2008 December | Calwest Orchid Supplies

Archive for December, 2008

27
Dec

orchid hybrids

how long will my phalaenopsis hybrid orchid last?

i have just recieved a 3 1/2 ft high orchid and very badly want it to live forever, with proper care. How long will it last?

With proper care the plant itself should last a good long while, can’t really give a figure though.

One of the biggest problems with orchids is loving them to death. Too much/improper watering can mean problems for the orchid.

It works best to soak the roots of the orchid and then let it drain. Don’t just get the orchid mix wet, set the whole pot in water for a while: 30 minutes to an hour. Let it get somewhat dry between waterings. Be careful to not get any water down in where the leaves come together. If water stays there the plant can rot. If water does get down in the leaves, carefully tilt the plant while supporting it, until the water drains out. We also have been known to plaque our orchids (even the phals) on cork and hang them so that when they are watered, the water automatically drains out of the leaves.

Ever so often check the condition of the orchid mix. If it has broken down/decayed into smaller and smaller pieces it may be time to use new mix. In nature an orchid’s roots are open to the air so they need a potting medium to have plenty of air spaces for the roots. Once the mix begins to break down, the mix becomes more and more compacted until little or no air is able to get to the roots and the mix holds onto to much water. One of the potting mediums my husband and Iike best is lava rock. We use either the small (finer rooted orchids) or slightly larger rock (for all the other orchids).

The advantages of lava rock:
never breaks down
does not hold excess water/drains easily
provides some weight so the pot is less able to tip over

Resist the temptation to over fertilize your orchid(s). They usually need a time of reducuced/no fertilizer in order to rev up for blooming. If you look up care for the phals, you should be able to find out when their rest time is.

If your orchid is inside you might want to check some info on indoor orchid care as there might be some additional steps to caring for indoor orchids.

Hope this helps