Growing Orchids – How to Care Orchid Plant Indoors and Outdoors

Growing Orchids – How to Care Orchid Plant Indoors and Outdoors

Orchids is one of the top air-purifying plants that you can grow in your home. The plant has the properties to remove the toxins like xylene from the air and releases oxygen at night times making a good air-purifying bedroom plant and looks good.

If you are a beginner and love to grow beautiful orchid flowering plants in your home then this article will help you to learn about how to grow and care for orchids at home indoors.

Wondering, How to grow beautiful orchids flowers in your home?

Orchid is a flowering plant in the family of Orchidaceae and has very distinct characteristics than other flowering plants. They are considered as ornamental houseplants and are native to America, Africa, Asia and other tropical countries.

Orchid plants have simple leaves with parallel veins, variable in size. Some species grow in full sunlight have thick leathery leaves and shade loving varieties have long thin leaves. Flowers are available in white, red, pink, yellow and green color flowers.

The underground tubers of terrestrial orchid varieties are ground to a powder and used for cooking in Turkish recipes.The orchid flower petals are used in making powders, scents, body sprays and body lotions.

For complete information about orchids, read the full-length article.

• 2 How to Grow Orchids Indoors | at Home | from Seeds

Orchid Varieties

There are more than 1200 orchid varieties that are cultivated worldwide for its fragrant flowers in commercial applications. All these orchid Varieties have unique growing conditions, soil, flowering time and maturity. Here is the table that completely gives you an idea about orchid varieties, origin, and its specification.

S. No	Variety	Origin	Specification
1	Phalaenopsis orchid	China	Pink flowers, moth-shaped flowers
2	Cymbidium orchid	Asia	Maroon flowers
3	Brassavola orchid	Mexico	White flowers
4	Catasetum Orchid	Central America	Yellow flowers, thick cigar shape bulbs
5	Cattleya Orchid	Argentina	Purple flowers, cylindrical rhizomes
a	Cycnoches Orchid	South America	Small white bulbs
7	Dendrobium Orchid	Japan	Light pink color flowers
8	Encyclia Orchid	Florida	Onion shape, drought-resistant leaves
9	Angraceum orchid	Tropical regions	Fleshy leaves, long-lasting flowers
10	Trigonidium orchid	Brazil	Red color flowers
11	Arundina orchid	India	Linear leaves, purple-white flowers
12	Asoscentrum orchid	Srilanka	Orange, purple, red, pink color flowers
13	Coryanthes	South America	Bucket shaped flowers
14	Cypripedium orchid	Europe	Hairy leaves with pink flowers
15	Dendrophylax orchid	Cuba	Cord-like green roots, white flowers
16	Dracula orchid	Colombia	Thin plicate dark green leaves
17	Gonogra orchid	Central America	Very thin aerial roots
18	Maxillaria orchid	West indies	Lanceolate leaves, small flower stalks
19	Miltonia orchid	Argentina	Waxy, non spurred flowers
20	Oncidium orchid	South america	Yellow flowers, green pseudobulbs
21	Phragmipedium orchid	Mexico	Elliptical narrow leaves, white flowers
22	Pleione orchid	Nepal	Purplish white flowers with 5 petals
23	Restrepia orchid	Venezeula	Thick leathery leaf in elliptic oval shape
24	Acianthus orchid	Australia	Heart-shaped leaves
25	Acorchis orchid	Indonesia	Long, dark green leaves
26	Aganisia orchid	Trinidad	Sweet scent flowers
27	Aerides orchid	New guinea	Fragrant pink or purple flowers
28	Anguloa orchid	Colombia	Long plicate leaves
29	Aorchis orchid	Asia	Long leaves, white- purple flowers
30	Barkeria orchid	Mexico	Pink flowers
31	Beloglottis orchid	Bolivia	Fleshy roots, flowers upside down
32	Bletilla orchid	Vietnam	White with purple flowers, claw tubers
33	Bulbophyllum orchid	Africa	Cane-like stems, thin leathery leaves
34	Calanthe orchid	Madagascar	Reddish-purple color flowers
35	Calypso orchid	Russia	Pink, purple, red, white color flowers
36	Coelogyne orchid	Indonesia	White flowers with yellow centers
37	Disa orchid	Arabian peninsula	Fleshy tuberous roots, dark red flowers
38	Epidendrum orchid	America	Small to medium size flowers
39	Eulophia orchid	Africa	Pleated leaves, longitudinal leaves
40	Grammatophyllum orchid	Phillipines	Olive-green waxy flowers, purple-red
41	Habeneria orchid	Antarctica	Flat leaves, white, yellow, green flowers
42	Ionopsis orchid	West indies	Purplish-white flowers
43	Lycaste orchid	America	Egg-shape pseudobulbs, plicate leaves
44	Masdevallia orchid	Mexico	Creeping rhizomes, fleshy lanceolate leaf
45	Meliorchis orchid	Vietnam	Appears like wing of stingless bee
46	Mormodes orchid	Central America	Reddish-orange flowers
47	Orchis	Tibet	Root tubers, erect stem, cylindrical spikes
48	Paphiopedilum orchid	Southeast Asia	Thick, fleshy succulent leaves
49	Pholidata orchid	Malaysia	Flowers appear upside down
50	Promenaea orchid	Rio d generio	Pseudobulbs, sweet-scented flowers
51	Rhynchostylis orchid	Phillipines	Very broad green leaves, purple flowers
52	Satyrium orchid	Srilanka	Helmet shaped flowers
53	Sophronitis orchid	Costa rica	Cylindrical rhizomes, noodle like roots
54	Stanhopea orchid	Central America	Elegant horns, twisted flower petals
55	Stelis orchid	West indies	Narrow leaves, creeping stems
56	Trias orchid	Andaman nicobar	Red spots on broad flower petals
57	Tolumnia orchid	French	Colorful, showy flowers
58	Vandas orchid	Singapore	Long-lasting, yellow-brown flowers
59	Trichoglottis orchid	Indonesia	1-2 fragrant flowers per shoot
60	Vanilla orchid	Central America	Greenish-yellow flowers
61	Yoania orchid	Japan	Thick stems, white-red color flowers
62	Zeuxine orchid	Madagascar	Flowers with 2 stigma & granular pollinia
63	Zygopetalum orchid	Brazil	Glossy, strap-like leaves, green or purple

