Orchid Light Requirements

How much light/sun does my orchid need?

Orchids have a wide variety of light needs depending on their species. Understanding the appropriate amount of light for your orchid is essential to their health. Inadequate light is one of the major reasons that orchids do not bloom. Orchids require different light then normal house plants. They do not require the kind of bright direct sunshine that let's say a tomato plant does.

Too little light can make their leaves turn a rich dark green color (shown below) which is not good, their leaves should be a light green color.

Too much light can scorch or “sunburn” their leaves (as shown below). A good way to tell if your orchid is getting too much light is to touch their leaves and feel for heat. If your orchid leaves feel hot they need to be moved to shadier spot.

Orchid light requirements range from from “low light” to “high light.” I briefly described the difference below.

• Low Light = two hours of indirect sunlight per day. These plants can be grown indoors under indirect light or outdoors under shade.
• Medium Light = four hours of indirect sunlight per day… preferably either outside or by a moderately sunny windows or under lights would be suitable.
• High Light = six hours of indirect sunlight per day….preferably in bright, sunny window or outdoors would be ideal for these plants.

“High light” level orchids enjoy being outside in the summer (with dappled shade). This is the easiest way, to give them enough light to bloom. If you are keeping your “high light” orchids indoors, you may find that they will not bloom reliably without some sort of supplemental light unless they are in a very bright sun room or greenhouse. I have been told that fluorescent bulbs (with broad spectrum bulbs) work well with these types of orchids, as well as High Intensity Discharge (HID) lights…shown below. Remember, as stated in my previous post that in nature orchids get natural light cues, so you will need to keep them on a schedule as the days get longer and then get shorter.

“Low light” and “Medium light” orchids will not be happy far from a light source but are easy to grow in a filtered sunny widow. My Phalaenopsis orchids are low to medium light orchids and they do very well in my East facing window seat (shown below).

Below you will find the light requirements recommended by the American Orchid Society. You can figure out what orchid you have by looking at your plant's label and determine what genus it is (which is the first name on the tag). How much light your plant will require will depend on the type of orchid it is.

• Cattleya –Medium to High
• Cymbidium –Medium to High
• Dendrobium –Medium to High
• Masdevallia –Low to Medium
• Miltonia –Medium
• Odontoglossum –Medium
• Oncidium –Medium to High
• Paphiopedilum –Low to Medium
• Phalaenopsis –Low to Medium
• Vanda –Medium to High

Note on leaves:

• If your leaves are wilted, slimy or have spots. Click here.
• If your leaves are turning yellow. Click here.
• If you want to know how to clean orchid leaves. Click here.

Hope that helps,

Hannah

Feel free to leave comments or questions.

 

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Cleaning Orchid Leaves

How do I clean my orchid leaves?

Washing your orchid leaves, with a gentle solution, will make them very happy!

Orchid leaves need a healthy surface to absorb moisture and to allow them to breath. Often times in our house we have dust, dirt etc., that can build up on our orchid leaves. Washing your orchid leaves removes residue build up such as; hard water residue, fertilizer residue, dust, dirt, mildew, mold and restores their natural luster.

You want to make sure you use a fresh paper towel for each plant just in case one plant may have a disease. Find one that is safe for your house if you have kids and/or pets. I use Wash ME! Natural Leaf Cleaner from www.rePotme.com, which is safe. It has a wonderful fresh citrus aroma – no neem oil. It is “Made with 100% pure RO water, organic natural castile soap, and a pinch of citric acid for old fashioned careful gentle cleaning without chemicals.” shown below

photo copyright rePotme.com from this page

How to clean your orchid leaves;

1. You simply spray it on.
2. Then you wipe it off with a paper towel.
3. Don't forget to clean the bottom of the leaves as well.

It is so easy and your leaves will be crisp, green and clean!!

Other leave post;

• If your leaves are wilted, slimy or have spots. Click here.
• If your leaves are turning yellow. Click here.
• If your leaves are turning really dark. Click here.

