will never go wrong. The most important thing to remember about orchids though is that they need to be watered carefully and should always be placed in an area with indirect sunlight.

The Purple Dendrobium is said to be very hard to find and the truth is, sometimes it is especially if you want the kind that looks extremely healthy and vibrant. But it is not impossible to find the perfect Purple Dendrobium. When you do find it, you will agree that this plant has been worth the search after all. After having a great experience with your first Purple Dendrobium, you will surely want to buy another one as a gift to a special person. This plant can certainly capture the heart of anyone.

Click here to purchase this Orchid on Amazon.com (link opens a new window).

Safe shopping - ensure anytime you click on a link to purchase on a shopping website that the part before the .com is the website you want. In this case you’ll see the link above click to a valid URL starting with http://rcm.amazon.com in the browser.

More often that not, when people think about Orchids, they usually think of different varieties of Orchids that are cultivated and grown in homes. What they do not know is that there are also many types of orchids that grow in the wild, particularly in tropical rainforests that are spread throughout the globe. Here are some of the tropical rainforests that play host to these wonderful plants and the types of Orchids that live there:

• There are rainforests found in Central America, particularly in the area of the Amazon river, in Zaire in Africa and easter Madagascar, India, Assam, New Guinea and Queensland in Australia. In all these tropical rainforests, certain types of Orchids that crave a lot of sunlight grow on the upper regions of the trees. These are what are called the epiphytes.

• El Yunque is a rainforest found in Puerto Rico, one of the oldest rainforests. Located in the Western hemisphere, it is generally warm while the forest floor is wet and marshy. The Orchids in El Yungue are usually seen growing on top of trees.

• Cabanas del Rio, a tropical rainforest in Ecuador, is where many tourists flock to in order to get an incomparable experience of seeing awesome widelife and great sights. This location also has a number of natural waterfalls where you can swim if desired. Normally, Cabanas del Rio has an environment that is friendly to Orchids so that many grow here on top of trees.

• The Kinabalu Park in Sabah, Borneo contains a huge number of plants, which are one of the oldest plant life in the world. Here, there are one thousand, two hundred varieties of wild Orchids such as the white necklace Orchids that are pretty to look. Also included are the slipper Orchid ( Papiopedillium family ) including the Papiopedillium dayanum and Papiopedillium rothschildianum.

• The Olympic Peninsula Rainforest in Costa Rica plays host to quite a lot of plant life as well as wildlife where there a number of wild Orchids that grow. Aside from Orchids, this rainforest has bromeliads, vines, ferns, mosses and palms that bloom there.

Now that you know more about tropical rainforests and how the ecosystem provides necessities to both plant life as well as animal life ( especially Orchids ) you can marvel at how these plants can survive in the wild.

The Secrets of the Phalaenopsis Orchids

The Phalaenopsis is a family of orchids that has over sixty species, which are normally located in the Himalayan mountains, Polillo island and Palawan in the Philippines, Northern Australia, and in the Orchid Island off Taiwan. Where wild Orchids in tropical rainforests grow on top of trees, there are also varieties of Phalaenopsis that usually sprout forth in the forest floor where it is damp and humid and at the same time. They are shaded from the harsh rays of the sunlight.

Other places where this variety of Orchid grows are Malaysia, Borneo, New Guinea, Yunnan in China, Vietnam and in other Southeast Asian countries.

Usually, Phalaenopsis Orchids have a few leaves but if they are healthy, they may have ten or more leaves. Also, they do not have pseudobulbs, which means that the flowers bloom on stems that are between the leaves. These plants proudly show off their blossoms for several weeks. If they are cultivated and taken cared of at home, these flowers can last from two months to a maximum of three months, a considerably long time. If the Orchids are exposed to fumes and gases from gas stoves or cigarettes, then, the blossoms can prematurely fall off in a number of days.

Phalaenopsis Orchids have very prominent appearance and beauty. At the same time, they perform a unique photosynthetic process in order to produce food. Their petals and sepals are adapted to new ways of pollination where they become greenish and rotund and they start this process.

In taking care of phalaenopsis Orchids, it is very important to have them repotted on an annual basis or every 2 years. Unfortunately many people do not know this. If this is not done, then, there is a tendency for roots to rot. It is best to use a fertilizer that has no urea content for Phalaenopsis Orchids because this can cause the pseudomonas disease.

For some, gardening is an activity or even an art that provides pride, pleasure and relaxation since you get to toil and enjoy the beauty you create. One of the many flowers that ardent gardeners grow is the Orchid, surely one of the most decorative flowers.

