Saturday, December 2, 2017

A Beginning Grower's Guide to Choosing Orchid Supplies

By Gary Watson


If you love the way potted plants bring life and color to your home you are not alone. House plants continue to be a popular addition to many homes and office spaces. One type of flower that remains eternally popular is the orchid. These exotic blooms can be stunning to look at but may be difficult to grow if you don't have the right orchid supplies on hand. Here are a few things that you need to think about when shopping for supplies to help your orchids flourish.

Orchids have been popular for many years because they are colorful and are interesting to look at. Some have blooms that are quite large while others have flowers that are smaller and more delicate. Often they come from regions where the climate is tropical and so if they are being grown in cooler areas their care can be a bit more challenging.

One basic thing to consider when you are getting supplies is the pot itself. Most specimens will come from the nursery already potted but as they grow larger they will often need to be transplanted. When picking a new home for your plant you need to make sure that it can drain properly. An orchid will not flourish if it is planted in a way that will let water sit around the roots. A pot with holes in the bottom is an excellent choice for this kind of plant.

Of course, not enough water on your plant is also an issue. You need to consider supplies that will allow you to spray your orchid with water without damaging delicate petals or stems. A spray bottle that can be adjusted will be the most useful and versatile tool to do this with.

One mistake that many novice growers make is underestimating the weight of the blooms. Many species of this flower have thin stems and the blooms can often be too much. A good support system like a bamboo stake will help keep this from happening. If you want to attach the stems to the pole without damaging them you will need to consider a product like an orchid clip or a strip of Velcro.

As any plant grows it pulls nutrients from the soil. If they were growing outside those nutrients would be replaced on a regular basis. Potted plants of any kind do well with fertilizer or plant food added to their pots. You will want to make sure that when you go shopping for plant food that you pick one that has the proper balance of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium to keep your specimens happy and healthy.

As your plants grow larger and need to be re-potted you may need to also get a cutting tool that can be used to cut roots back. This can be an important part of helping your specimens grow in a healthy way. Some plants will develop root rot and a sharp, sterile cutting tool will help keep their roots happy.

If you want to start shopping for supplies you may want to look at nurseries and on websites that are specifically geared towards this species of plant. That way you can compare different products and find the ones that meet your needs and your budget as easily as possible.




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