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A Guide to Growing Orchids For Beginners

March 25th, 2008 by Jared Mair   Subscribe To Our Feed

Learn How To Care For and Grow Amazing Orchids Using Easy To Follow, Step-By-Step Techniques Click Here for more details.

When we talk about “beginner” in the context of growing orchids, we mean somebody who has never grown plants. Orchids are typically the hardest type of plant for a beginner to grow. If you are a beginner interested in growing orchids then try more forgiving plants first.

Orchids for Beginners

Now, if you have grown other kinds of plants successfully – even a spider plant in your living room that seems immortal – then you are not such an ignorant beginner. You at least have some knowledge of what is required when growing orchids for beginners. You realize that you are responsible for the water, soil, pots and temperature conditions of the plants that are completely dependant on your care.

Orchids and their hybrids are vastly different from other plants. Growing orchids for beginners is not like growing other kinds of plants. Orchids normally live in hot, tropical environments and grow out of tree bark rather than up from the ground. You really need to do a lot of homework before bringing an orchid home – unless you’re into dead orchids.Not All Are Alike

Each orchid or orchid hybrid has different watering, temperature and growing medium needs. Some need more water and some less. Some need their roots to have a lot of air circulation around them, while some are not too picky about how much air their roots get. Going over every orchid and orchid hybrid known and their care is far beyond the scope of this article.

But knowing that growing orchids for beginners means a lot of homework and research will help you get started in the right direction. Ask your garden store or local nursery what orchids do best in the area you live in. There may even be a local orchid or gardening club online that welcomes questions about growing orchids for beginners. Never be afraid to ask questions!If you are wanting to know more about growing orchids then check out the “Orchids Care” guide by Nigel Howell. This is an indepth step-by-step guide on growing orchids. You can also browse through our online orchids store but don’t be tempted to buy too quickly. Growing orchids for beginners is a skill that can take a long time to develop.

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Facts You Should Know About Humidity Tray For Orchids

March 17th, 2008 by Jared Mair   Subscribe To Our Feed

Learn How To Care For and Grow Amazing Orchids Using Easy To Follow, Step-By-Step Techniques Click Here for more details.

Every orchid grower should be familiar with the importance of a humidity tray for growing orchids. Below is some information on humidity tray for orchids and how your should use them.

The General Rules About Humidity Tray For Orchids
Humidity is not an aspect that can be considered on its own. There are other factors such as the intensity of light, the general weather and the temperature that needs to be taken into account before deciding on how humid would be the best for your orchid. As a rule you should never water your orchid anytime during afternoon or evening, more so if you are a beginner at this occupation.

The reason for this is that any drops of water that might remain trapped on the leaves would condense and hang onto the leaf long enough to lead to gradual rotting. The best time to water the orchid is early in the morning before dawn so the orchid would have enough time during the day time to use up the water and be on the dry side in the night when the temperatures drops.

The Ideal Humidity Tray For Orchids
When shopping for the ideal humidity tray for orchids keep in mind that this flower thrives when the level of humidity is around 50-70% during winter and a little higher during the summer. The easiest way to increase the humidity level of the orchid plants is to place the pots in humidity tray for orchids which are artistically but functionally created with the help of medium sized pebbles and a shallow water film.

Maintain the quality of the water you provide for your orchid by removing the pebbles every two months or so and having them washed thoroughly in weak bleach solution to clean them. This would easily remove the algae and salts residue that has accumulated over the time. Do not even think of adding algaecide in the tray directly as this would impact the orchid negatively.

One idea is to combine a group of potted orchids in to a beautiful arrangement using a humidity tray in order to create the right humidity for the plants. This is a way to create a live flower arrangement. Remember to keep the orchids a comfortable distance apart or the lack of air circulation could kill yours orchids.

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Orchids Arrangements – choose complementing flowers

March 17th, 2008 by Jared Mair   Subscribe To Our Feed

Learn How To Care For and Grow Amazing Orchids Using Easy To Follow, Step-By-Step Techniques Click Here for more details.

