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I couldn’t believe it. One non-particular day as I was driving down my street a couple of months ago, I spotted a potted plant left at the end of someone’s driveway. Almost dismissing it in my desire to get home, my subconscious must have registered the leaf of something special. Now I don’t usually stop and pickup roadside debris, and I didn’t know the condition of the plant…but I braked and backed up to check it out anyway. It was an Orchid!
It was a rather sorry looking specimen at first glance, but the roots were in good condition and the one leaf was quite glossy & solid although rather dark, and it was trying to push out a new leaf. Knowing how enticing these beautiful these plants look when blooming successfully in the stores, I didn’t have to guess much about why it was left here. So needless to say, but I will anyway…I took it home.
I always thought Orchids were too high maintenance to keep in bloom, and of course a bit expensive for it’s imenent failure. Eventually I gave in when I saw this rich purple flower cluster on it’s long dark gracefully arching stem at the supermarket (A Purple Phalaenopsis) , and thought “$30.00…what the heck”. To my surprise it bloomed repeatedly, and that was 6 years ago, although for the past 3 years it had stopped blooming which our moving to a new house may have had something to do with. With a little patience, as that’s all the maintenance besides watering that it got from me, I kept moving it to a different window and gave it a little time. Then last month I was rewarded after placing it in a Northeast facing window, and low and behold it’s blooming again…I love it.
As for my rescue attempt, the new leaf it was putting out didn’t grow well, probably from shock, but another new leaf is poking out now. So we just have to give it a little more time. I will keep this article updated with pictures on its progress.
Some Orchid Growing Tips:
WATERING YOUR ORCHID
In general, water once a week during the winter and twice a week when the weather turns warm and dry. The size of your orchid container also determines how often you need to water. Typically, a 6-inch pot needs water every 7 days and a 4-inch pot needs water every 5 to 6 days.
Poke your finger or a regular wooden pencil an inch into the pot; if it feels moist to the touch or if the pencil looks moist, do not add additional water. The potting medium should always be damp, but not soggy and it should not be allowed to get extremely dry.
Since tap water is often chemically treated, generally with chlorine, it should be used with caution. The best water for orchids is undoubtedly rainwater. Rainwater, as it passes through the air, dissolves and absorbs many substances such as dust, pollen and other organic matter. This enriched rainwater contributes to the nourishment of the plant.
The temperature of the water is also important. Fatal or long-term damage, not easily noticed at first, can result from using water that is too cold.
LIGHTING
Light is a key factor in growing healthy orchids. Direct sunlight may cause plants to burn, and too little light will prevent plants from flowering. An ideal location is behind curtains or window blinds. If you receive your plant by mail, expose it to light gradually in stages over a period of several weeks.
Leaf color is a good indicator of the amount of light a plant is receiving. Orchids should have bright green, healthy leaves. Dark green leaves indicate that a plant is getting insufficient light, and yellowish-green or red leaves indicate that a plant is getting too much light. If you suspect a plant is exposed to too much light, feel the leaves. If they feel noticeably warmer than the surrounding air, move the plant to a location with less intense brightness.
Low light, Warm growing orchids enjoy a north or an east, protected west or shaded south windows of the home. Standard household temperatures are adequate. Orchids that are classified as low light, warm growing are: Paphiopedilum or Lady Slipper, Phalaenopsis and Oncidium.
Moderate to high light, Warm growing orchids. These orchids like a lot of light and warm household temperatures. They thrive in a west or south window. From early May to late September, you should watch light levels in south windows to avoid burning; you may have to move your orchid away from the window or place them behind a sheer curtain to decrease light intensity. These orchids like to dry between watering. Orchids that are classified as moderate to high light are: Cattleya, Dendrobium, and Vanda.
REPOTTING
Orchids should not be repotted unless, for example, aeration of the potting materials is poor because of decomposition and it must be replaced. Care must be taken to ensure that new growths and shoots are not overlapping the rim of the pot—large; neglected plants that have been potted for a long time are notoriously difficult to handle, and it is easy to break off new shoots and roots. But, when in doubt, put it off for another year!
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