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How to grow orchids without going crazy!
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items Ah orchids! Those lovely flowers that we see everywhere, and yet they can be hard to grow. You can't just stick them in regular garden soil and get beautiful flowers like other plants. So what gives? Here are some tips and tricks.
Sections
4
Soil / Potting Mix
Plant Pots
Fertilizer
Tools
Soil / Potting Mix
The most important thing to note is that you don't grow orchids in regular garden soil. Orchids are epiphytes. In the wild, they grown on top of other plants, clinging to them instead of livig directly in soil. They need breathable substrate and not ...
This is a great orchid mix that accounts for the need for roots to breathe and also helps to retain moisture
Molly's Premium Gritty Orchid Potting Mix
If I want to make my own potting mix, or pot orchids alone in orchid bark, this is one product I've used with success in the past
Legigo 4 Qt Organic Orchid Potting Bark Mix
This is another good mix if you don't want to mess around with creating your own mix from scratch. These guys also have a cacti/succulent mix if you are planting those too!
Orchid Potting Mix with Pine Bark & LECA
When I make my own potting mix, I often mix orchid bark (for drainage) + moss (to retain moisture). This is a good affordable moss product.
7 oz Natural Orchid Moss for Plants & Crafts
Plant Pots
Orchid roots need to breathe. Along with planting in an appropriate potting mix, you also need a good pot that allows the roots to breathe. The roots also photosynthesize so keep that in mind!
This is my standard orchid pot size - 7 inches with breathing holes
7 Inch Clear Orchid Pots with Holes & Saucers
Ceramic pots work too if they have holes to facilitate breathing but be careful because they break!
Ceramic Orchid Pot 6.5 Inch with Drainage
Some people like the terracotta look for their gardens - here are some suitable orchid pots with lots of holes
Terracotta Orchid Pots with Holes & Saucers
Another option for your orchid pots
Meshpot 5in Orchid Pots with Holes
This pot can fit 2 or 3 smaller orchids - keep in mind it will be heavy because it's ceramic
Orchid Pot with Holes & Saucer, Teal, 9.7"
Fertilizer
In the wild, orchids get nutrients from rainfall and trace minerals on their hosts. You'll have to add your nutrients to your watering cycle. Here are some options so your orchids can be healthy and rebloom!
I've had luck with this to keep my orchids fed and blooming again in spring!
Orchid Plus Bloom Booster Fertilizer, 16-Ounce
This is the simplest fertilizer to use - 7 drops per liter. No weird calculations or measurements. I feed a little in winter too to keep my plants happy
Schultz Orchid 15-5-5 Liquid Plant Food
Tools
Orchids don't require a lot of tools but I do have a few!
I use these to cut flower spikes after they are spent (when the spike has turned brown)
Fiskars Bypass Pruning Shears, 5/8-Inch Cut
I only use this to mix potting material (eg bark and moss). Please do not use these to transplant your plants - use your hands for that!
Fiskars Fiber Composite Hand Trowel