How to take care of orchids – the ultimate guide

Orchids are some of the most beautiful flowers in the world. They are exotic and elegant. What’s more, you have so many gorgeous colors to choose from. Decorating your home with orchids will definitely make it look more elegant. Some people, however, believe that orchids are too difficult to take care of. Well, we are here to tell you that couldn’t be further from the truth. If you know the little details, taking care of this breathtaking flower becomes a piece of cake. That is why today we want to present you with the ultimate guide on how to take care of orchids. After all, these beauties deserve all the attention you can give them!

Orchids are simply breathtaking

How to take care of orchids?

These beautiful flowers don’t actually need all that much. All you have to do is place them under bright, indirect light. Also, you have to watch the temperature. The perfect daytime temperature for an orchid is around 24°C and 18°C in the nighttime. It is also important to feed them with a half diluted liquid houseplant fertilizer once a month, so as to strengthen them.

How often to water orchids?

Orchids need water. That is why you should water them weekly. Actually, you can easily tell when your orchid needs watering. Just touch the soil, if it feels lightly moist, then water it. Never let the soil of an orchid dry out. Then, grab the pot and dip it into a bucket or a deep dish half filled with water. Make sure the leaves don’t touch the water and let it sit until it consumes the water it needs – that takes about half an hour.

Aren’t they  just so beautiful?

How to care for orchids after they bloom?

It is important to note that orchids bloom once a year and they have actual blossoms for about 2 months. So, don’t give up on them after they fall off. Furthermore, don’t think that you somehow failed in your care for them. That is just the natural progression. If you want your orchid to bloom again however, there are a couple of things you can do.

Phalaenopsis orchids bloom once a year

Identify the flower stalk

Look for the flower stalk as it grows. You will be able to recognize it from its shiny green tip and upwards growing. Once you notice it, start feeding the orchid with a half diluted liquid houseplant furtilizer once every two weeks. The Phalaenopsis orchid, which is the most popular one for indoors, can bloom a few times from the same stalk. Most orchids, however, bloom just once from each stalk. If you have a Phalaenopsis orchid, let it bloom from the same stalk a couple of times, then it is time to cut it. For other types of orchids, each stalk needs to be cut after its blooms have dried.

Most orchids bloom just once from one flower stalk

Cut the flower stalk in the right way

As we have already mentioned most orchids bloom just once from a flower stalk. The Phalaenopsis and Phragmipedium orchids are the only exceptions to this rule. So, what are you supposed to do with the flower stalk after is flowers have bloomed and fallen off? Well, you have to cut it. So, how do you cut an orchid? Well, it’s pretty simple, you have to cut it about 1 inch above the last node near the crown. That way, you give the stalk time to recharge, so that it has the energy to bloom again. If you notice that a flower stalk is turning brown or is rotting the best thing to do is cut it at the base right at the leaves.

Here is a helpful photo guide on how to cut an orchid’s flower stalk

How to take care of orchids while they are blooming?

The first and most important thing you need to do is give the orchid a support. Tie it to a stick, which is stuck in the pot and tie it with a string or clip it with a small hair clip. That way, as the flower stalk grows, it won’t break.

We already mentioned how to fertilize when you see the flower stalk growing. However, once it has grown and buds begin to grow, you need to stop fertilizing until the flowers have opened. This will keep the most fragile part of the orchid protected – the buds.

The third and final thing you need to take care of is the humidity. The orchid’s leaves feed off of carbon dioxide and water. That is why you need to keep your orchid in a place with normal humidity levels to go along with the watering.

Once you get used to the motions, takign care of your orchid won’t be a hassle

Homemade fertilizers to keep your orchid blooming

1. The first advice we can give you is to not throw away your banana peels. They contain potassium and nitrogen which helps the orchid grow.
2. The second thing is coffee grounds. They are very, very helpful to orchids, because they are also rich in nitrogen.
3. Last, but not least, we already talked about cutting the flower stalk. Well, once you do that, you shouldn’t leave it exposed and one of the best ways to do that is to seal it with cinnamon or even melted wax.

There are some home methods you can use to help your orchid grow

The different colors are just mesmerizing

White orchids are so elegant

The post How to take care of orchids – the ultimate guide appeared first on Architecture E-zine.