Loving Your Orchid By: Shayla & Emilie
The correct amount of sunlight is important to the survival of an orchid. You want to make sure there is not too much or too little sunlight. You need to be cautious of where you keep your orchid and make sure to check on it every once in a while.
Where should I place my orchid? • Somewhere with bright, but indirect sunlight • East or west facing window How can I tell if the lighting amount is incorrect? • Pale leaves with brown patches: excessive light • Dark green leaves: insufficient lighting • Measure the shadows that fall on the leaves of the orchid by holding your hand about 12 inches away from it. A faint shadow means it has a good amount of light. A dark shadow will be too much light.
Watering is the trickiest step in owning an orchid. There are many factors that play into watering, including what mix it is in, what environment it is growing in, and what season it is. You have to play around until you achieve the right amount, which takes time and patience. But, DO NOT over water your orchid, and after watering, always put it back in it’s growing space. Keep in mind that too little is better than too much.
How often? • In bark: watered every 7 days • In moss: every 12-14 days • Create a routine • Orchids like to get almost dry and then watered again. You can stick a utensil into the mix to see how if it is still wet What is the temperature and humidity in your home? • Humidity of at least 50% is best • When humidity rises, water every 4-7 days, spray the leaves with a water mister ever two days What season is it? • Winter: watered less • Summer: watered more
The most important thing to remember is that your orchid is not dead, it is resting. So, do not throw it away. This time can be frustrating, but just be patient and your orchid will bloom again.
What do I do when my orchid is dormant? • Continue watering it with the same routine • Fertilize your orchid at least once a month • Move your orchid to a slightly cooler place with a lot of indirect sunlight • Be patient
Repotting your orchid is fairly easy and there are a lot of potting mixes to choose from. It is important to examine your orchid while repotting it so make sure it is still healthy.
What supplies will I need? • Rinsed orchid mix • Clippers • Scalpel • Label • Pot What is the process of repotting? • Gently remove orchid from current pot • Remove mix from orchid roots • Place the orchid in the new pot • Loosely pack the orchid mix in the new pot around the roots of the orchid • Place the label in the pot, labeling it with the date, and any other important information collected during repotting
https://www.joyusgarden.com/how-to-water-phalaenopsis-orchids/ https://www.justaddiceorchids.com/orchid-care-resting-orchid https://www.repotme.com/pages/orchid-repotting-phalaenopsis https://smartgardenguide.com/phalaenopsis-orchid-lightneeds/#:~:text=Phalaenopsis%20orchids%20need%20bright%20 but,green%20leaves%20indicate%20insufficient%20lighting.