Tips on How to Take Care of those Orchids

Orchids are a beautiful and majestic plant; one that will pleasantly catch the eye of any guest in your home. But if you haven’t had one before, you may have no idea how to look after them, and that is why we we bring you some tips for keeping those orchids healthy.

Orchids require a lot of tender love and care. Unlike a cactus, which, once planted in the right place and in the right soil, can be left on their own and will do quite well. Orchids, however, are a plant that you will have to spoil, and they will reward you will a beauty and fragrance that makes them very special.

So, when you view these lovely plants somewhere like the Pasadena Certified Farmers Market, and want to pick some up and raise them in your home, remember these tips to keep your orchids looking beautiful, and smelling heavenly for years to come.

Light is incredibly important to orchids. Direct sunlight is not their friend as it will only cause the plant to wilt and die. Instead, they need bright – but indirect – light. Placing them in a window that only gets morning light is a good idea, but remember to move the orchid if direct sunlight is reaching it.

Here’s a clue for you: If your orchid has dark leaves, it needs more light. If it’s turning a reddish color, it needs less, and if they are a nice shade of medium green then you are doing it just right.

Orchids also need watering around once a week with either lukewarm or room temperature water. Avoid pouring over the leaves as this can result in rot and eventual death. When watering, try and do it earlier in the day so the plant can dry naturally in the indirect sunlight beaming through your window. Orchids also usually require more water in the summer, and less in the winter months.

Once you buy your orchid from the Pasadena Certified Farmers Market, put it in a warmer room if possible. The plant loves temperatures between 65 and 85 degrees. Do make sure they’re not close to a strong heat source such as a radiator as this will only dry out the orchid, as would putting it near a forced air heating duct.

Orchids also require fertilizer to stay looking their best. Feed it once a month with a liquid fertilizer that contains high nitrogen levels. If planting an orchid outside, don’t plant it in regular soil as it will tend attach to other plants, like trees, pretty easily. Instead, put the plant in some loose bark and replant whenever the bark chips begin to decay.

If in the house, ensure that the pot has drainage holes to let water out, and don’t overwater the plant, and put a little fertilizer on it every couple weeks at about half strength to give it the nutrients it needs to become truly beautiful. In our pictures for the article the pink/purple orchids are the indoor variety, while the yellow ones would go outside. Whether inside or outside, don’t allow the blooms to just wither and die, but keep them pruned as this will strengthen the plant, and bring about more hearty blooms next year.

Now that you have a few tips on how to take care of those orchids, what are you waiting for? Head on down to Pasadena Certified Farmers Market and pick up a few. You’ll be an orchid expert in no time, and have the benefit of this beautiful flower to brighten your day, and please your olfactory.

Pasadena Certified Farmers Market is located at 2900 block of North Sierra Madre Boulevard, in Pasadena. For more information call (626) 449-0179 or visit http://www.pasadenafarmersmarket.org/VictoryPark.