In each area of the world, there are different kinds of Orchids that grow either in the wild or at home. Each variety has a different quality to it, as well as location they are from. Some of them are as follows:

• In the Netherlands, many different types of Orchids bloom and come from, such as the Lesser Butterfly Orchid that has a scientific name of Platanthera bifolia, the Common Twayblad, which is also called Listera ovata, the Fly Orchid or Ophrys Insectifera. These kinds of Orchids typically grow in the forest and vanish each time the forest gets thick. They only appear when the forest has been cleared. These Orchids are some of the most uncommon and endangered types in Netherlands.
• Costa Rica, particularly the Southern Nicoya Peninsula, is known to be a haven of Orchids, hosting about one thousand and four hundred types of orchids. Here, different kinds of Orchids grow such as the Brassavola Nodosa, a very common variety with spiky petals and blooms, located in the ground around large areas speckled with trees. An uncommon type of orchid that grows in this region is the Maxillaria cf. Neglecta, which has been sighted in the Quebrada Buena Vista jungle. Another rare type of orchid is the Dimerandra cf. Emarginata, which has only been spotted in the abode of a Tica woman but originally bloomed in the jungle in Malpais.
• In the USA, there are many varieties of Orchids that usually bloom in late spring. One such Orchid is the Cypripedium Acaule, an Orchid that grows in Minnesota which is the official flower of this state. It possesses huge flowers, and its petals and sepals are of the hue dark reddish purple. Another Orchid that is typically seen in Georgia is Parviflorum, which has petals that are tinted in golden yellow. Other than these two, the Cahfomicium variety grows in the California Mountains during summer. It has petals colored brown and yellow and tinted in white.
• The genteel atmosphere of Canada is best suited for growing the Spectabile, which is also known as the Reginae, blooming in late spring.
• The Barbatum, which grows in India and the Malay Peninsula, is in season from February through August. It is colored white and purple, striped with green hue.
• Thailand is abundant with Bellatulum, an Orchid that grows during springtime. It is very small and has petals that are of creamy ivory hue.
• China has a climate that a Callosum Orchid can acclimate to. It has huge gorgeous flowers colored in green, purple, and dark red.

This information should help give you some more ideas on interesting Orchids from a variety of areas, that you can consider growing. Growing great Orchids may not an easy feat because they do require some TLC, but it is worth the effort when they bloom.

The Orchids or orchidaceae family is the largest and most diverse of the flowering plant families, with over 800 described genus and 25,000 species. Some sources show that there are about 30,000 species in this family, but the exact number is unknown since classification differs greatly in the academic world. Each year 800 new species are added. They are found almost everywhere, but the majority of species are found in the tropics and subtropic regions ranging from sea level to almost 5000 meters in nearly all environments, except open water and deserts. More than half of the species are epiphytic Orchids with fleshy tubers and unusual flowers.

Interesting Facts: Orchids, through their interactions with pollinators and their symbiosis with orchid mycorrhizal fungi, are considered by some, along with the grasses, to be examples of the most advanced floral evolution known. All orchid species are protected for the purposes of international commerce as potentially threatened or endangered in their natural habitat, including Cypripediums, Mexipediums, Paphiopedilums, Phragmipediums, and Selenipedium species Orchids. Many other species are protected by both international and national legislation, and while hybrids are supposed to be specifically exempted, hybrid orchids are not allowed into the United States without a CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) permit. The reason is that the authorities cannot distinguish the difference between hybrids and species.

Plant Background: Orchids are one of the largest families of flowering plants, challenging other plant families such as the daisy and sunflower. Orchids are a family of monocotyledons. They have a single seedling leaf and their floral parts are in threes. Currently there are known to be 25,000 species of Orchids. Estimates based on the current rate at which new species are being discovered and described, suggest that the number may reach 30,000 in a few years from now. Orchids are a cosmopolitan family found all the way from within the Arctic Circle to Tierra del Fuego (an archipelago at the southern most tip of South America) and the islands south of Australia. The term Orchid is derived from the Greek word orchis, meaning “testicle” due to the appearance of subterranean tuberoids of the genus. The word orchis was first used by Theophrastos during the period 372-371 to 287-286 BC. Theophrastos was a student of Aristotle and is considered the father of botany and ecology.

Flowers: Orchidaceae are well known for many structural variations in their flowers. Some Orchids have single flowers, while others have a raceme with a large number of flowers. The flowering stem can be produced from the base of the tuber (example: cymbidium), from the apex of the main stem (example: cattleya) or from the leaf axil (example: vanda). Orchid flowers are typically zygomorphic (bilaterally symmetrical), while there are some notable exceptions such as Mormodes, Ludisias and Macodes. The Orchid flower, like most flowers has two whorls or coils of sterile elements. The outer whorl has three sepals and there are three petals in the inner whorl. The sepals are very similar to the petals but may be entirely distinct. The upper medial petal is usually modified and enlarged, called the labellum, or lip. In most orchids the inferior ovary is rotated 180 degrees so that the labellum goes on the lower part of the flower, thus becoming suitable to form a platform for pollinators.

