Orchids are wonderful plants to possess and growing them is truly a joy. Orchids are numero uno when it comes to selecting flowers for exquisite bouquets. If you too are an orchid aficionado, then it is a wonderful idea to start planting orchids at home. But it is imperative to know how to grow orchids, before you attempt to have an orchid garden at home.
The first step before trying your hand at setting up an orchid garden is to understand that there are different orchid types. Listing out all the different orchid types would turn out to be an extremely daunting task, because there are a myriad of types of orchid plants depending upon the colors, species, hybrids, sizes etc. Around 700 genera, 25,000 species and 100,000 hybrids of orchids are found, making it almost impossible to grow all the orchid types at home. The best idea to adopt while planting orchids is to choose from among the commonest types of orchids listed below:
• Boat orchids which are known as Cymbidium
• Lady Slipper orchids which belong to 4 different genera- Phragmipedium, Paphiopedilum, Cypripedium and Selenipedium. The lady slipper orchids are true to their name and resemble the slippers of women.
• Moth orchids which is the most common variety and also known as Phalaenopsis orchids.
• Thai restaurant orchids with the botanical name Dendrobium orchids. As the name suggests these freshly cut orchids are usually used in Thai restaurants to adorn the table.
• Spider orchid or the Brassia, which has a wonderful fragrance and has long sepals which look like the slender legs of the spiders.
• Dancing ladies orchids with a botanical name of Oncidium have brightly colored yellow flowers, which resemble the spread out gowns of dancing women.
Factors affecting the development of orchids:
There are various factors which determine the growth and rate of development of these wonderful plants, as listed below:
1. Light
2. Circulation of air
3. Humidity
4. Proper maintenance of temperature
5. Appropriate watering
6. Proper use of fertilizers
Light
• Light is as essential to an orchid plant as water and air. But it is very important to provide adequate amount of illumination, to ensure proper growth of these beauties.
• The level of illumination required by each group of orchid plant is different and it is necessary to know the specific requirements of each of the orchid types, to ensure luxuriant growth
Circulation of Air:
• Constant circulation of air is necessary for numerous reasons, but the most important of all is that the moving air helps in keeping the plants cool and also avoids the accumulation of disease producing fungi or bacteria on the wet surface of the leaves.
• Moving air can balance the temperature better.
Humidity
• Humidity is another vital requirement for the orchid plants.
• The average humidity requirement can be summarized as 40 % in the daytime and 60 % in the night.
• But other factors like the change in the climate from winter to summer will alter the humidity requirement of the orchids, and it would help to understand that more heat means loss of water and hence increases the need for humidity.
• But care should be taken not to overdo it, as too much dampness can encourage the multiplication of disease producing bacteria
Temperature
• Just like the light requirements, the temperature needs also vary from one type of orchid to another.
• The moth orchid needs warm temperature; while the Miltonia variety require intermediate temperatures and the Masdavallia orchid types require cool surroundings.
• Be prepared to go out of your way to make your exotic plants comfortable in your home temperature.
• The night temperatures seem to be more crucial for the orchids and needs to be maintained accordingly.
Water
• The most important guideline to follow while watering orchids is to not overdo it.
• Too much or too little watering can both turn out to be detrimental to your orchids, so maintaining a proper balance is vital.
Fertilizers
• Fertilizers cannot be said to be a vital requirement for the growth of orchids, but appropriate use may help in the formation of brightly colored flowers and good growth.