The Basics of Orchid Care, It's All A Matter of The Right Temperature, Humidity, Water & Light!

If it is your desire to grow phenomenal orchids that will keep your friends guessing whether or not they are real, then you must remain concerned with four basic orchid growing tips.  Temperature, humidity, water and light if implemented properly are the 4 basic ingredients of caring for orchids and ending up with not just beautiful but healthy and hearty plants. 

Shedding some light on light…

Orchid care does not have to be difficult.  Of course your orchid needs light.  How much light is the question most of us ask.  The best way to decide the right amount of light is to look closely at the size and shape of the leaves on your orchid.

If the leaves on your orchid appear long and slim then it is in grave need of more light.  In this instance you should place your orchid in an area where it will receive heavy light for the better part of the day.  Subsequently if the leaves are soft and wide less light is appropriate.  Luckily caring for your orchids is made easier by keeping in mind that they can flourish in the shade.  If it begins to look weary, just move it to a place where it can catch a few more rays of light.

How Much Water is enough for an Orchid?

Water is an essential factor in taking care of orchids.  It is also a rather tricky endeavor.  The best orchid growing tip when it comes to how much water is enough is to look for the signs of dehydration.  Keep in mind that orchids only need water when the soil is dry.  Orchids thrive when balance between air and water is maintained.  If the roots are flooded with water they will be unable to get enough air and will rot and fungus and disease will develop. One vital orchid growing tip is to not over water. 

As you are probably growing various kinds of orchids, remember that all of them are vastly different.  There are also conditions that will lead to an increase in the need for water.  For instance if your orchid is in a pot smaller than 4 inches, a clay pot, mounted in a basket or exposed to humidity levels below 40%, the tip would be to water more often.  Additionally if there is a lot of air movement and evaporation is increased you would be advised to water more often as well.  Regardless of which growing tips work the best for you - stay vigilant and pay attention to your orchid to achieve the best method of orchid care.

What Temperature is Ideal for an Orchid?

Orchids look extremely dainty and many people don’t expect them to be very sturdy.  The truth is that if you follow good methods of caring for your orchids they are extremely resistant flowers.  Temperature has a lot to do with the vitality of your orchid.  The right temperature for your orchid depends a lot on the kinds of orchids you are growing. There are three basic groups of orchids defined by temperature requirements. 

If you are taking care of orchids in the medium temperature group then the orchid growing tip for you is to not allow them to withstand temperatures cooler than 60 degrees at night or 70 degrees during the day.  Flowers in this group are Cattleyas, Epidemdrums, Oncidiums, and Laelias. 

If you are taking care of orchids in the cool temperature groups than the most relevant orchid growing tip is to maintain a constant temperature that is 5-10 degrees cooler than that of the warm group.  So an average of 50-55 degrees during the night and 60-65 degrees during the day would be perfect.  The kinds of orchids in the cool temperature group are Cymbidiums, Cyripediums, Odontoglossums and Militonias.

The last orchid growing tip is for the warm blooded variety.  This would include Phalaenopsis, Paphiopediums, Vandas, Rhynchostylus and Dendrohiums.  These kinds of orchids will flourish in temperatures that are 65 degrees at night or 75 degrees during the day.  For these kinds of orchids you should never expose them to temperatures that are at or less than 45 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Growing Tips to Maintain Perfect Humidity for Orchid Growing

Humidity is essentially the moisture in the air.  For an orchid, the right amount of humidity can be the difference in thriving or failing plants.  Successful orchid growing depends greatly on maintaining proper humidity in the air. 

For tropical orchids, one of the best orchid growing tips is to place a vat of water in the middle of the plants.  This will provide them with the levels of humidity they need to flourish.  Another lesser known orchid growing tip for this kind of orchid is that the tropical species  require more water.  Watering them 2-3 times a day is often necessary.  This is because the tropical kinds of orchids have such poor root systems.  And another tip is that if you have young or not well established plants the water needs may be even more.  Keep a close eye on the flowers, leaves and soil.

Most of the other kinds of orchids will need to remain in an environment that holds a steady humidity level of about 60-80 percent.  If you are caring for orchids that are primarily outside, the natural summer weather should suffice.  If you are growing them in your house though you have to weigh in the drying effects of both the air conditioning and the heating system you use.  If you are serious about your orchids thenit might be an idea to purchase a humidifier. 

Another fantastic growing tip to increase the vitality of your orchids and maximize your chances at success is to create a micro-climate using a group of your orchids.  The easiest way to do this is to place your orchids on trays that are filled with pebbles and water.  Just be sure your orchids are not in direct contact with the water.

Taking care of orchids is not as difficult as you might think.  By following these orchid growing tips you are assured to grow beautiful and vital flowers that will amaze your friends and delight your senses.