If You Knew Orchids Like We Knew Orchids...

Plant Care Orchid: A definitive guide.


Your Orchid Obsession Starts Here
Orchids: Where to Start? The Beginner's Top Choice.

Click here for Plant Care Orchid A definitive guide.

If this is your first Orchid adventure, I'd start with...

Orchid Variety: Genus - ODONTOGLOSSUM

* Keep shaded from the summer sun, keep indoors all the year.
* Flowers every 9 to 10 months for between 4 to 6 weeks.
* A wide range of colors and patterns from sprays of numerous tiny flowers up to several large extravagant blooms on a single stem depending on the variety.
* A good, compact houseplant for a environment.

ODONTOGLOSSUM CARE
This group of orchids is very popular as they have such a wide range of shapes, patterns and colors. Ranging from large extravagant flowers on compact stems to tall branching spikes with many tiny but bright blooms.
The plants are quite compact, therefore they are a perfect houseplant in that they are an ideal window sill orchid.
Often Odontoglossum orchids flower twice a year or more as they increase in size and because they have growths at different stages around the plant.
This group of orchids should be repotted when they get too big their pots, approximately every 2-3 years.
Odontoglossum orchids should be re-potted in the spring after flowering when they have outgrown their pots about every 2 to 3 years.

These orchids need to be kept cool and light all year round and they should re-flower easily on the season's completed bulb.
If they are kept too warm this can hinder their flowering.
When the blooms die off, trim the stem right down to the base.
The next generation of flowers will grow from the next pseudobulb that the plant produces.

IDEAL TEMPERATURE:
Odontoglossum hybrids require a minimum of 10°C (50°F) through the winter to give them a sufficient change in their conditions from the warm summer, when a maximum of 30°C (85°F) is enough.

LIGHTING CONDITIONS:
Keep shaded from bright, direct summer sunlight as this can scorch the leaves. Expose them to as much light possible during the long winter months.

WATERING:
Keep the free draining bark compost moist with freequent watering during the spring and summer, their main growing season.
When watering, let the water drain right through before placing it back in it's planter. Avoid letting the pot stand in water.
Allow the bark compost to dry out slightly before watering again. Try to avoid water collecting in the crown of the plant as this may result in the plant rotting.
Add a little orchid fertilizer to the water once every 2 or 3 (approx. every 10-14 days) from March to September.

Click here for more information: Orchid Care

As ever,
Good Luck!

Amelia