One of the most popular arrangements ordered from florists are ones containing orchids. This is due to the fact that not only are orchids visually stunning flowers but because they also come in a wide range of colors, sizes and shapes. Orchid arrangements catch the eye. And of course, there is always the allure of orchids being exclusive and expensive.

Arranging The Orchids
Most orchids arrangements need a vase or a form of floral foam into which the flowers will be stuck to. Floral foam is a very popular choice for many florists because it contains water for the flowers to last a little longer. In most cases, orchids arrangements are usually arranged according to their species. This means that like is usually matched up with like species. Colors may vary but the same species go well together compared to orchids arrangements with different species. In spite of this, there are some more avant garde florists who mix and blend different species of orchids in one orchids arrangement.

There are some flowers (not orchids) that complement orchids arrangements very beautifully. These complementary flowers are sometimes mixed in with the orchids to relieve the monotony and to add a different edge to the arrangement. This is because some people view similar or alike objects as boring. Having two kinds of different flowers species with the same color can be fantastic to behold.

Flowers that complement orchids are baby’s breath, gladiolas and even mums. Actually, the compatibility of the orchids and other flower species in the orchids arrangements will depend on how they look together. The more successful kinds of orchids arrangements have the orchids and the other flowers have the same or similar colors.

Greenery can also be added to the orchids arrangements to make these look more vibrant. The many different kinds of ferns as well as many other kinds of leaves can complement orchids. A long time ago, florists usually used ferns as greenery for their arrangement. These days, any kind of leaves or greenery can be added to the arrangement to bring out the color of the flowers.

It is a lot of fun to make your own orchids arrangements for an upcoming special events or simply for decorating the house. The more you practice orchids arrangements the more you will hone your talent and sharpen your eye for stunning arrangements. And don’t forget to try the different types of flowers in your arrangement that compliments the orchids.

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Are You Interested in Growing Orchids In Doors? Tips and Tricks

March 17th, 2008 by Jared Mair   Subscribe To Our Feed

Learn How To Care For and Grow Amazing Orchids Using Easy To Follow, Step-By-Step Techniques Click Here for more details.

Orchids can be visually stunning plants which comes in a variety of colours and shapes. As orchids are tropical plants, many people want to grow orchids in doors if they live in a non-tropical climate. However, growing orchids in doors can be difficult. You first must choose the right orchid as different orchids fit specific weather conditions and others can grow practically anywhere. Orchids that are grown indoors need special attentions because they receive less sunlight, less fresh air and other elements that can be unhealthy for plans.

A Guide To Growing Orchids In Doors
One thing you must bear in mind when attempting growing orchids indoors is that these are aerial plants that do not need soil for their roots. You just need to give it a steady base or a pot filled with materials that the root can cling to lightly. Growing orchids in doors allows you to place them in various interesting places where they can capture the viewer’s eyes and be appreciated.

One important thing that needs to be considered when growing orchids in doors is the light source you will provide fro these plants. Plants produce their own food mainly with the help of the sun. Growing orchids in doors means that they are not exposed to the generous sun’s rays and may not be able to effectively produce food. Providing a light source that has the necessary kind of light will help your orchids grow well. Light bulbs or a bright window can be enough to provide the much needed light for food production.

Water is yet another necessity that you will need to provide when growing orchids in doors. The heavy humidity of some rainforests where most orchids are native to can provide the orchids with the necessary water they need to survive. The orchids’ roots get the water from the heavy humid air that is plentiful in rainforests. You can recreate a humid atmosphere by providing a humidifier for your plant or just by misting it regularly not watering it well. Do not overwater as this will rot the roots especially for those in a pot.

Growing orchids in doors can be an excellent way to grow your own orchids. If you set things up to satisfy their needs and start a routine of taking care of them, you will have visually stunning orchids that you can use to beautify your home or give to yours friends.

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Raising Orchids Under Lights – the Plus and Minus

March 17th, 2008 by Jared Mair   Subscribe To Our Feed

Learn How To Care For and Grow Amazing Orchids Using Easy To Follow, Step-By-Step Techniques Click Here for more details.