How to Grow Orchids Indoors | at Home | from Seeds

Orchid Growing Conditions Name : Orchid Family : Asteraceae Scientific Name : Orchidaceae Origin : America Soil : 5.5-6.5 Sunlight : Full sun Plant Height : 7 feet Temperature : 70-80F Watering : Regularly Fertilizers : N-P-K Harvesting Time : 1-2 years

Select an orchid variety

Some orchid varieties like Cattleya, Phalaenopsis and Paphiopedilum orchids are easy to grow than others. Different orchid varieties have different growing conditions, light requirements, and temperature. Talk with a local nursery to grow orchids best in your living areas or buy orchid baby plant online or from a nursery.

Choose right pot and soil for orchids

Orchids can grow in a double pot or big container that has holes at the bottom for proper drainage. make sure the pot size should be of 8-12 inches for planting orchids.

If you are growing orchids for the first time, you just need to plant in a potting mix soil like other blooming flowers. Most orchids like to grow in a peat moss or perlite with a pH ranging from 5.5 to 6.5.

Planting orchids seeds

Before planting the seeds, sterilize them by boiling in warm water to speed up the orchid seed germination process. Now sow the orchid seeds in a chosen pot containing well-drain soil.

Watering orchids

Water the seeds in a pot daily in small amounts. When the plant matures and reaches a minimum height of 2-3 feet, you can start watering orchid plants once in a week during the winter season and twice or thrice in a hot climate. How often you water depends on the size of orchid plants.

They can easily survive in cool, intermediate and warm climatic condition i.e. 80-90F for warmer, 70-80F intermediate and 55-65F cool weather conditions.

Pests and diseases affecting orchid plants

Pests	Diseases
Aphids	Botrytis
Mites	Leaf spot
Caterpillars	Brown rot
Mealybugs	Fusarium wilt
Fungus gnats	Anthracnose
Scales	Damping off
Thrips	Powdery mildew

To prevent pests and diseases problem, remove the infected leaves or stems immediately or spray insecticides containing ammonium compounds. If you find an orchid plant prone to diseases then stop overwatering the plants or is valuable (providing beautiful flowers), isolate it from the diseased plants and disinfect the growing area with 10% bleaching solution.

Nutrient deficiency in orchid plants

S.No	Variety	Symptom
1	Nitrogen	Spindle Yellow leaves, pink color tints
2	Potassium	Yellow or purple leaf tints, poor flowering
3	Phosphorus	Dull-yellow color foliage
4	Magnesium	Reddish brown tints, yellow leaf veins

Pollination

Orchid plants have flowers for reproduction. Orchid flowers trap birds, insects or honeybees by using a special fluid to transfer the pollens from the orchid blossom to the new orchid plant. Not all the orchid varieties are self-pollinated, but some are cross-pollinating plants and may vary depending on its growing conditions.

Pruning and Repotting orchids

Pruning is done to improve the plant health and increase the yield. To prune orchids leaves, stems and flower buds make use of gardening tools such as shears or cutters. Repotting means placing a potted plant into a small or large pot according to the size of the root system. To re-pot, an orchid plant, determine whether it is time to repot orchid after it finishes flowering.

