I was once doing my usual orchid round, inspecting the orchids one by one. How the leaves, roots, and flowers look like.. Are there any new flower spikes coming out, and so forth… Something caught my eye; unusual markings on some of the petals of the flowers. “Hmmm…” I thought. But then left it and […]
Orchid Root Health – A Quick Guide To
Isn’t there a saying “Roots are the way to an orchid’s heart”? Or something along those lines… 😉 With the Phalaenopsis orchid, people tend to pay the least amount of attention to the roots. This is of course understandable as it’s the part that’s not visible to the eye, unlike the leaves and flowers are. […]
How to Save a Dehydrated Orchid
One of the most common problems people face with the Phalaenopsis orchid is dehydration. Being a tropical plant its need for moisture must be met correctly. Sometimes orchids can be dehydrated already at purchase – you might experience this if you’re a bargain hunter like me, or have a need to “rescue” orchids from the […]
9 Great Homemade Orchid Fertilizers
Like all plants, Phalaenopsis orchids need nutrients to live, bloom, and grow. In nature they would absorb essential nutrients and trace elements from their surrounding; the growing surface, decaying plant material, bird and monkey droppings, etc. As indoor plants, they don’t have this natural source of nutrients, even though they do get some nutrients from […]
Do Indoor Orchids Need Artificial Growth Lamps?
The Phalaenopsis orchid is a tropical plant, which grows in the rainforest with plenty of natural sunlight. However, it’s not the most light-demanding orchid in the orchid family (“Orchidaceae”). It’s considered as a “low light” orchid, thriving in bright shade. ‘Bright shade’ does not equal to dim conditions though; the Phalaenopsis orchid still needs enough […]
What You Need for Keeping Indoor Orchids
Phalaenopsis orchids make a great hobby! Not only are they the easiest orchid type to care for. But they’re also affordable and widely available nowadays! There’s just something capturing about these magical plants. When you have one, you want another and another – quickly becoming a full-blown hobby! And as with all hobbies, it’s good […]
Phalaenopsis Orchid Water Culture
This might come as a surprise to some people, but Phalaenopsis orchids can also be kept in water-only. It goes against the rule-of-thumb to never leave orchids in standing water for long periods of time. There’s a specific science behind this method. Even though a controversial topic at times, dividing opinions for and against! But […]
How to Plant Orchids in Coconut Husk
Good orchid potting medium is key to keeping orchids successfully. Luckily, there are many options to choose from these days! One great potting medium for Phalaenopsis orchids is coconut husk chips. It’s a sustainable option, and great if you want the potting medium to retain water for a longer time than bark pieces. Remember, there’s no […]
What is a Humidity Tray for Orchids?
Phalaenopsis orchids are tropical plants, growing in the jungle attached to tree trunks and branches. Their aerial roots collect humidity from the air, which is crucial for their survival. In the rainforest, the normal air humidity is between 77 and 88%. This high numbers are naturally hard to mimic under indoor conditions! For your house […]
What is Orchid Keiki Paste?
You may have heard the term ‘keiki paste’ being mentioned here and there among orchid enthusiasts. Maybe you’ve even seen some being sold on eBay etc? Fascinating looking little jars or snap-cap tubes, with bright colored thick paste inside of them… But what is it? This is a question that gets asked more often than […]