Hope that helps,

Hannah

Feel free to leave comments or questions.

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Orchids Grown in Nature

How do orchids grow in nature?

In nature most orchids grow on trees. Their roots grab and “hug” the tree bark and support themselves through this union. The orchid uses the tree as an anchor and gets nutrients from all the organic matter that is on the tree and whatever may wash down the tree through the orchid. This typically happens in a jungle environment. Jungles are humid and orchids thrive in this environment because they absorb water from the natural humidity. Because of natural rain in these areas, the orchid is used to experiencing abundant water (which washes over them) and times of dryness. Orchid roots, leaves and pseudobulbs allow the storage of water for an upcoming dry period. Some orchids grow upright and some naturally slope downward (most orchids are staked by nurseries which makes them grow straight up).

Naturally orchids bloom on a schedule that is rarely seen in todays world. In our world orchids are “forced” into bloom by a nursery. Nurseries have a “perfect” growing environment in which humidity, light and temperature are controlled. This environment allows nurseries to produce blooming orchids year round. For example if you buy an orchid in the Summer, and it is in full bloom, it has most likely been forced into bloom by a nursery. Nothing is wrong with a nursery doing this but once you have your own orchids, on a natural cycle, then they will bloom on the schedule of nature which is early Winter and Spring. In the Summer is normally when an orchid will grow roots and leaves. Orchids need to grow new leaves and new roots to store up energy for the upcoming bloom period. See my Season by Season guide post for more information on this.

All of these facts explain why is is very strange for an orchid to grow in your house, in a pot and being staked. This is not to say that they can not be grown in your home (orchids are very hardy and easy to grow) but you must create a “jungle” environment. Meaning you must repot them snug but not smothering (they need to breath), you must give them humidity, and they enjoy a good misting. Please refer to my previous post in regards to potting, humidity , watering and fertilizing on examples on how to create this “jungle” environment in your home!

Hope that helps,

Hannah

Feel free to leave comments or questions.

 

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Root & Spike Difference

What's the difference between a root and spike?

*Above two picture is one of my Phalaenopsis orchid spiking. You can see the small buds growing.

If you have successfully repotted your orchid (it's on a natural schedule) and Fall has arrived you should be anxiously awaiting for it to spike. By “spike” I mean the beginning of the shoot that becomes the bloom.

The big question is it a SPIKE or is it a ROOT?

It is very easy to confuse a root for a spike. But once you see a real spike you will not confuse them again! They look like little “mittens” or little hands, as shown in the picture above and will grow upwards towards light. And easy way to remember this…it's cold out (fall) look for “mittens”

You should expect to see these little “mittens” on your orchid by Thanksgiving. Spikes emerge from the same area of the plant as some ariel roots which is why it easy to confuse them. In the picture below you can see both a root and a spike. Can you tell the difference? The spike is bright green, aiming upwards and has that classic ” mitten” shape…it's in the middle. The root is growing lower and is smaller and has a dusty green/white color.

Here is another example…In this picture the spike is again bright green, growing up and has the mitten shape. While the roots, below it, are again a dusty green/white color.

In this last pic we see a better picture of the roots. You can see a big, more established, spike/shoot on the left – which is growing behind the stick and is probably in bloom. This orchid has a bunch of ariel roots, they are growing all around this pot. In this case the orchid needs to be repotted soon to push some of these roots down in the soil.

Each spike on a orchid will have at least a few nodes going up the spike prior to the blooms. A node, shown below, looks like a little half envelope going up the branch and each node has the potential to branch off and have it's own bloom!

Make sure you have stakes on hand to hold up your new spike. For spiking tips go here.

Hope that helps!

Hannah

Feel free to leave comments or questions.

 

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Orchid Health: Fungus

My orchid has fungus on it. What should I do?