Fertilizing your orchids

Fertilize orchids when they mature or starts blooming once in every month with a weak solution of balanced plant fertilizer. Prefer N-P-K fertilizer that contains equal amounts in the ratio of 20-20-20. The fertilizer should be diluted by adding equal amounts of water before applying it to the orchid plant.

Phosphorus content in the liquid fertilizer is responsible for the development of flowering and fruiting. You can also fertilize the orchid plant with Epsom salt, organic compost, manure and Coffee grounds.

Harvesting orchid flowers

Gardeners grow orchids for their fragrant multicolor flowers. Each orchid variety may differ from flower size, shape, color and blooming time. They just need consistent moisture and high humidity levels, making them a suitable potted plant in any location.

To harvest orchids, select 1 orchid flower that is 2-3 days old. Cut the base of the individual flower stem with sharp knife or scissors. Immediately place the flower in a glass of water added with a floral preservative solution. Now place the beautiful orchid flowers in the refrigerator and check for every 4 hours. Store the fresh cut that stays for a long time and uses them when needed.

How to Grow Orchids from Cuttings?

Orchids grow well in the USDA regions ranging from 8-10. If you have any 1 orchid plant variety, you can easily propagate them from stem cuttings to grow orchids with same characteristics as that of a parent plant. Here we discussed 2 methods i.e. how to grow orchid cuttings in soil and water at outdoors.

Growing Orchids in Soil

To grow orchids from cuttings in soil, cut a stem of your orchid at least 12 inches long near the base of the parent plant using sharp knife or scissors. Take out the stem and place it in a tray containing damp soil covered with plastic wrap in an indirect location of at least 60F.

When the roots sprout from the buds, place 1 in each container by covering the roots and stems with a good potting mix soil. Now keep the pot or container in a bright indirect location so as to receive minimum light or maintain a room temperature between 55-80F for the plant to thrive.

Water orchid plants until it drains completely from the bottom drainage holes of the container. Fertilize the plant once in every 3 weeks in spring or mid-fall season. Orchid flowers may bloom once or twice in a year.

Growing Orchids in Water

Orchids that grow in water are called as hydroponic orchids.Instead of growing orchids in a container, it’s fun to grow orchids in a glass of water. This method is quite easy and appreciated when you start growing in your home. It also looks amazing and brings beauty to your home. Here is the simple procedure you can learn how to grow orchids in water.

Some orchid varieties are terrestrial and some are epiphytic. Each variety has its own requirements and mostly the hydroponic orchid grows in a very little soil and grabs moisture levels from the atmosphere.

For this, place the orchid cuttings in a glass of water and change the water in glass weekly. Provide the plant with proper sunlight and make sure you remove the old and dead tissues from the root moss before planting in water to avoid bacterial infections. Within 2 weeks the roots sprouts and you can transplant it to outdoors for better growth.

Orchid plant care| How to take Care of Orchids

• Provide sunlight for a minimum of 6-8 hours a day for the orchid plants to thrive.
• Choose the best orchid variety i.e.phalaenopsis orchid to grow at both indoors and outdoors.
• Water the plant regularly in small amounts when you start growing from seeds or baby plant.
• Pruning is done only when you find the dead or diseased leaves, stems to encourage new growth.
• Re-pot the orchid plants to bigger pots every year when the roots grow bigger and emerge out of the pot.
• To improve the fertility and soil moisture levels, add mulches (dead leaves, stems) at the base of the plant.
• Before planting the seeds, test the nature or ph of the soil and if necessary fertilize the orchid plant.

Is orchid a perennial or annual?

Orchid is a flowering plant that spreads widely in the family of Orchidaceae. The flower blooms are very colorful and fragrant. These popular houseplants remain green and healthy-looking year around like perennial flowers and bulbs in your outdoor garden. They just need little care to grow under right growing conditions.

How to plant orchids in coconut husk?

It’s fun to grow and enjoy orchids in a coconut husk. For this, you need a light absorbent medium (coconut husk) that makes the orchid roots stay healthy and aerated. This method is best suited for outdoors when planted orchids in potting mix soil provided by sufficient water and sunlight to thrive quickly.

Can you use ice cubes to water orchids?

In hot climatic conditions (especially during summer seasons), when you forgot to water an orchid plant it begins to shrive. For those who don’t have enough time to take care of your garden plants, ice cubes work well. You can water the orchid with 2-4 ice cubes per week. These ice cubes melt slowly, gets enough time to absorb the water so that it doesn’t drown.

Do orchids need a lot of sunlight?

Sunlight is the key factor for growing healthy orchids. If you provide direct sunlight, may cause the plants to burn and too little light prevents from flowering. So the best place to plant orchids is the window location. By placing the plant near window location, gets bright indirect sunlight that is sufficient for the plant to bloom flowers.

Do orchid stems grow back?

