How To Care For Your Orchids – Fantastic Color For Indoor Decor

Paphiopedilum – Are easily suited for home growing, requiring only bright light and your normal home temperatures. It loves bright indirect sunlight. Also called a slipper orchid and blooms are long lasting up to 10 weeks of bloom.
Temperatures – Most mature orchids need about 15 to 20f temperatures between night and day.
Water – Never let plants dry out.
Fertilizer – Must be fertilized on a regular basis, but requires less fertilizer than most orchids. Use a good 10-10-10 balanced ratio
Potting – Should be done about every one to two years.

Oncidium – Oncidiums are from sea level to the tropics.
Temperatures – should be 55-60f at night and 80 85 during day.
Water – Generally plants with large fleshy roots needs less water. Watering should be thorough. Plants not active should be watered less. Do not leave in standing water.
Fertilizer – Apply a good 30-10-10 balanced fertilizer twice a month.
Potting – Re-pot when plant is about half mature. Keep Humidity high and new pot should be medium dry until new roots form.

Dendrobium – Are very common at retail stores. Also called an air plant. Very leafy appearance. They love the early morning sun.
Temperatures – Mature plants like 15 to 20f difference between night and day. Leaves may drop if temperatures drop below 50f.
Water – They like moist soil but can tolerate dryness when plant is matured.
Fertilizer – They like to be fertilized often especially during growing period. Use a good 10-10-10 balanced ratio.
Potting – Repot every 2-3 years, give good aeration and drainage. They tend to like small pots for their size.
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The Phalaenopsis – This is a favorite among orchid care enthusiasts. Long-repeating blooms with many colors and are really inexpensive. These blooms are moth like in appearance.
Temperatures – Should be about 55-60f at night and 80 85 daytime. Seedlings need about 10 degrees higher than mature plants.
Water – Do not let plants dry out. Younger plants needs more watering and attention.
Fertilizer – Should be fertilized on a regular basis. A good 10-10-10 fertilizer or anything close ratio. Fertilize every week at one quarter to one half of recommended dilution.
Potting – Should be done every 2-3 years. Better if done during late spring.

Remember always use a good orchid care fertilizer and soil for all orchids. Typically the above orchids are what most nurseries have, but there are over 28,000 varieties.
Read this article online at: Orchid Care