Fungus & Bacteria on Orchids

To prevent fungus & bacteria

Apply a solution of GET OFF ME! spray. This solution is a natural water based cinnamon herbal infusion with a few drops of baby shampoo as a surfactant. It's used to control common insect pests on orchids while also protecting the plant from fungus and bacterial problems. I spray this on my orchids every time I water them. If you don't have this then sprinkle cinnamon (yes the common spice in your cabinet) on the base of your orchid.

To TREAT fungus & bacteria

Okay, so you have found either fungus and/or bacteria or signs of rot (such as dark slimy spots) growing on your precious orchid leaves! This literally just happened to me last week with an orchid I saved.

Don't panic! The best defense, I have found, against all of this is Physan 20 applied to the affected areas, which I purchased from www.rePotme.com.

Here is what to do…

1. Separate your orchid from the rest to prevent the spread of disease.

2. Apply Physan 20 to the affected area. Physan 20 is typically poured over the area of the plant you wish to treat but you can pour through the mix for extreme situations.

How to make a batch of Physan 20: mix at the rate of one tablespoon per gallon of water. You must use the batch within hours of making it up because it loses its effectiveness after that. You can use it when you spot trouble or to ward off trouble by applying maybe once a month or so.

If you don't have Physan 20 then pour full strength Hydrogen Peroxide on the affected area. Repeat every 2 to 3 days until its stops fizzing. You can also make a mixture of this with a FEW drops of mild soap detergent and spray it on the affected area. Don't use too much soap!

Hope that Helps,

Hannah

 

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What Orchid Pots to Use

What orchid pots should I use?

Orchids naturally grow in the nooks and crannies of trees, in tropical environments (as shown below), or in some cases rooted in the ground. When potting orchids we need to mimic this environment.

There are a lot of options when it comes to potting orchids (clay, plastic, ceramic etc). It is important to the health of your orchid to have the “right pot.”

The right pot should include;

• An environment that allows their roots to both be “hugged” and “feel” free. You will want to pot your orchids in the smallest pot that the roots will fit in with a little wiggle room for new growth.
• Orchids also need a lot of humidity, which is typically not found in our homes. The “right” pot helps by holding some moisture around the roots. If your orchids does not have healthy roots then you are in trouble! Orchids show their health through new root and leaf growth. The orchid blooming system is in direct result of their root/leaf system.
• Drainage, drainage, drainage. Without proper drainage – your orchid WILL die. Orchids do not like their root system to be constantly wet, for example setting them in standing water or potting in a pot without a drainage hole. I have an entire post on this…click here.

The pots I use;

I use clear plastic pots (as shown below). I do this because I can easily see when their roots are thriving and when they are suffering without disturbing their environment. Plus I can place these clear pot in a decorative outer pot when I want to display them.

Clear plastic pots also make it easy to see when to water. In the below picture both orchids are healthy but the one on the right needs to be watered and the one on the left was freshly watered.

Clear pots not only give you a clear view of their root system but it also helps the plant engage in photosynthesis. Since orchids grow naturally on a tree and are exposed dappled light, clear pots help make photosynthesis through the orchid roots possible.

Clear pots are also easy to clean, disinfect, and reuse. Be careful in reusing pots – they must be totally disinfected. I recommend dipping them in Physan 20 and click here on how to repot your orchid.

Hope that helps,

Hannah

Feel free to leave comments or questions.

 

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How to Repot an Orchid

How do I repot an orchid?

It is essential to repot orchids every 1-2 years because they will be growing outside their pots and because the mix you use will eventually break down. I repot every new orchid I have as soon as it drops its last bloom because they have probably been in the same mix for quite some time and they need new fresh mix to be happy and thrive.

Repotting orchids can be fun and easy if you know what to do. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise! If you want to know when to repot, look here. In this post I will tell you how to repot.

Note: I use Sphagnum moss to repot my orchids. I do this because I like to better. You DO NOT have to use moss. You can use a bark mixture (most mixes are made from bark)… This will work just fine.

