Are orchids really that hard to keep?

Question

People are always saying that they are hard to keep alive, but is this true?

Answer 1

Actually they aren't all that hard at all. I learned a trick a few years ago that helps, although don't tell it to a orchid grower they'll tell you all these special ways it needs taken care of.

Once a week, dunk the base in water. Let it soak pretty good (about 30 seconds) then raise it up and let it drain. Don't let water get down into the leaves, otherwise it will rot them out. Also don't let cold water touch the leaves, that can hurt them. By dunking the plant you don't have to worry about pouring water on the leaves accidentally and hurting them.

For many orchids, that's all you need to do. Some have roots in the air. If yours does, just take a hair spray bottle and fill it full of water and mist those white or green roots that are in the air. Some of the top ones may be a plant growing on top of another plant and the way they get water is by water touching those in air roots.

Lastly, just avoid sudden changes in temperature and try keeping the leaves off of edges like the edge of the pot/container. That will cause the leave to die. Most orchids like to almost completely dry out before being watered again. That's why you only water them once a week.

A moist climate does help. That can be done by putting a tray underneath them with stones in it. After they get so big make sure to repot them. And you may need to fertilize it a bit with orchid fertilizer to get it to flower. Also if it doesn't get enough sun it may have trouble flowering.

Answer 2

This depends on a number of factors. I always tell people it is hard to kill an orchid, but it is just as hard to get it to bloom. Most orchids like warm, humid conditions, bright sun and roots exposed to the air. There are exceptions to all of these rules though. Best to keep an orchid in a sunny place. You can improve humidity around your orchid (if you have a dry environment) by setting the orchid pots on top of a tray filled with stones. Keep some water in the stones. The water will evaporate and increase the humidity around the orchids. I also mist the roots (roots only, not leaves!) with a very, very dilute high phosphorus fertilizer (I prefer organic), or you can just use plain water, but make sure the water is room temperature to luke-warm. No cold water! This will improve the humidity and provide some nourishment to the orchids. But remember, orchids can't handle intense fertilizer, so dilute!

Good luck.

Answer 3

Yes. The average house is too cold in winter, and the air too dry. (or maybe - "My house" is too cold, too dry...bring an orchid into this house is a death sentence)

The successful orchid growers that I personally know have expensives halogen lamps, and a set-up system that includes all thier orchid pots sitting on a large base full of pebbles and water, to keep the humidity around the flowers higher than the rest of their house.

Watering the plants is different than "normal" houseplants as well. You don't pour water on the soil like you would another plant. I believe you bottom-water, and I think there is also periodic misting of the plants themselves.

They are a high-maintenance plant - the kind that you need to pay close attention to and fuss over - rather than merely remembering to water once a week.
.

Answer 4

you're able to desire to water your Orchid nicely as quickly as a week (nicely= water till some water runs out the backside and drain that water away 10 min. after watering. This all may be fairly completed interior the sink.) It desires to saved in an eastern/Western exposure for the time of the summer and can be moved to a Southern exposure for the time of wintry climate. Fertilizing may be completed while the plant isn't in bloom, and can be completed as quickly as a month once you water. i decide to advise an Orchid fertilizer. (Jack's kind is stable.) Fertilizing additionally should not be completed for the time of the wintry climate months (Oct.-Mar.) because of the fact the plant desires a dormant season.

Answer 5

Nope. I got one for Valentine's Day and I've pretty much ignored it. It gets a bit of water when I remember and I turn it maybe once a week so it's doesn't grow wonky. Eaaasy.

I think you can do all sorts with them if you're a fanatic, and mine could probably look better, but since I don't know what to look for in a perfect orchid it looks just as lovely to me!

Answer 6

Depends where you live. When I lived in the desert, I couldn't keep an orchid alive, much less get it to bloom.

Now I live in the southeast and there's nothing to it. Throw 'em outside in the summer, water and feed them, and they bloom all the time.

Answer 7

i have just bought a large white orchid and did not realise how much care they require.
they need fair light and never direct sunlight i also imagined that they required warm whether because i bought it for my greenhouse but in fact they only enjoy temperatures up to 17C and this is no good in the greenhouse in the summer as this reaches 40C min

Answer 8

It depeds on the species.