The Four Basic Requirements for Orchid Gardening

There are many myths surrounding orchids and how to grow them. One of the most common is that orchids are extremely difficult to grow. This is a big misconception I feel, it's true that there are some species of orchids that can be be very difficult to cultivate. Even highly experienced growers have problems keeping them alive. However, there are well over twenty thousand species of orchid and ten times as many hybrids, many of these are no more difficult to grow than your other garden and house plants.

It may seem difficult at first, you will need to properly research how to successfully care for your orchid first and just like anything worthwhile it'll take you a little bit of effort but in the end I know you'll find it rewarding. So stick at it and before long you'll have mastered the basics of caring for your orchids.

To help you start I've put together some basic information about gardening orchids that I hope you'll find both interesting and useful.

Basic Requirements

The requirements for orchid gardening are really not much different to gardening any other house or garden plant, water, light, fertilizer and air. If you can provide these in the right amounts then you're almost there.

There are of course a few other little extras that you can use to really get the most from your orchids including, humidity trays and grow light set-ups and many different potting mediums which I'll touch on, but for now we'll stick to the basics.

Myth number two surrounding orchids is that they must be kept in a greenhouse. I believe this stems from the common belief that orchids are tropical plants only and so you must provide these conditions for them to thrive. There are species of orchids found growing on every continent except the Antarctica and in almost every environment. Epiphytic orchids grow on trees, Lithophytes survive on rocks and terrestrial orchids are perfectly happy grown in the ground one species, Rhizanthella gardneri grows completely underground only appearing briefly for pollination to occur.

My point is that with so much variety in the world of orchids you shouldn't have too much trouble finding one that will suit your growing conditions.

1) Water

With such a huge variety of orchid species around it makes it tough to give specific requirements suitable for all orchids so you should do your best to find out as much as you can about the species of your orchid too.

In general orchids require watering well but only once every other week, they have highly adapted root systems which take in water very quickly and release it slowly over a long period of time making it easy to over water them if you're not careful. To be on the safe side let the roots of your orchids dry out almost completely before you water them again. Avoid letting the roots come into contact with standing water for any length of time or they will die off and damage the health of your orchid. For this reason it's important that potted orchids should have adequate drainage.

How much water your orchid expects and how often should give you a good idea of what potting media will be best.

2) Light

When it comes to light orchids love lots of it, long periods of sunlight, 10 to 12 hours per day will help to see your orchids thrive. However, direct sunlight should be avoided, even a small amount can burn and damage leaves leaving unhealthy looking marks or blackened leaves.

If you're growing your orchids indoors try placing it near but not too close to an eastern facing window to maximise the daylight exposure, if you're worried that the sun is too strong make use of frosted glass, net curtains or blinds to diffuse the light.

If you're orchids are out doors in your garden you can make use of objects and structures to provide it with shading, you'll know where the best spots in your garden are for this.

3) Fertilizer

You're orchid will want fertilizing periodically as potting mediums provide little in the way of nutrients. Use a solution diluted more than you would for ordinary plants.

You can purchase specialist orchid fertilizer for this which should provide more of the nutrients and trace minerals that your orchid needs to thrive.

You should stick to periods of active growth when fertilizing so avoid feeding your orchid during winter months and for a short while after re-potting.

4) Air

While terrestrial orchids can be grown in soil or compost in the garden, the majority of species are epiphytic with aerial roots adapted to having plenty of airflow.

If your orchid is mounted then this should not be much of a problem but if you're potting your orchid you need to provide it with a medium that allows plenty of air flow. This should go hand in hand with giving your orchids good drainage.

Most suitable potting media is organic such as, coconut husk, sphagnum moss and cork bark and as such will gradually decay over time. As it decays it will compact reducing air flow and increasing water retention. It may also attract more pests who feed on decaying organic matter mostly non harmful to your orchid but you may not want them around still.

Degraded potting mix should be changed as soon as possible, depending on the mix once every year or two, but be aware that the shock of re-potting may mean your orchid doesn't flower for a year or so afterwards. You can minimise the stress on your plant by avoiding damage to roots and stems when removing it from the pot.

All in all orchid gardening is fun and rewarding and it is absolutely within anyone's grasp to achieve fantastic results. Good luck and have fun!

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Planting Roses at Home - The Basic Tips

Even if you are an avid gardener or a beginner, everyone needs to know the essential tips on how to grow roses successfully. The first and most important step to starting a rose garden is planting them. Rose planting can determine the amount of blooms and how quickly your rose bushes thrive in your home garden.?

The most important step in rose planting is location. Rose planting locations will go beyond just how deep to dig your hole and whether you use fertilizer or not. The first and more important key to remember is that no matter what care you provide, if your roses are not planted in the correct location they will not grow.

Most roses require at least six hours of natural sunlight per day. There are some roses that can still thrive in shade, but they still require up to four hours of natural and unfiltered sunlight each day in order to bloom. So the first step in rose planting would be to insure you are selecting a location that gets 4-6 hours of natural sunlight each day.

