The passion for growing orchids started for all of us somewhere and somehow. We all have that story how we got into orchids in the first place! A few years ago I went over to a friend’s house for Thanksgiving. I gave her a colorful Phalaenopsis orchid in a clear plastic pot, which she placed […]
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 […]
When should I repot my orchid plant?
Repotting is a big part of keeping orchids. And the more orchids you have, the more repotting you’ll be doing. Therefore it’s good to learn everything there is to learn about repotting. On a positive note, repotting can be a lot of fun! For me, it’s one of my favorite parts in keeping orchids. In […]
What should I feed my orchids?
As I first discovered orchids, I never thought about fertilizing my plants. And whenever I started to investigate it, I was put off by the sheer complexity of it. Let’s just put it like this; chemistry wasn’t my ‘thing’ at school – all the chemical formulas would only make my head spin! 😵 But as […]
How to cut back the orchid flower spike
Let’s be honest, it’s the flowers in Phalaenopsis orchids that make us love these plants so much. Or at least that’s how we get into them in the first place! Of course with time we learn there’s more to these orchids than just the flowers; the leaves and roots have a life of their own, […]
Why has my orchid lost all its leaves?
It brings a lot of joy to keep orchids – this is something I discovered early on with my very first Phalaenopsis orchid. It’s rewarding to see them grow new leaves and roots, and to blossom into beautiful flowers. There’s something ‘zen’ about them. They quickly become something you love to do, and something that […]
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 […]
Why do my orchids keep dying?
If I got an orchid for every time someone asked me why do their orchids keep dying, I’d have a full-blown orchid garden by now! Even though Phalaenopsis orchids are actually pretty low maintenance, most people new to orchids fail to keep them alive. Of course, this is understandable, taking into consideration these plants don’t […]
Can I cut my orchids roots?
The first time I unpotted an orchid, I was quite taken aback by how different the roots looked like compared to the roots of ‘normal’ houseplants. Because most orchids are ‘air plants’, plants that grow on trees, etc., that’s what their roots are; different. Therefore, they have their own needs and behavior. I will cover […]
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. […]