Are you new to orchids? If you have just entered the world of orchids then your life is set the change forever. Not quite sure? Give it time. I, like many millions of people around the world, am extremely passionate about orchids. This passion started with the first one. You will want to learn about orchid care so that your orchids stay strong.

You may be put of orchids by their reputation. You may have an orchid but do you know what to do? People find orchid care a bit of a daunting subject. It does seem difficult at first because you are struck by the number of things that can go wrong. You will be pleased to know that with a bit of experience you will become much better at it.

This are some orchid care tips for someone who is new. It is important not to water your orchid too much. I know that when you first get your orchid that you want to keep them nice and healthy and there is an urge to water. You shouldn’t have to water more than a weekly basis. Always check the soil before watering to make sure it isn’t damp.

Orchids came from tropical areas originally. You will find that most like a warm climate. This means that you should be paying more attention to any orchids that you have outside. If the weather is going to be cold then think about bringing them indoors into the warmth.

You want to position your orchid so that it receives enough natural light. Orchids love light but this is another area of orchid care that many get wrong. Their leaves can start to go yellow if left in direct sunlight for too long.

So are you going to give it a go? You will find orchid care will come naturally to you but your first step is buying your first one!

Like other plants, orchids need the right nutrients to thrive and grow; however, orchids need a special type of fertilizer as well as the right amount to thrive in your home. Because orchid fertilizer is different from other common houseplant fertilizers, it’s important to know what type, how often, and how to feed your orchid to maintain its health and beauty.

Here are a few tips to consider before fertilizing your orchid.

Use a commercial orchid fertilizer and check the label to make sure it displays three numbers such as 20-20-20. These three numbers are proportional values of the fundamental nutrients that orchids need to thrive and stay healthy which include: Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Potassium. You can experiment with different values of the main ingredients; however, you should either contact your local nursery or contact one on the Internet to determine the best type of fertilizer for your precious orchid.

It’s crucial to understand how orchids get their nutrients in their natural habitat, and this understanding will help you to feed your orchid in your home environment. Orchids are perhaps the most versatile flower in the world where some species live in Arctic regions of the far North and other species live in tropical regions around the world. As a result, these exotic flowers are constantly searching for nutrients which often come in small but powerful quantities. Giving an orchid too much fertilizer is not characteristic of how it acquires its nutrition in its natural environment. Excessively feeding your orchid can burn its roots, and or retard its flowering.

In addition to the particular type and amount of fertilizer, you should also determine how to apply it. Orchids acquire its nutritional needs by absorbing nutrients in rain water. Rain water is saturated with nutrients from natural debris of rotting vegetation including leaves and the bark of trees where many species of orchids grow. The nutrient plentiful water finds its way to the roots of the orchid where it’s absorbed. As a result, you should never place fertilizer directly into the potting soil, rather mix the fertilizer with water and feed your orchid the water.

Fertilizing your orchid while it’s in its growth stage just before it blooms is the best time. Once in bloom, you don’t need to fertilize.

To be consistent every time, measure the amount of fertilizer you feed your orchid. Contact your local nursery to get information on what mix to use as well as how much to use.

Since orchids are so different from other plants, it stands to reason that its fertilizer should be different as well. Fertilizing your orchid is a crucial part of caring for orchids, and should be taken seriously. Make sure you use only orchid fertilizer in the right amount, and dispensed in the appropriate way.

It’s a well conceived opinion that orchids require professional care, but this is simply a myth that’s being crushed as more and more people are effectively growing these exotic plants. I believed this to be true in my early days of growing flowers, but by following fundamental orchid rules, I became an accomplished orchid grower.

Here are a few of my best tips for orchid care and maintenance that you need to know to assure your orchid’s health and beauty year-after-year:

Re-pot Your Orchid After Purchasing

When you bring your new orchid home from your garden center or nursery, you will be required to re-pot it in fresh potting mix to help prevent the spread of possible disease. Position your new orchid in a location away from your other houseplants for about one week before re-potting. Use any type of pot you like; however, use only a pot that has adequate holes at the bottom for proper water drainage, and that the pot is not too large for your orchid.

Orchids are not quick growing plants, but they necessitate re-potting about every two years as they outgrow their old container.

The Right Potting Mix Is Crucial

Unlike most plants, orchids do not grow in compact ground soil. Many well known species of orchids grow on trees in tropical climates around the world. As a result, orchid roots make the bark of these trees their dwelling. Other favorite habitats for orchids to grow are in rocks and organic material that allow the orchid’s root to attract plenty of water, yet have enough ventilation to totally dry out.

As such, you need to select a potting mix that emulates the orchid’s natural environment; one that gives the roots good ventilation and respectable water drainage.

Determine The Best Spot To Place Your Orchid

Proper orchid care and maintenance also requires that you situate your orchid in a fitting location of your home. Place your orchid near a window that provides lengthy periods of slightly diffused sunlight. An orchid’s natural surroundings is one that provides about 12 hours of sunlight, but moderately diffused because of the branches from trees and other near-by foliage. In the summer you can open your windows, or else use a small fan to provide a light breeze. Again, in the wild, orchids prefer a good circulation of air to allow the roots to dry out before getting wet again from a torrential rain.

Find The Correct Temperature

Orchids, like us, prefer temperatures around 65-85 degrees Fahrenheit (18-30 degrees Celsius). They can withstand temperatures that are somewhat warmer and colder, but not for long-drawn-out periods. Providing these orchids have reasonable air flow and high levels of humidity, they can bear temperatures that are significantly warmer.

During the day, orchids produce energy through a process called photosynthesis and store this energy. As the sun sets and the temperature drops, this energy is released to the plant for its growth. This variation in temperature helps the plant to grow. It makes energy during the day and feeds at night.

Orchid Care And Maintenance Requires That Orchids Get Just The Correct Amount Of Water

In the tropics where most orchids call home, they get exceedingly soaked from torrential rains and may go without water for weeks depending on whether it’s the rain or dry season. As in the wild, give your orchid a good drenching to simulate a torrential rain, but make sure you let the water entirely drain from the bottom of the pot. It’s better to under water your orchid than to over water. Never let your orchid just sit in water. This will only cause the roots to rot, or fungus to grow.

Orchid care and maintenance is no more involved than maintaining common houseplants, it’s just different. Orchids have bred in exotic locations of the world for centuries. All they demand is to feel a little at home in the way you care for them.