Nutrient rich soil is the key to a healthy growing rose bush. If your soil has too much clay or sand, or is nutrient deficient, your roses will most likely not thrive. Always do the "hand mold" test prior to rose planting. The test involves clumping the soil into your hands and making a mold with it. If the soil does not crumble, you most likely have too much clay. If the mold does not hold its shape, then you most likely have a sand issue. A good soil is one that holds its shape but will still crumble easily. Always test your soil for chalk and limestone as well as the acid content prior to planting. You can purchase kits that will test your soil at your local nursery or garden center.

As you consider where to plant your roses, you should also consider how close your roses will be to other plants in your yard. Plants that have longer roots and are planted close to your roses may actually take water and nutrients from them. The best way to tell if you have other plant roots that could steal from your roses is to dig a hole and insure there are no visible roots from neighboring plants. Try to plant your roses adjacent to non-invasive plants. That way, if their roots do begin to come close to one another, you will know your other plants will not steal from your roses.?

When it comes time to finally dig your hole, be sure that it is only slightly deeper than that of your roots. If you are living in a colder climate, dig a deeper hole to insure your roots do not frost come winter time. You can always ask neighbors and other rose growers in your neighborhood just how deep they dug their holes to insure you are in line with the rest. Always be sure to loosen the soil at the bottom of your hole. This allows for water drainage, but also proper room for your roots to grow.

Rose planting comes with experience, but the more you know from trial and error, the more successful you will be. Always research the species of roses you are attempting to grow and know their specific needs when it comes to water, soil, and sunlight. You can easily grow roses at home with the right rose planting tips.

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Basic Gardening Tools and Equipment You'll Need

Before you start your home garden activities, it's a must to provide yourself with the needed tools and equipment in your nursery. These tools and equipment must be available all the time to make your gardening works easy and convenient.

You can work peacefully and efficiently if you have a complete tools and equipment in your nursery. You would not be worrying where to borrow because you have a complete sets of them always at hand when eventualities so arises.

You don't need big amount to start collecting your tools and equipment. You can visit some agriculture stores for garden tools and buy at bargain those that are not so costly, especially during yard sales. As a gardener, you've to follow this slogan " Use the Right Tool to the Right Job" to make your gardening work successful.

Some Basic Tools and Equipment

• Shovels - A round-ended shovel should be preferred for digging especially for planting trees and smaller shrubs.

• Garden Hoes - A garden hoe is useful for weeding and cultivating soil surfaces to allow for deeper plant root penetration of nutrients and water.

• Bow Rake -Provide a good heavy duty bow rake, which has short tines on one side attached to a metal frame or 'bow.' This tool is vital for leveling the soil to make it ready for planting, or for removing large clods of earth or rocks from the soil.

• Spading Forks - The spading fork is needed to open and improve the soil. It looks like a pitchfork but has a shorter handle and wider tines. It is used to dig down into hard soil and break up the ground.

• Dull Bolo - This tool is common in the Philippines, its uses is similar with a garden used for weeding and cultivation.

• Sharp Bolo - A sharp bolo is used to cut some grasses and small branches or generally for clearing operations prior to soil cultivation.

• Garden shears - Select a pair of garden shears that fits comfortably in your hand. Shears, sometimes called clippers, are used for pruning, shaping and removing foliage or branches.

• Garden Hose - Hose is necessary to water your garden. Depending on how much there is to water a sprinkler is also a good addition to the watering garden equipment list.

• Sprinkler Can - This is essential for watering your plants. Long nozzles allow the water to come out at a very gentle flow rate and are useful for reaching across long distances. Select a watering can that has a detachable spray head - this type of watering can is perfect for watering young seedlings.

• Hand Sprayer - Hand sprayer is useful for spraying some minor insect pests that are easily managed for minor insect attack in the garden.

• Spade - Similar to shovel, but it has a square end point used for digging and making a straight plots and beds.

• Carts and wheelbarrows - are necessary to transfer some gardening tools and equipment used in your garden works. Some other uses for carts and wheelbarrows are to collect and remove your full grown vegetables from your garden and carry dirt's and grass clippings away from the garden. • Garden Pruner - When you want to shape and cut back longer plants you will use the pruner garden tool. Pruners come in two styles. One is the bypass style and the other is the anvil. Pick up a couple of varieties to see which style is best for you. Pruners that have changeable blades and parts that are possible to sharpen will assist in extending the life of this piece of gardening equipment.

• Garden Trowel - A garden trowel is also used for weeding and cultivation. Select the one with a steel blade to make it last longer in use. There are different types of handles to choose from. You can either select the one with rubber handles that make them easier to grip while using them and there are some that are designed to relieve stress from your wrist during use.

There are still some equipment to be purchased in your gardening operations, but these tools and equipment mentioned are the basics you should purchase. If you have already your bigger capital, Roto-tiller or Tractor is also important in your garden. For the meantime, be satisfied with the basic garden tools and equipment identified, you can already start you garden operations. Happy gardening!

