_{Visitors to the RHS Orchid Show photographed by Sarel Jansen}

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The Potting Shed

The Orchid

The orchid is a flower of great magnificence that brings a universal message of love, beauty, wisdom, and thoughtfulness, says Camilla Swift

In Victorian times, the orchid became the ultimate luxury item and status symbol and obsessive collectors would despatch plant hunters all over the world searching for new varieties. Once, it is said, four thousand trees were cut down solely for the orchids growing on their branches.

Contrary to popular belief you don't need a green house to grow orchids successfully; they are not the delicate, hard to grow plants some people think they are. But if you are new to the world of orchids it's wise to start with one that is least demanding and easy to flower (Phalaenopsis or Cymbidium).

Most orchids best suited for growing at home are the ones that in nature grow perched high on the trees, clinging to branches or the top of the trunk. Known as epiphytic jungle plants, they derive nutrition from the air, rain, and any decaying vegetation the roots come in contact with. To grow these orchids successfully you need to duplicate, as much as possible, their native habitat.

1. Humidity

Transforming the front room into a humid jungle with plenty of tree trunks for support would obviously be ideal, but there are less drastic things that can be done to make your Orchid feel at home.

Orchids need a high humidity of at least 50%. Place the pot in a tray filled with pebbles and water on an upturned saucer to allow for essential draianage – orchids hate constantly wet feet.

Misting is good for orchids too, but this should be done only when there is sufficient light and air circulation so that the orchids can dry before night.

2. Watering

A good rule of thumb is to water only when the soil becomes dry. Once a fortnight is more than enough water in the winter. Orchids must never be allowed to remain wet or soggy for more than one or two days at a time. They much prefer rain water at room temperature to water out of the tap. No water butt? They’re perfectly partial to still spring water.

3. Food

Orchids like a little bit of weak liquid feed, preferablysome form of water soluble 'orchid fertilizer', every couple of weeks during the growing season (April– August).

4. Light

Orchids need light, natural not direct and not too much in order to flower. The ideal spot for a happy orchid in the home is a bright window giving indirect sunlight both morning and afternoon. During the winter months orchids will need about four hours of sunlight to thrive and bloom.

In the absence of natural sun, an extra hit of fluorescent light will do. Exact light requirements vary according to the type of plant. But you can usually judge how much light an orchid needs by watching the leaves.

If the leaves are a light grass green, the plant has as much light as it can stand and is trying to protect itself from burning. If the leaves become very yellow, move the plant to more shade. If they become dark emerald green, move the plant to more light.

5. Potting medium

Ready made orchid potting mixes available at most garden centres, or from orchid growers themselves, are the best. If you want to make your own, you can do so by mixing components like osmunda fiber, ground tree fern stem and ground bark, with peat and vermiculite.

Polystyrene chunks keep the compost really open. Put them at the bottom of the pot in which you have made extra drainage holes and your plants should be very happy.

6. Maintenance

Orchids have several 'bloom spikes', which take 90-120 days to bloom from the time you see them emerge from the plant.

The spike can be cut to the base when blooming tapers off and if you find the stem unsightly. Many people cut the stem to the 1st or 2nd bract on the stem. This allows the plant to flower again from an existing spike, so it's back in bloom sooner.

There's no harm in encouraging lateral blooming, but the flowers tend to be smaller. Some people prefer to remove the spike completely, so the plant can focus energy on a strong new spike.

This article was created: 6 March 2007.
This article was last edited: 26 June 2007.

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