Every year orchids will produce 1 or 2 new leaves. Once it completes the growth stage, the stem starts blooming flowers. The flower bud emerges from the stem beneath the 2^nd or 3^rd leaf from the top. After it finishes blooming flowers, cut off the shoots or stems that produce blossoms. It is done because in the process of an orchid flower blooming, takes energy from the plant itself.

What are the good orchid companions?

Companion planting is an organic way of maintaining a natural balance in your garden. Bromeliads, Guzmania, pitcher plants, Hoya Plant, Epiphyllum, Tillandsia, Anthuriums Alocasias, Philodendrons, and rhododendrons the good companion plants for orchid varieties. Planting these plants together with orchids helps for controlling pests, pollination and increases the crop productivity.

How often do you water orchid plant?

Water orchid plant varieties such as miltonias, paphiopedilums, and phragmipediums once a week during winter and twice during warm-dry conditions. The size of the orchid container also helps to determine how often you need to water orchids despite climatic conditions. For a 6-inch pot, you need to water for every 7 days and 5-6 days for a 4-inch pot.

Will an orchid plant rebloom?

Of all the orchid varieties, phalaenopsis will rebloom in home growing conditions. For this, you need to cut between the scars left by the first flower and last node on the stem. Now the lower nodes of the orchid plant begin to develop and produce flowers within 8-12 weeks.

How long do orchids live for?

It greatly depends upon the variety of orchids as well as the care that flower blooms receive. When you provide right growing conditions the plant may reach a height of 7 feet tall and flowers bearing 6 inches in diameter. One of the most popular orchid variety phalaenopsis normally blooms 1-2 times a year and can last from 60-120 days.

Why are orchid leaves turning yellow?

If your bottom orchid leaf is turning yellow it doesn’t mean that it is sick or dying. You cannot prevent bottom orchid leaves from turning yellow because it is the natural cycle of an orchid. If your orchid leaves are drooping suddenly, apply cinnamon a natural fungicide to fight against the infections.

For more information refer: Why are my plants turning yellow?

Orchid Plant Benefits

Orchid plant is listed as the air-purifying plants that you can grow easily at home indoors. It helps to sleep better by improving the quality of air in your bedroom. These are low-maintenance plants and requires much care to thrive in right growing conditions.

Here in this section we shared some possible benefits of orchids that helps you to live happily.

Air quality

According to the NASA Clean Air Study, placing orchid plants(Dendrobium-a non-toxic variety) around your home can encourage deep breathing by absorbing carbon dioxide (also eliminates toxic xylene compounds) from the surrounding environment and releases oxygen into the air. It can also help you to sleep better when you place it in your bedroom.

For weight loss

Orchids are a great source to reduce the weight. For this take some orchid roots and add a cup of water into it. Now boil the roots that are added with water until it becomes half of a cup. Drink the orchid extract juice regularly and you will see a drastic change in your body weight. Within 3 months your body weight will be reduced to some extent and makes you look slim and fit.

Orchid Extracts

Like Rose, Jasmine and Lily orchid fragrant flowers are also used in beauty products. Oils, shampoos, lotions, conditioners and many other products are made with orchid plant extracts that are used in the formulation of skin and hair. This lotion is best suited to apply on damp skin after bathing as a daily moisturizer. Sulfate-free hair products are designed to slow color from fading and have a lovely floral scent.

The orchids extract used in medicine to boost the respiratory system but can also cure allergies, asthma and wounds.

Improves overall health

The orchid plant is famous for its beautiful colors and fragrant flowers. Keeping indoor houseplants such as phalaenopsis orchid variety have unexpected benefits that improve your overall health.

Orchid is considered as a TCM (Traditional China Medicine) in China for healing diabetes, fever, kidney stones and lungs. Roots taken with curd eliminates the worms in the stomach, cure infections, diarrhea and blood clots. leaves are the best medicine for knee pains, arthritis and muscle cramps.

Food Ingredient

Orchid is the simple and traditional medicinal plant that you can grow in the backyard. All parts of the orchids namely leaves, stems, flowers and roots are loaded with medicinal properties.

They are also consumed in the form of teas. For making tea, orchid leaves are collected first, dried and sealed before making an herbal tea. It is a very safe medicine that helps to treat common cold, fever and body pains.

Herbal medicine

Beautiful orchid flowering plants are sold as potted plants or as cut flowers. It is considered as a symbol of beauty, love and luxury. Decorating your homes with orchid plants will help you to relax, reduce stress and boosts your mood.

In the past centuries, orchids have an important role in using it as a natural herbal medicine from plants. It also has the ability to minimize the chances of cardiovascular diseases and other chronic illness.

It’s fun to grow and enjoy beautiful orchid flowers starting from seeds or stem cuttings in your garden space that spreads fragrances and makes your garden surrounding look beautiful. If you have wonderful ideas about growing orchid plants, please share your experience with us in the comment section given below.

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