Taking good care of your houseplants is very important if you want them to thrive and enhance the look and feel of your home decor. Since orchids are very colorful and fragrant, they are widely used as houseplants. They are very delicate flowering plants and need special care to bloom and grow.
If you also have orchids at home and are looking for useful care tips for them, we’re here to help. In this article, we are going to discuss some useful tips on how to take care of orchids, the different types of these flowering plants, and their bloom cycles.
The Different Types of Orchids
The orchid family, which is scientifically known as the Orchidaceae, is part of a very large and diverse group of flowering plants. The orchid family is based on over 25,000 plant species that are found in different regions around the world on different continents. They are among the most popular types of flowers for your home.
The biggest factor behind the availability of orchid varieties in high volumes is their highly competitive natural environments, such as tropical areas, where orchids have to compete with other flowering and non-flowering plants to attract pollinators, which adds to their diversity.
Some of the most popular types of orchids that make amazing house plants are Cattleya Orchids, Brassia Orchids, Cymbidium Orchids, Vanda Orchids, Encyclia Orchids, Miltonia Orchids, Oncidium Orchids and Epidendrum Orchids among other varieties.
Orchid Bloom Cycles
The very first stage in the life cycle of orchids is called pollination. It is the process that kicks off the reproduction cycle due to a special chemical reaction, which results in orchids developing seed pods. The seed pods usually take between 6 and 8 months to come to the stage of maturity. The plant uses almost all of its energy to produce flowers, which causes some of its leaves to turn yellow or brown and even fall off. A duration of around 3 months is required for orchids to flower.
Once it is done with flowering, the orchid starts growing roots in large quantities, so that it can obtain enough nutrients from the soil to start the process of flowering again. With flowers of different types of plants belonging to the orchid family blooming every several months, the process of pollination could start again during this period. It normally takes around 9 to 14 months for a flowering orchid to complete its bloom cycle.
How to Care for Orchids Indoors
If you are wondering how to take care of orchids indoors, then here are some useful tips. It is a known fact that orchid plants that thrive in an indoor environment and need adequate humidity. There are many different ways you can increase the level of humidity in your home. Try to mist plants on a regular basis or place a saucer filled with water beneath your potted plants. You can also use a humidifier, which is easily available nowadays.
Another thing you need to be concerned about while taking care of a flowering orchid is its fertilization. You need to fertilize it at least once or twice a week, especially when they are going through the process of producing flowers. You can reduce the process of fertilization to once or twice a month once the flowers mature. If the plant has gone dormant, stop fertilizing it.
Due to the colors and textures of flowering plants, they naturally attract pests, so make sure to keep an eye out for signs of bacteria, fungi, or other types of diseases. Creatures like mealybugs, aphids, and scale could attack your orchids, which may happen occasionally However, the best way to get rid of them is to wash your plant off or get it treated with insecticidal soap.
How to Water Orchids
One of the best places in your home to water your plant is in your kitchen sink. To water a flowering orchid, you need to use lukewarm water. Make sure you are not using salty water or distilled water. You should be watering your plant for around 15 seconds. Make sure to properly wet all sides of your plant and its soil. Once you are done with the watering process, you need to leave the plant for at least 15 minutes to drain, after which it may appear dry, but it would have received enough water. Remember if you are watering your orchids too much, it could lead to many over-watering problems like root rot, and crown rot, and other types of infestations
Repotting Orchid Tips
One of the most important tips on how to take care of your orchids is repotting. It is normally done once, usually in a year or two. Despite ideal conditions, if the orchids in your home suddenly stop blooming, then this means they need repotting.
If you want to repot your orchids without killing them, you need to be very careful. If you are a beginner, here is a step-by-step process you need to follow:
- Prepare your potting mix in a large bucket or bowl.
- Carefully remove your orchid plant from the current pot.
- Use scissors to remove any dead or rotting roots.
- Carefully put the orchid in the new pot.
- Now add the potting mix that you prepared in the first step.
- Arrange your orchids in a way that they stand upright and look nice.
Precautionary Tip to Remember: Make sure to sterilize everything during the repotting process because orchids are vulnerable to disease and bacteria.
The information shared in this article will help you take good care of orchids at home. Like other potted plants that are good for health, orchids absorb carbon dioxide from the environment and release oxygen, which is also one of the biggest benefits of having these flowering plants indoors.