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Basic Methods Of Watering Orchids

Do you plan to have your own garden of orchids? Before you do that, there are a lot of important and necessary procedures that you need to follow. As you know, it is not that easy to take care of orchids. Owners should need to have a good background and proper knowledge on how to properly grow orchids. There are even right ways of watering orchids. You need to know all of these things if you want your orchids to bloom beautifully. The next sentences below will talk about how to properly water your orchids.

The first method in the procedure is to water your orchids with lukewarm water. This is not only applicable to orchids but also to all the other plants. If the water is 10 degrees Fahrenheit colder or warmer compared to room temperature, it will damage the cells of the plants. You need to feel the water first before you give it to your orchids. Water should feel comfortable, not warm nor too cold. The second method, when watering orchids, is to water it from the top until the water runs freely through the drainage holes. Or, you can simply immerse the pot in the water for about ?" below the rim of the pot and let your orchid absorb the water for about 10 to 15 minutes.

The third method in watering orchids is you only need to water them on sunny days and early in the day (before 12 noon). This will allow any water that got in between leaves or new growth to evaporate before nightfall. Fourth method is that you need to wipe out any water that splashed on or in between leaves of your orchids. No matter how careful you are in watering your orchids, you still cannot avoid or prevent water to get in between the leaves or new growth. It was found out that if the water stays there, it may cause crown rot which will eventually kill the orchid. Lastly, DO NOT water too often; over-watering will kill your orchids!

These are just the simple and basic steps on how to properly water your orchids. If you want to know more about the right way of watering orchids, there are a lot of orchid books available in the market that would serve as your guidelines on how to properly take good care of your orchids. You need to strictly follow all the given directions, instructions, and suggestions in order to make your orchids grow healthy and bloom beautifully, especially if you are only a newbie in the world of orchids care.

Charlotte T. Bailey is an orchid enthusiast and owns many different orchid species at the same time. She shares all her knowledge and experience about the proper way of caring for orchids to other individuals through specific information about watering orchids. She also compiled all her knowledge and experiences about orchid care and created the book "Super Orchid Care Secrets: Grow Healthy And Beautiful Orchids The Easy Way" in order to help and guide other individuals, who are having difficulties on growing these beautiful flowers, on how to grow orchids the right way. To learn more about the secrets in growing gorgeous orchids, visit her site at http://hypertracker.com/go/relevantmarketing/RM023/.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Charlotte_T._Bailey

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Article Submitted On: September 24, 2010

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Basic Information About Orchids

Orchids are growing in popularity.? They are becoming one of the favored houseplant varieties.? Even the traditional favorites like African violets are losing appeal.? The orchids come in so many colors and sizes that everyone has a favorite among the bunch.? With all the information that is available today, growing orchids is simpler than ever.? They do require some very specific amounts of vital resources.? Light, water, food, and air must be provided in amounts that match their natural growing environments.? There are orchids that thrive in both cooler and warmer climates.? Most will thrive inside the average home with a temperature of between 75 and 85 degrees. Growing orchids does take time and attention devoted to them to becoming the true beauties that they are.

The Phalaenopsis orchid is considered by experts one of the easiest orchid plants to grow.? These hardy plants are adaptive and thrive in an office or home environment.? The bud will open and remain that way up to twenty four weeks.? Some species will have blooms that only last for up to a month.? There are even a few special species that will bloom for a whole year.?? Some prefer to bloom several times a year.? It is all dependent on what type environment these beauties are being adopted into that can dictate how often they bloom.?? Growing orchids needs to be done in a protected area, away from changes in temperature and light.? Light sources need to be carefully controlled by the grower.

Growing orchids is best done when they are planted in bark rather than in potting soil.? A grower can even grow orchids in sphagnum moss.? Many times consumers will notice that when they buy a live potted orchid at local nurseries it will be planted in moss.? The roots of the growing orchids need air circulation to survive. Potting soil is so heavy that it literally smothers the plant.? Watering routines vary depending on the species and the time of year.? Summertime usually requires the plants to be watered every week.? The hotter it is the more water the orchid will need.? One of the biggest obstacles is finding a spot in the home that can be to set up everything and no have it disturbed.? There is something exciting about growing orchids.

Light is a very specific need for growing orchids.? Without light, the orchid will not have enough stored energy to bloom.? With too much light, it will burn and die. Yellowing leaves will occur with too much sunlight or too little food.? Trying to the find the right mix of light, water and nutrients can present several problems.? Fertilize the plants with special orchid food about once a week. While orchids appear so light and delicate for all their faults, they are hearty plants.? They are resistant to loss of moisture and heat.? They are, however, very sensitive to changes in light and temperature.? Growing orchids may be exciting, but it is also challenging.

Growing orchids can be a lot of fun and provide the grower with beautiful flowers.? The mainstay of orchid growing is patience and consistency.? Without both, these plants will not flower and will be damaged. The patience of the grower is well rewarded when yet another beautiful flower pops out.

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