How to care for an orchid?
How to determine your Orchid specie
Orchids intrigue many people, and it is pretty hard to chose one since there are over 20 000 species of them.
Some of the most impressive orchids which are easy to cultivate are : the phalaenopsis, the cattleyas and Cymbidium. These orchids have large flowers that blossom from one to three months.
The phalaenopsis has a further benefit. It can be grownin an apartment. Important temperature variations during the day are needed for the other species named earlier, so you can not cultivate them in an apartment.
How to deal with them daily
A healthy orchid has beautiful shiny leaves. You need to find a bright place for your orchids while avoiding direct sunlight.(do not put behind a window, for example) : your orchid’s leaves might burn and the flowers may begin to wilt. Above all, do not water them too much : once every ten days is sufficient. Use a non-calcareous water like clear rain water or spring water. Finally, do not water the leaves at the heart, otherwise they risk rotting.
Once your flower has wilted, continue watering as before. It is better not to cut the stems, unless they are dead because they blossom periodically.
Generally, a re-potting every two years is enough. You don’t necessarily need to have a deep pot, use an “orchid special” compost, made of polystyrene and pine bark, that you can find in garden centers. Do not use too much fertilizer,or your plant will suffocate. If you absolutely want to use some, you can use any universal fertilizer once every two weeks before and during flowering, but not after!
Finally, beware of pests that can colonize the plant: aphids, mites, mealybugs …. to get rid of them use insecticides for orchids that you can find in any garden center. Just remember a well cared phalaenopsis can live up to 20 years.
