Orchid Planting Tips
As one of the most rewarding and decorative pieces of mother nature’s art, orchids are also very famous for being difficult and frustrating plants to grow. You’ve got to master the very gentle and supple art of orchid planting in order to reap the considerable rewards of owning one of these exotic little items.
There are numerous important and cautionary bits of information to absorb when you
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With this in mind, you should take the time to study your specific species of orchid before ever undertaking a planting project. Normally, when bought, orchids come in planters that are tightly packed and encased in tight plastic containers. When it comes to an orchid’s survival, everything is wrong with this situation, but it makes them easier to ship.
Therefore, orchid planting in a much more comfortable spot is the first thing you should do when you bring the orchid. Furthermore, while most gardeners will prefer to plant an orchid in a much more controllable pot, planting outside has its own benefits to reap and the decorative appeal of a whole gaggle of orchids planted in the front yard is alluring.
Besides the key need to ensure that the roots are properly exposed to the air and have loose compost in which to reside, orchid planting is no different from planting the common begonia or azalea. With the exceptions of some of the more finicky species like Osmunda, this process is completely painless and the careful gardener can bring to life one of the loveliest living things on earth.
Keeping in mind the aforementioned rule, the first step is to select a clean, sterile planter that is at least four to five inches wider than the most extensive basal width of the orchid in question. Your orchid loves purity, so try to make sure this planter is new and clear of debris or other substances.
The planter should be soaked in still, distilled water for around 10 minutes, and then drained. You should never, ever, use water that has been through a water softener, and don’t leave the planter out on a bench or standing over a towel while it drains, since that will defeat the whole purpose of soaking it. Our planter needs to collect water in order to be a moist, soft habitat for the plant.
Following this, take your pick of coarse gravel, bits of smashed pottery, or even small rocks so that there is a loose debris field in which to grow the roots of your orchid. Potting step number three will fondly be referred to as the dirty part. Several handfuls of compost should be brought out and mixed well before being piled up in the shape of a cone.
It should come to a peak but not be too steep, and should reach the upper edge of the surface of the ground. Don’t try to measure here, the art of orchid planting is all about using your gut to place the plant just right and feel good about the way you’re caring for your plant. Now is the time to carefully remove the orchid, spread the roots evenly in all direction so that they wrap all around our compost cone, and fill the planter all around the root-covered cone with more compost.
This environment is perfect for orchid planting, as it will leave a space between the loose compost that the plant’s roots can travel comfortably through and allow it to slowly penetrate the compost on the top and bottom of it, evenly distributing its food source. This is why the next step is to firmly press the compost down around the plant’s roots but never to pack it.
Too much tightness around the plant will be deadly to the precious flora, and I’ll wager you’ve spent too much money on that beautiful orchid to let it meet an end like that. Now you’re done with the orchid planting. After a nice, thorough showering, this plant will be ready to grow and bloom. Follow the steps above and you’ll get the hang of orchid planting in no-time.
Orchid planting is really just that simple, and after a few tries, your plants will happily grow into their spacious new homes.