Articles

These are articles written to help members learn how to use the article publishing system.

Breeding and pollination articles. How to and equipment necessary for success.

Articles on how to de-flask orchids. Moving orchids to compot. Seedlings, etc...

Articles on successful dividing of orchids. (When to do it, how to do it, what to use, etc...)

Flasking orchid seed. (How to do it, avoiding contamination, temperature, light, medium, recipes, etc...)

Articles on growing orchids in a greenhouse. What do you need? (Materials and supplies, building requirements, plans, heat, water, electricity, gas, cooling, etc...)

How to cross and orchid and why. (Articles on hybridizing; how and why it is done, successful practices, what to look for in pod-parent and pollen parent, etc...)

Articles on Semi-hydroponics and orchid growing. (What materials, how to do it, what plants are successful, what to avoid, etc...)

Taxonomic discoveries and classification changes. The how and why, etc...

Cattleya Grower Information Temperature: 70 - 90 degrees F. daytime, 60 - 65 degrees F. night Humidity: 40 - 65 % relative humidity is ideal Notes: While Cattleyas adapt well to less than ideal conditions and therefore make good "beginner" orchids, their high light requirements are sometimes difficult to achieve in the home. Be sure to place them where they will receive abundant light with direct sun striking them only very early in the morning. Allow them to dry slightly between waterings.

Dendrobium Growers Information Light Requirements: 2000 - 2500 Footcandles Very easy to grow, Dendrobiums enjoy abundant light and bloom profusely when provided with it. Temperature: 70 - 90 degrees F. daytime, 60 - 65 degrees F. night. Humidity: 40 - 65 % relative humidity is ideal Notes: Dendrobiums can grow quite tall with flower sprays reaching 3 - 4 feet in length budding out near the crown. Nobile types require a cool rest period in winter to initiate budding but bloom all along the length of the cane.

Oncidium Growers Information Light Requirements: 1500 - 2000 Footcandles A bright kitchen window with no direct sun is perfect for these medium-light loving plants. Temperature: 70 - 90 degrees F. daytime, 60 - 65 degrees F. night. Humidity: 40 - 65 % relative humidity is ideal. Notes: In general, Oncidiums and the intergeneric hybrids produced with them form sprays sometimes over four feet long of tiny, often yellow or pink-tinted flowers that can make quite a show. Almost all are fragrant. They grow quickly, and it is not unusual for new pseudobulbs to stair-step their way out of a pot, throwing thin roots everywhere. These can be misted with fertilizer solution diluted from 1/3 to 1/2 strength each time the pot is watered. Oncidiinae appreciate good air movement. Plants that receive sufficient light to flower often exhibit scores of tiny brown spots on the leaves and their leaf-tips frequently turn yellow. The leaves themselves can be quite brittle and will split naturally during normal growth, so the foliage is usually not considered particularly attractive. Equitant oncids. can be difficult, as they require a cool spell at the end of the growing season to initiate the next years blooms.

Paphiopedilum Growers Information Light Requirements: 1000 - 1500 Footcandles The lower light requirements of these "old world" slipper orchids make them very well suited for home cultivation. Temperature: 70 - 80 degrees F. daytime, 55 - 65 degrees F. night. Humidity: 40 - 70 % relative humidity is ideal. Notes: Paphiopedilums (from the Greek, Paphios, ancient city of Cyprus that was the center of worship of Aphrodite, and the Latin ped, relating to the foot -- we get prostitute-footed, or Ladyslipper) are terrestrial orchids that bloom either one or many on a spike. Flowers can last up to two months. These orchids should be watered generously and kept damp: lacking pseudobulbs, the plants use their roots for water and nutrient storage, therefore the roots should never be allowed to completely dry out.

Phalaenopsis Growers Information Temperature: 70 - 85 degrees F. daytime, 62 - 66 degrees F. night. Humidity: 55 - 70 % relative humidity is ideal. Notes: Phalaenopsis or "Moth" orchids because of the flowers' resemblance to moths with outstretched wings are often sold as "beginner" orchids because of their low light requirements. They are, however, prone to crown rot and the low light they need keeps any excess water in their pots from evaporating quickly. Care should be taken not to over-water these, as root rot will cause the leaves to become "mushy," sag, and droop. It is best to water the plants in the morning so that any water on the leaves and especially in the crown has a chance to dry before nightfall. Blooms erupt on long sprays in mature plants and can last up to three months, sometimes even longer.

Phragmipedium Growers Information Temperature: 70 - 90 degrees F. daytime, 64 - 68 degrees F. night. Humidity: 50 - 70 % relative humidity is ideal. Notes: Phrags, hard to come by as little as ten years ago and once considered "difficult," have now become much more common with advances in propagating techniques and their prices have dropped accordingly. With the light requirements of Cattleyas but the water requirements of their ladyslipper cousins, Phragmipediums are not for the novice grower. Do not let the roots dry between waterings. These are warm-growing terrestrials but still require good air movement. Flowers are often uniquely shaped and stunning on mature plants.

Vandaceous Grower Information Light Requirements: 2500 - 4000 Footcandles Strap-Leafed varieties ("V"-shaped leaves), full sun a minimum of 4 hours / day for Terete-Leafed varieties (pencil-shaped leaves). Because of their high light requirements and large size, Vandas need to be grown in a "sunroom," greenhouse, or outdoors year around if weather conditions permit. Temperature: 70 - 90 degrees F. daytime, 62 - 66 degrees F. night. Humidity: 50 - 70 % relative humidity is ideal. Notes: Vandas can often grow to twenty or more feet in height. Mature plants will produce spikes at various intervals throughout the year, allowing them to be in bloom year around. Roots are formed and grow all along the length of the main stem; this makes keeping Vandas "potted" somewhat of an exercise in futility. They are usually anchored in slatted, wooden baskets and hung. Watering them means spraying down the entire length of the stalk, and since the majority of their roots are aerial and dry off quickly, they need to be watered daily during the late spring and summer months for them to thrive. Mature plants that have been well cared for can form clusters of blooms each the size of saucers. These "specimen" plants make stunning centerpieces in growing areas that are large and bright enough to accommodate them. Up-potting is accomplished by inserting the plant's smaller basket inside a larger one and carefully spreading the roots between the new slats, but at some point, the roots simply "take over" and are allowed to hang down or are wrapped up and around themselves as they grow. Roots can quite often reach double the length of the actual plant.

General advice to follow concerning orchid and orchid growing.

Articles covering air quality and air movement relating to orchids.

Articles relating to fertilizer and feeding orchid. (Bloom Booster, Weakly-Weekly, etc...)

Articles discussing the names and importance of orchid names. How to read a plant tag, etc...

Articles discussing growing under lights, light requirements for growth & re-blooming of orchids.

Articles discussing mounting orchids. How to and regular maintenance. (Supplies, woods, glues, etc... )

Disease and pest articles. (Virus, fungus, orchid ailments, scale, mealy-bugs, aphids, ants, etc...)

Re-pot your orchid. (Articles on potting, potting media, staking bloom spikes, types of containers, etc...)

Watering your orchids - How much is enough, too much? (Articles on water quality, RO water, rain water, tap water and your orchids, pH levels, etc...)