Because orchids have a reputation as being hard to care for, following basic orchid care instructions is vital for any orchid grower.
In fact, many people avoid becoming involved with orchids altogether because they hear all too often about what a handful they can be...how they have to be continuously repotted....or how you have to have just the right balance of light and water, and so on.
In truth, orchids aren't quite as finicky and fragile as most people would lead one to believe, but it pays to have some general idea of what you're doing before you jump in. Which is why following these tips should produce great results for you:
First of all, you should recognize that no one set of orchid care instructions is going to suffice for all orchids. A recent count has it that there are some 35 thousand different species of orchid in the world, and each one has different needs.
Where one orchid type might thrive in warm, humid climates, another might do well in shady, cool areas. It pays to make sure that you know what particular type of orchid you have, and how to properly care for it.
In addition, every year your orchid should be repotted. This is because orchids are all about the roots; their roots grow and expand substantially faster than similar flowering plants, and they require a great deal of room and access to air. This is why orchids need to be transplanted to larger pots periodically. If you leave your orchid in a container that is too small for it, you'll definitely stunt its growth potential.
When considering any "essential" orchid care instructions, it may also be wise for you to practice plant division on your orchids. Some of the larger orchids can be quite beautiful, but bear in mind that the more blossoms a plant has, the more energy it requires to sustain itself.
Sometimes it can be better to divide a large plant in two, so that it becomes two smaller plants, each with a healthy root system, and an impressive array of blooms. Each orchid, being smaller, now has to consume less energy to sustain itself.
Bear in mind WHERE you place your orchid is also very important. Because orchids have such drastically different requirements, simply moving your orchid from one location to another, even temporarily, can be enough to kill it.
If your orchid thrives in humidity, never move it somewhere where it will dry out. Believe it or not, many orchids meant to be grown outside dislike the direct sunlight and should be planted accordingly.
One last piece of orchid care instruction to keep you happy as an orchid grower is to rotate your plants so you always have at least a few plants near the blooming stage.
In other words, have some new plants, some "NBS" plants, and some "BS" plants at all times. This keeps you actively engaged with all parts of the orchid life cycle and keeps you sharp. practice.
Don't try to shortcut the adventure of growing orchids! Remember these orchid care instructions are time-tested strategies for getting the most of your plants.
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