Author: Cassidy Williams
Most people can't get growing orchids
right and end up killing them without knowing why. There are 5 common
reasons why this happens.
1. You Over-water them
This is the
number one killer of household orchids. If an orchid
plant
gets "soggy" from too much water, its roots will quickly start to rot.
Orchids should be planted in a way that the water can freely flow away
from the roots. They should never be left sitting in water. It will hurt
your orchid less if you don't water it enough than if you water it too
much. In general, an orchid will not need watering more than twice a week.
2. You Plant them in Potting
Soil
Orchids
grow on trees (for this they are called epiphytes). They do not grow in
the ground (with a few rare exceptions). Therefore, an orchid will never
appreciate being planted with soil. Orchids grow better when placed in
bark or moss or some other substance with simulates the experience of
growing on a tree. You can even simply mount an orchid plant on a piece of
wood without ever putting it in a pot and it will thrive! This is because
orchids don't absorb their nutrients from the tree or medium they grow in,
but rather the air around them. The only purpose of the growing medium
(bark or moss) is to help the plant be stable and not fall over.
3. You Place them in Insufficient Light
It is difficult to
find the right spot for your orchid inside your house. Most areas of the
home lack the necessary lighting
for an orchid to thrive and bloom. The best kind of light for an
orchid to grow in is indirect sunlight. This means sunlight that is
filtered through a window or sheer curtain (or canopy of leaves, as in
their natural habitat). Too much direct light will "burn" the foliage. But
some rays of sunlight do need to come in contact with the orchid daily: so
it will need to be placed in a bright, but not too hot area of your home.
4. You Forget they Need Wind
Orchids grow way up high in
trees when found in nature. This means that they are used to being exposed
to a lot of breezy air movement. The air circulation helps the orchid to
stay free from disease, pest infestations and rotting. Keep your orchid
plant near a breezy window or near a fan and it is more likely to stay
happy and healthy.
5. You Let the Air Get Dry
Orchids
absorb a lot of the moisture they need from the air. This means they need
to be in very humid conditions in order to thrive. In nature, orchids
usually grow in tropical rainforests. The humidity there is between 60%
and 90%. Humidity inside a house is usually between 5% and 30%. Using air
conditioners, stoves and heaters reduces the humidity in our houses and
makes it difficult for the orchid to obtain the necessary moisture. You
can remedy this by placing the orchid in a bathroom or near trays filled
with water. As the water evaporates, it provides the orchid with humidity.
Growing orchids can be challenging and very rewarding. Learn more
about the conditions and materials needed and happy
growing!