Guest Blogger: Beautifying your Winter Home with Indoor Orchids

Guest Blogger #773, Entry #1825, November 15, 2012

Just because the cold is setting in doesn’t mean you can’t bring outdoor floral inspiration to your interiors. Orchids are beautiful flowering plants that have served as a symbol of love throughout history.  There are currently over 750 different genera of this type of flower and 30,000 different hybrids.  With these vast numbers, you are sure to find one with a look and color that suits your personal taste.  Orchids have the reputation for being a bit difficult to take care of, but if you follow the following tips, you will be sure to have beautiful blossoms to enjoy in your home.

Beautify your winter home with indoor orchids

Selecting Orchids for Your Home

When you are looking for a type of orchid to have in your home, you need to make sure it is suitable for the environment.  If it’s your first orchid, you may want to look for one that is easy to grow and has the ability to adapt to a variety of conditions.  It is a good idea to buy a plant that is already flowering.  If you plant the orchid from a seed, it can take up to five years to blossom.

Plant Nutrition

Since there are so many different types of these plants, each one will have its own watering requirements.  As a general rule, you should water them every 5 to 12 days.  It is important to keep in mind the season. Of course, this number can change according to the type of orchid you have and the temperature in your home.  It is a good idea to ask the specialist at your local nursery for his or her recommendations.  Also, keep in mind orchids in warmer climates will often need more water than those in cooler climates.

You should fertilize your orchid once a month.  As the orchid produces new shoots, use fertilizer that contains a higher percentage of nitrogen.  Later in the season, add in more phosphorous and potassium.  Remember that there can be too much of a good thing, so do not over fertilize.  This can and will actually harm your orchid.

Bring outdoor beauty into your interiors

Potting

The way you plant your orchid depends on what type of plant it is.  A terrestrial orchid is one that is planted in soil much like other plants with which you are familiar.  An epiphytic orchid has roots that attach to trees or bark and do not require soil to grow.  In fact, they can die if they are planted in soil.  This type of orchid grows best when provided with pieces of bark or cork on which to grow.  Proper aeration and drainage are essential for orchid to grow

Pruning

Your orchid’s blooms peak around late winter and usually last for 4 to 12 weeks.  After the blossoms start to fade, cut the spike down to ½ inch above the foliage.  You should also prune any dead leaves or flower steams.  Make sure you use clean, sterile pruners on your orchid.  This will ensure that there is no contamination and disease passed from plant to plant.  A good way to sterilize your tools is to soak them in bleach.

Aeration

Orchids need proper air circulation and temperature to thrive.  Keep the temperature in your home between 65-85°F.  Circulating air can keep your orchid’s leaves and flowers dry and prevent fungal infestations.  In the summer, you can open your windows and let the air naturally circulate.  In the winter, an oscillating fan is recommended.  Be sure not to place the fan directly in front of the orchid.

While the orchid care tips seems endless, they have the potential to provide beauty and elegance to your home for months if given the proper care.

Article courtesy of Pro Flowers, connecting consumers with fresh-from-the-field flowers on each and every order since 1998.

Images via: 1, 2 – from guest blogger

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