Orchid Care
Common Sense Care
The term 'orchid' derives from the Greek ορχις orchis, meaning "testicle", from the appearance of subterranean tuberoids of the genus Orchis. The word "orchis" was first used by Theophrastos (372/371 – 287/286 BC), in his book "De historia plantarum" (The natural history of plants). He was a student of Aristotle and is considered the father of botany and ecology. (wiki)
With all this heavy history on these delicate plants, it's not difficult to find yoruself stumped at the beauty and grace of Orchids, except they're suprisingly easy to care for - most of them anyway.
Mostly orchids appreciate indirect light. We usually like to equate this with treating orchids with the same attention you would a human infant. You wouldn't leave a baby in the scorching sun, and neither should you an orchid. All living things need light, so place your orchids somewhere they can aquire light without burning.
In general, orchids do not need a lot of water, either. Watering once every five to seven days (depending on how much light it's getting) is plenty. There are several methods for watering orchids. Some people suggest lowering the container into a bowl of water and let sit for a little while, then drain. We suggest letting water run through the bark and draining before returning to the (decorative) pot. If you have questions on care, you're welcome to stop by the store any time and talk with our knowledgeable staff. We are unable to field emails about orchid care, but there are plenty of resources online to browse 24 hours, 7 days a week.
DendrobiumLight:Indirect, but ample light. Pay attention to the colors of the leaves to determine if the plant is getting enough or too much light. Dendrobium leaves should be a nice golden-green. Dark green leaves indicate a lack of light; yellow leaves indicate too much light. Environment:Warm temperatures 75°- 90°F with good air movement to prevent mold. If mold occurs, gently wipe down the plant with mild soap and water solution. Water:Dendrobium prefer to be dry. Lift Dendrobium out of pot to feel its weight. When light, water. These guys like to be neglected. |
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CattleyaLight:Cattleya's performance depends mostly on the kind of light you give them. They prefer a little direct light - about 50% of the time, but no direct sun in the middle of the day when it's strongest because it can burn the plant. Tip:Leaves should be medium green in color; too much sun will yellow; too little will darken. Environment:Cattleya prefer a nice, comfortable human living temperature: 70° - 85° day temps; no lower than 55° at night. Water:Cattleya like humidity in the air, and like to have their roots relatively dry. |
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Paphiopedilum (lady Slipper)Lighting & Temprature:Paphiopdilums like moderate light in or near a sunny space, and prefer the warmth (but not heat) of light. To be safe, keep in or near a window that provides early or late light but not midday. Paps like the same kinds of comfortable temperatures as humans. Keep away from chills or drafts. Water:Water Paps 1-2 times a week, depending on how much light they get. More light, more water. After watering, do not let the pots stand in water. Use some sort of irrigating material such as rocks or pebbles to keep the plant from drowning. |
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Oncidiums · Wild Cat · Sherry Baby · Sweet Sugar
Water:Water sparingly. Most orchids prefer to be on the dryer side. Lift the pot, and when it feels like there is no more water left, then give it a drink. Tip:If you've accidentally starved it, you can flush water through the roots and let it soak it in a cup for a couple hours, but be sure to take it out or you could rot the roots. |
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BrassiaLighting & Temprature:These guys like a fair amount of light. As always, never high direct sun and preferrably bright, but filtered light. Temperatures should range from 55°-60° at night; 70 °- 80° during the day. Very warm termperatures are tolerated if there is enough moisture and ventilation are present. Water:Like Miltonia, Brassias should not be allowed to completely dry out between waterings. Water every 3-5 days. Tip:The warmer it becomes, the more water and air movement these guys need. They're a lot like delicate people, just remember how you would treat a child and you'll be fine. |
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MiltoniaLighting & Temprature:Medium, filtered, bright light with a fair amount of humidity and ventilation to protect their leaves from the sun. Moderate to warm temperatures appreciated: 50°-60° at night; 65°-80° during the day. Water:Water Miltonias every 3-5 days, or as they feel dry, but not bone dry. Tip:If you see an accordian like pleating on the leaves as they grow, you are not watering enough. |
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ZygopetalumLighting & Temprature:Zygos like moderate light (imagine the kinds of shade they'd get in the rainforest). On occasion, give the li'l fellas a mist of water from a spraybottle. They like a little extra light, but don't ever place them in full sun - they are orchids, after all. They prefer a moderate environment - no lower than 50°, and preferrably around 60°F night temperatures. Water: Wait for zygos to be sliightly dry before watering, about every 5-7 days in between. Mist on occasion. Environment:Zygopetalums' natural habitat are in the rain forest, so we should try to mimic that sort of environment as best we can in the home. |
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IntergenericsLighting & Temprature & Water:Follow general orchid care. Filtered, bright or cool light (morning), generally human-comfort temperatures, and water every 4-6 days. |
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Epidendrum OrchidLight:Indirect, but ample light. Pay attention to the colors of the leaves to determine if the plant is getting enough or too much light. Epidendrum leaves should be a nice golden-green. Dark green leaves indicate a lack of light; yellow leaves indicate too much light. Environment:Warm temperatures 75°- 90°F with good air movement to prevent mold. They can go outside in coastal conditions with filtered light. Water:Epidendrum prefer to be dry. Lift Epidendrum out of pot to feel its weight. When light, water. |
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