Orchid Care - Difficult Choices
It is very hard to judge the right time and the right amount of water to give to your orchid. Probably the biggest mistake people make is over watering the orchid. Very rarely do people under water, as with light people tend to over do it.
Different orchids require different amounts of water but what they all have in common is that they don't like having their roots submerged in water as their roots will rot and die.
Even then, the orchid will require different amounts of water depending on the season. In the summer when it is hot your orchid will require more water than in the winter.
Tap water is ok for the orchid but rainwater is much better. Try leaving a couple of watering cans in the garden to catch the rain so that you will have a constant source of water for your plants.
You could feed your orchids with extra nutrients if you don't feel that they aren't getting enough naturally. There are many different types of plant feed available from the very weak to the very strong. I would recommend that you find specialist orchid feed which is usually available at most garden stores. If you can't find one then ask a store assistant which they recommend of those that they do stock. If you are still struggling then you can use general fertilizer as long as it isn't too strong.
Another difficult decision to be made by the orchid grower is when to re-pot. Again the frequency of the re-potting will vary depending on the orchid but they will all require potting for one or all of these possible scenarios.
• The compost may have begun to decompose and therefore lost its nutritional content
• The compost may have become waterlogged due to over watering
• The orchid may have out grown its current home.
When you re-pot you need to use compost which allows water to drain away easily. This will help prevent the roots sitting in water and rotting.
The size of the new pot is very important. On most occasions the size of the new pot will be the same as the old. You should only increase the size of the pot if your orchid was too large for its old pot. The roots of your orchid like to be snug.
These two areas of orchid care often provide challenges for even the most experienced of orchid growers, so you are in good company. I have only touched the surface of these two topics so please read more material for further information.
Related Tags: orchids, orchid, orchid care, growing orchids, orchid care tips, caring for orchids, orchid secrets
Nigel owns OrchidCareExpert.com, a website which contains lots of useful information for orchid care.
Your Article Search Directory : Find in ArticlesRecent articles in this category:
- Online Gardening Store Diy Matters Launch New Product Terram Root Guard
One of the largest importers of landscaping fabric and weed control fabric in the UK has launched a - Snow Removal Burlington
When deciding on a company to provide professional snow removal in Burlington and the surrounding Go - Important Aspects Of Slate Stone Tiles
Slate stones are found in large deposits in the coastal regions, due to random mixture of different - How To Choose Between Asphalt Or Concrete Driveway Pavers
Beautifully designed driveway pavers can undoubtedly improve the appearance of your house. If you ar - Sandstone Export From India
Sandstone is produced when natural cement such as silica, iron or lime makes dense large lumps of sa - Granite Suppliers In India
Amongst all stones used for building, Granite must be the most exclusive. It is put to various uses - Packers And Movers In Hyderabad
When it comes to Packers and Movers, YReach is the first choice to reach. As with any other service - Choosing Pool Cleaner And Maintaining Your Pool
A pool automatic cleaner is very useful equipment that can help you to reduce the difficulty for mai - Create A Backyard Getaway
A few years ago, we were landscaping our new home and had a consultant come in to give us some ideas - How To Keep Your Outdoor Landscaping Safe In Cold Weather
When you think of Florida you probably picture sunny days, pristine beaches and hot days on the golf
Most viewed articles in this category:
- Gazebo Blueprints
In order to use existing open spaces in the backyard or lawn, people opt to install gazebos. They ar - The Best Deck Material
It is always nice to have a backyard at your home and if you are one of the lucky ones to have a dec - Psychic Garden Rapport
A psychic garden is an adventure of many different dimensions. It is a personal relationship: with t - The History of the Tomato
Tomato history has had its origins traced back to the Aztecs around 700AD, therefore it is believed - A Greenhouse Kit for Both Amateur and Professional Gardeners
What is a Greenhouse?Greenhouses are garden structures designed to cultivate plants by harnessing th - History Of Grapevines
The first documentation of grapevines growing in the Americas was discovered in researching the logb - Lawn Mowers Power
Keeping a clean and nice garden or lawn is not an easy task, it is always a source of great pride to - Organic Gardening with Compost - Using Compost for a Naturally Healthy Lawn and Garden
'Mature' organic compost is a natural and simple choice for solving those problems. An application o - Lawn Aeration Benefits
Aerating your lawn is one of the most important things you can do to keep your lawn healthy and attr - The Most Important Components for Your Deck Rail Plans
For anyone who isn't aware about creating a plan for the deck railings, you should know that a deck
