Orchids are very popular plants in Indonesia and easy to find in every island, you do not have to go to the jungle to see them. That is one of the reasons why Indonesia chose Phalaenopsis amabilis as one of our national flowers. Orchids are notoriously lavish blooms that can add glitz and glamour to your walk down the aisle. Simply gorgeous wedding flowers. Orchids dislike sudden change in temperature, however a difference of 10 C – 20 C between day and night temperature is beneficial. The best suitable range is 18 C to 30 C, proper ventilation is must to provide fresh air and also helps in reducing the temperature.

Orchids are found throughout the world from the tropics to the subarctic zone. However, the orchid-richest areas are the tropics and subtropics. Orchids, like tulips , have become a major market throughout the world. Buyers now bid hundreds of dollars on new hybrids or improved ones. Orchids have few insect pests or diseases if properly cared for. It is important to have a problem identified before attempting control. Orchids native to temperate and arctic regions usually grow in soil or leaf litter. They generally have tuberous or bulbous roots which store moisture and nutrients.

Lets get started! First you must get your new pot ready. Repotting orchids is pretty easy if you do the right thing. If you decide to use an old pot or recycled pot for your orchids – you need to prepare the pot itself. You can get a used/old pot ready by soaking it with a little bleach and water concoction. Once you have soaked it – make sure you rinse it off, and let it dry completely over a few days. If the pot is new – just soak it in water for 10-15 minutes.

After the pot is ready, you need to get the inside ready with a good-sized layer of plastic foam. The plastic foam peanuts work great when repotting orchids. Place the peanuts at the bottom of the pot. It helps the new repotted orchid’s roots get adequate drainage. This is important for your orchid to thrive. You can also wet the potting mix. It is best to do that with boiling water. Let the soil set and cool back down. Then add the soil to the pots.

Care of orchids is not as difficult as you may think. One key area to focus on is timing of water as you care for orchids. The best time to water the orchid is early in the morning. In the care of orchids, it is vital not to wet the leaves, as that may cause crown rot.

Ideally you can use rainwater for watering your orchids – really it is the best way to care for orchids. However, in some places, collecting rain water is illegal (but maybe a small bowl would be ok!). When you are trying to really care for orchids – and rainwater isn’t available – well water is a close second. Unfortunately, many of us do not have access to either – that puts us in need for bottled water. Tap water is just not good for taking care of orchids.

Orchids not only care about timing – they also care about temperature. If you collected rain water, just let it sit inside the house for a day or two and get to room temperature. The cold water from outside or from the frig could shock your orchid. The more time you spend learning about how to care for orchids, you will see that they thrive in high humidity – around 40-60% is ideal. To keep the humidity there, remember to water them every 5 to 12 days or so.

Ahh, the joy of orchid gardening. It is a pastime that has been around for ages. With such beauty and variety in the orchids, the options for gardening are endless. With so many different types of orchids (28,000 + the hybrids), it is hard to find a guide that can answer everything. The basics below are just that – the basics and they should hold true for any species.

Orchid Gardening Tip #1 – Care Is Required

One thing that you must understand is that while orchid gardening is not difficult, it must be undertaken with great care. This is why many people who are just getting started with orchid gardening find that while they are able to keep their orchids alive, they are unable to get them to bloom. Herein lies the reason why you should choose an easy type of orchid.

Orchid Gardening Tip #2 – Choosing The Right Orchid

Choosing the right orchid is important. For a beginning orchid gardener, you may want to start with one such as the Cymbidum, to work with. Doing so will provide for a much more rewarding experience.