Orchids- They're Easier Than You Think!

If you’re like most people, you think that something as beautiful as an orchid must be really difficult to grow.  It’s simply not so.  It's just a matter of picking the right orchid for the right location. 

Orchids are in the Epiphyte family.  Bromeliads and Staghorn ferns are Epiphytes as well.  Simply put, that means that these plants can grow in and on trees, many without soil or bark chips.  The Orchid family has 300,000 species, but only 1,000 are actively cultivated. 

People who grow and collect orchids must have patience; it can take years for an orchid to bloom.   Don’t be frustrated- even experienced growers face disappointment when a favorite orchid won’t bloom and they have no idea why.

I have been collecting orchids for some time now.  I tend to pick those that have eye-popping colored blooms as opposed to any specific type of orchid.  I can’t resist a Lady Slipper orchid with mottled foliage.  I find these types of orchids beautiful even when not in bloom because of the leaves; they have a smooth, waxy texture to them.  Because they are found growing on the forest floor, care must be taken to keep them evenly moist and away from direct sun. 

Lady slippers are great for the gardener who “Kills their plants with kindness.”  Mine spend the summer outside, hanging in clay pots deep inside my Magnolia tree.  The maximum temperature for Lady Slippers is about 85 degrees.  We have been much hotter than that this summer, but my plants still look great and I am hoping that I will get blooms this fall and winter.  Lady slippers can go 18 months or more before needing repotting

To achieve the best results with orchids, they’ll need constant fertilization in order to bloom.  A balanced 15-15-15 or 10-10-10 mix is recommended by most growers.  The adage, “Fertilize weakly, weekly” pertains to orchids; use half-strength fertilizer each week.  Most orchids benefit from adding epsom salts to your weekly fertilizer regimen at the rate of one teaspoon mixed into the fertilizer each week. The salts create accelerated root growth, more blooming, a deep green color and better root formation.   

Additionally, be sure you flush all orchids out monthly with plain water.  When my orchids summer outdoors, a heavy rain each month does the job so I don’t have to!

The easiest orchid to grow, in my opinion, is the Phalaenopsis orchid- the common name is “moth orchid.” Many different bloom colors can be found, the most common are white, pale lavender and purple.  Variegated flower colors are popular, too. 

Let me give you an idea of how easy they are to grow.  About 18 months ago I was given one as a birthday gift.  It had 2 blooms stalks back then and the flowers continued blooming into the New Year.  In March it threw off another bloom stalk.  It is still blooming to this day.  I would say that’s a lot of bang for the buck!  As with the Lady Slipper, a maximum of 85 degrees is optimum for best growth.  Phalaenopsis like to dry out between watering, this is a real plus for those of us who forget to water and mist our plants daily.

Some great orchids that take a little abuse are Dendrobium, Vanda, Oncidium and Cimbidium.  These orchids are available everywhere from Home Depot to Whole Foods, at Missouri Botanical  or Ahners.  I even got a beautiful Cimbidium orchid at Trader Joes for a song last year!

The Cattleya orchid is the typical “corsage orchid.”  Big, bold, usually fragrant and simply stunning.  Many women wear a Cattleya orchid to Easter services.  The roots of the Cattleya need room to grow; you’ll need to divide and repot these more frequently than other orchids.  I saw the most stunning orange Cattleya at the Orchid Show at Missouri Botanical garden last winter; I just had to have it. 

Most people move their orchids outside for the summer.  I do as well.  When the spring weather is still cool, but when night temperatures are above freezing, the orchids go out.  This change of temperature is actually good for them.  In the fall, I keep them outside as long as possible.  The cool nights and shorter days spur flower development.  Just don’t forget about them in the event a frost is predicted, they aren’t hardy.

The thing about orchids is this: they can be fussy.  They don’t bloom when you want them to.   You do everything you can to please them.  You buy a humidifier so they have enough moisture.  You build a conservatory to house them.  You travel all over creation to buy more.  And, for some unknown reason, they still die.  But, you get over it. 

Because when they bloom it’s a triumphant feeling.  Their beauty outweighs anything in the plant world.  And that alone makes it worth all the blood, sweat and tears.  Check out the photos of some of my favorite orchids and you’ll understand.  Orchid people are a little nutty.  But, nutty is nice, isn’t it?