Care: Orchids have widely varying habits and can easily accommodate to the type of environment in which they exist. They may be terrestrial, epiphytic or saprophytic. The secret of successful cultivation of Orchids is to provide them with conditions as identical as possible with the environment under which they were growing in the wild. Due to their peculiar nutritional habits, Orchids require special techniques of cultivation if they are to grow healthy and produce a good crop of flowers.

The following factors should be considered as essential care tips to produce healthy and beautiful orchidaceae:

• Light
• Water
• Humidity
• Temperature
• Suitable medium to grow

The optimum in each of these factors varies from species to species and these factors are to be controlled. Orchids are generally grown in special orchid houses, which are of two types –

1. Open houses: The open type of house is mainly employed in tropical countries where humidity and temperature are most favorable.
2. Closed houses: This sort of house provides some amount of overhead protection from the blazing noon day sun of the tropics, which might cause leaves to burn in some delicate species.

Varieties: Eight percent of all flowering plants are Orchids, making them the largest family of angiosperms. The classification of the family is still problematic because of its size. There are another 100,000+ hybrids and cultivars produced by horticulturists, created since the introduction of tropical species in the 19th century.

There are five recognized sub-families of Orchidaceae:

• Apostasioideae
• Cypripediodeae
• Epidendroideae
• Orchidoideae
• Vanilloideae

I’m often asked which Orchid Books I recommend. These are some of the the best Orchid books I’ve found that can be bought immediately online.

1. Forceful Orchid Fertilizers - This book includes many homemade recipes. You can learn how to feed your Orchids and quickly get great results. Click Here!
2. Orchid Care Expert - An extensive guide to Orchid care techniques to maintain great looking Orchids. Click Here!
3. How To Care For Orchids - Grow Orchids and discover many Orchid mysteries. You’ll learn about the unusual biology of Orchids in their natural habitats and preferred climates. Click Here!

These are the best 5 ways to care for your Orchid and bring the Orchid back to life when it is almost dead. Orchid care miracles aren’t guaranteed, but hopefully these techniques help you! They usually have helped me.

1. Light: If the leaves are dark green, get more light. If they are light green, decrease light. If they have sunburn, decrease light.
2. Orchid Roots: If the leaves are dissolving and mushy, repot into soaked Orchid bark in a smaller pot. If the roots are still alive but not mushy, and instead are dry, water a bit more.
3. Fertilizing: If the Orchid has salts built up around edges of pot, wash the plant with clear water, then fertilize less.
4. Leaves: If there are no leaves left, your Orchid may be done. If there are any leaves left, there may be hope, so care for the plant carefully.
5. Bacteria on Orchid leaves: Cut the the plant leaf closer to the plant so the bacyteris cannot spread.

I’d like to announce a great Online book I hope you are interested in, The Magic Of Orchids. Reading it, you can discover secrets of growing magical Orchids. This is a guidebook across various categories such as Orchid care, hybrids, sick Orchids, pests, and more. This Online book is guaranteed. Click Here.

Top 15 Facts About Phalaelopsis Orchids

1. Most Phalaenopsis Orchids are from Northern Australia, India, Indonesia, the Phillipines, and othet tropical areas.
2. Medium bark, or sphagnum moss works best for potting Phalaenopsis Orchids.
3. Phalaenopsis prefer not to have temperatures below 62 degrees F or above 83 degrees F.
4. There are over 60 Phalaenopsis Orchid species.
5. Most Phalaenopsis are small to medium plants, but some can be somewhat large if older or a particular variety.
6. Phalaenopsis Orchids like tight pots on their roots. These pots usually end up being small to medium size.
7. Repotting should be done every 2-3 years. The best time to repot is when blooming is done.
8. Phalaenopsis Orchids do not have pseudobulbs, and are monopodial in structure. This means the plant does not have the same kind of storage mechanism for water and nutrients that Oncidiums, Dendrobiums, and many other Orchids have.
9. The thick spongy roots like to be misted in the summer heat.
10. A good way to tell if the plant is getting enough or too much light is to judge by leaf color. The leaves should be similar to the color of grass.
11. Too much light san sunburn Phalaenopsis leaves. Phalaenopsis Orchids do not like direct sunlight.
12. Too little water with slow growth and flowering, and roots can dry. Too much water will drown roots eventually and decompose the potting mix somewhat fast.
13. Phalaenopsis Orchids should be watered ideally once per week. BUT, if it is cooler or warmer, or the plant is in conditions where the pot weight does not lighten within a week, alter watering.
14. Phalaenopsis Orchids should be fertilized weakly, weekly. One in four waterings should have no fertilizer. If too much is used, leaf tips can burn and roots tips can burn as well.
15. Phalaenopsis plants can bloom at any time of the year, and can bloom 1-12 months. When the plant is done flowering, it can either be cut at the base of the flower spike, or below the last flower down the stem, in hopes the plant will rebloom. Only do this if the plant leaves and roots look strong enough to help the plant bloom again.