Items you will need…

• Bowl for soaking orchid in and a colander to rinse orchid and for new mix
• Clean environment to work in
• Sterilized cutting tool
• Damp potting mix
• Cinnamon….yes, the ordinary spice from the grocery store. It's a natural fungicide
• Packing peanuts…not necessary but helpful
• New fresh pot

Okay here goes….

1. Cut back the former spike that the orchid bloomed from…at the base.

2. Soak your orchid in the sink so it's easy to pull out of its container. I put mine in a bowl of water, in its container, for a few minutes. Then grab the orchid at its base and gently pull it out of its current container. If you CAN'T pull it out I suggest you gently break the current pot.

 

2. After you have gently pulled the orchid from the pot you will want to pull off the the moss/bark/mix from around the roots. Try to get it all because you really want to give it all fresh mix. I do this over the colander so the moss and bark don't clog the drain.

At this time you can get a good look at the roots. They should be green/white and plump with nice healthy tips. You can wash/spray the roots with water to get all the little bits of moss/bark off of them.

3. Next we are going to cut off any dying or rotting roots. Get your sterilized tool (dipped in Physan 20 or alcohol) and simply cut the root just above the rot in the healthy tissue. Some roots will be a slight yellow color, this is okay!! Don't over cut or the plant can't survive! Only cut the dark brown rotting/dying roots. These are often slimy and look gross.

4. This is not a necessary step but I like to let my plants take a dip in a gallon size bucket of watered down Physan 20, in order to kill any bacteria. I normally do this for 1-2 minutes.

5. After they have had their dip, I then sprinkle cinnamon on any freshly cut roots to prevent the spread of bacteria. Cinnamon is a natural fungicide.

6. Now it's time to place it in a new pot. I like clear pots so I can see what is going on with my orchids thougout the year. You will have to assess whether to keep it in the same size pot or go up a size depending on the root size. I have packing peanuts on hand in case the plant is in between sizes. In this case, take the packing peanuts and place them at the bottom of the pot to make it the right size. Orchids seem to like packing peanuts and will often grow right through them! You want an orchid to have enough room to grow but still be in a container that is snug. Orchids are not like normal houseplant in which you pot them in a much bigger container to let them grow…they like being snug (as shown in the picture below).

Note: While repotting it is important keep everything clean so as to not spread any potential disease. You will want to be cautious when reusing pots, they need to be sterilized between plants. Sometimes it is easier to use new pots than it is to try to clean the old pot. I put all my old clear pots through a cycle in my dishwasher before reusing them.

7. Once you have decided on a pot size, simply put the orchid in the pot holding it at the base level of the top of the pot. Then take your potting mix blend and tuck it in and around the roots. You can pack it tight or light depending on how much you want to water and the surroundings of where you keep your plants. The tighter it is packed, the slower it will dry out, and the less water it will require. I normally pack my orchids somewhere in the middle.

Note: All potting mix should be soaked and rinsed off in a colander (or something like that) before use. This will remove any little particles that may have built up and also wets the mix so it's less “shocking” to the orchid upon repotting it.

I use Sphagnum moss (I mostly have Phalaenopsis orchids) and I like to soak it, squeeze out extra moisture and then fluff it up again before putting it the new pot. If you use bark just rinse it off in the colander.

8. For the next day or two keep it out of direct sunlight to let it get acquainted with the new surroundings.

9. I then spray my plants with GET OFF ME! Natural Pest Control Spray and clean my orchid leaves with Wash Me! Natural Leaf Cleaner™ from www.rePotme.com, which keeps the bugs off and cleans the leaves. Orchids LOVE clean leaves!!

10. And don't forget to label it so you know next year what you did as far as this orchid: Went up a size? Went down a size? What did the roots look like? I take notes on mine…it makes it easier when you have 20 plus orchids!

And you're done:)

Here is a helpful video from rePotme…

Check out this tutorial for visuals….

Hope that helps,

Hannah

Feel free to leave comments or questions.

 

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