To begin, light intensity is measured by foot candle (fc) or by kilo lux (klux), which is the international measure unit for lighting. Around 92.3 fcs makes 1 klux. You can measure the intensity of light using a light meter. These meters work best at the time of maximum light, which is usually at noon.

You can find lights for raising orchids in our orchid online store.

The Optimal Conditions for Raising Orchids Under Lights
Orchids would normally require and revel in light of 10 thousand fcs or more. It is easier to adapt a low level light orchid to a high level light than vice-versa. You would never be able to coerce a high level light orchid to bloom in conditions where light is low. The low or medium level light orchids would tolerate more light better if they are watered more often. This would mean that plants that need watering every 10 days should be watered every eight days instead.

There are indicators that would tell you whether your plant is happy with the light you are providing or not. It is possible to study the orchids you are growing and know exactly what type of light they prefer. If you do not know where to go for guidance, visit an orchid sale shop and ask for their assistance regarding raising orchids under lights. They would be able to guide you pretty accurately.

Alternatively you could definitely use the Internet on raising orchids under lights, however for this option you need to know the name of your orchid so you could match it with the information available on the Internet. Check the leaves of your orchid carefully. If these are healthy green, hard and crisp to the touch the light is just okay. However, the light would be too low if they are dark green and if you find that the leaves are a funny purplish in color, then you are giving too much light to your orchid.

Raising Orchids Under Lights With The Best Help Available
There is always scope to raise orchids under artificial lights and if you so want, but be careful that you choose the right medium. When it comes to growing orchids you need to be highly accurate about the requirements of the plant or you would not get any results. Choose horticultural lamps over the household lamps because the former offers a better spectrum of light for plants.

High intensity horticulture lamps, which admit between 1000-9000 fc, are the best for raising orchids under lights. These types of lamps will give you the best value for money.

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Haiku Orchids – the poetry of nature

March 17th, 2008 by Jared Mair   Subscribe To Our Feed

Learn How To Care For and Grow Amazing Orchids Using Easy To Follow, Step-By-Step Techniques Click Here for more details.

Haiku is a type of poetry that originated in Japan and celebrates the natural wonder of the world in as few words as possible. An orchid is considered the natural embodiment of a haiku because in one flower the fall glory of Nature can be seen.

Perhaps somewhat confusingly however, a haiku orchid does not come from Japan. Instead, the world famous orchid originates from the town of Haiku in Maui, Hawaii.

Haiku and Hawaiian Orchids can be found in our orchid online store.

Haiku – A Tropical Paradise
Hawaii is trying hard to stop overdevelopment to save what is left of its unique environment, which includes species of birds and orchids found nowhere else on earth. Haiku orchids and birds are a big draw for tourists to come visit Maui. Unlike most plants that grow from the ground, orchids like Haiku orchids grow from the bark of trees in humid and moist conditions.

Since Maui is an island, another big draw for tourists is the beach. Consequentially, a lot of the businesses in Haiku are set up to cater to the tourists. There are many bed and breakfasts in Haiku. Orchids grow around these places, as well, as long as they are not too close to the beach.

Tours of Haiku Orchids
Haiku knows orchids bring about a certain religious fervor in some people. You become as devoted to orchids as living art forms as an art collector would about seeing all Leonardo daVinci paintings in the world. Traveling to Hawaii has many rewards, but for some people it is the orchids that make such an expensive and luxurious trip essential. It is like going to an orchid-lover’s Mecca.

You don’t have to go around trying to find all of the kinds of Haiku orchids all by yourself, trying to explain all to all of the other non-orchid lovers looking at you as if you were crazy. You can ask your favorite travel agent to book you on an orchid tour of Hawaii, which usually includes a stop in Haiku.

If you want to be more selective in your orchid tour, you can book yourself to a trip of orchid nurseries in Hawaii or to one of the many orchid gardens in Hawaii. One of the largest is the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden in Papaikou, very close to the beach. It is located on the Big Island of Hawaii, not the island of Maui, but those two islands are right next to each other.

If you were to take a tour of Hawaii, you will be able to find much artistic inspiration for growing flowers, or even writing poetry.

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Credits: Dewald ama-Canuck | Matteo Turchetto | Andreas Viklund
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