There are different factors and basic needs that we must take into account so that our orchids can live a long time and provide us with beautiful flowers.

For those who are facing the challenge of caring for these plants at home for the first time this guide should help you better maintain your plants are home. Light, Water, Temperature, Humidity, Ventilation are the basics for Orchid cultivation.

Light

Like all plants, light is one of the fundamental factors for their good development. Most orchids need light, but few of them need direct sun (e.g. Vandas).

If they are inside the house they should be placed in a location near windows with good orientation. If the sun comes in at any time of day, try to filter the light through shades that dim it.

Good light conditions are essential to stimulate the flowering and growth of the plant.

If sufficient natural light is not available, one option is to install special artificial plant lights. There are different types (mercury, high and low pressure sodium, etc.). Consult your supplier.

Insufficient light leads to a lack of flowering, poor growth, fragile stems that can fall off, very dark green leaves or, depending on other conditions, leaves that yellow until they wither.

Water

Water is perhaps, along with light, the most important element in orchid development. It is through this element that the plant is hydrated and nourished from the organic substances dissolved in it.

Orchids cannot be watered with the first available water. Normally, tap water from the house has a high hardness, chlorine, high ph and other components that make it highly harmful. Remember that in their natural habitat the water is usually very soft and free of additives.

To water our plants we should use soft water (low in mineral salts, calcium, sodium, etc.). However, if we have many plants, a good option is to install a reverse osmosis water filtration system. Currently there are different models at very affordable prices. This type of multiple filtration ensures us a low hardness, a correction of the ph, elimination of chlorine and heavy particles.

Irrigation tips: Irrigation should be done at a frequency adjusted to the temperature conditions. Higher frequency in summer and lower in winter coinciding with the rest periods after flowering.

Watering must be done simultaneously with the sprays that we will deal with later.

It is important to allow the substrate to dry partially (without becoming totally dry) between waterings. If we watch the roots (in which they have transparent containers) we will know that there is a lack of watering if the roots have become whitish. If they are green, they probably don't need more water.

In any case, avoid that the water remains waterlogged in the substrate. The drainage must always be very good although this will make us have to water more often.

. In this way we help the plant to have better conditions. Our benches are specially designed to allow the drainage of the plants and to avoid that the water falls from one tray to another.

Nutrients

Specific fertilizers for orchids.

There are two basic methods to provide orchids with nutrients The first is through irrigation water with specific fertilizers for these plants. The second is through foliar fertilization. The orchids also absorb nutrients through their leaves, so it is essential to incorporate some foliar absorption fertilizer into the regular sprayings. Ask your usual supplier about this.

In the stages prior to and coinciding with flowering it is also advisable to incorporate specific products to stimulate flowering. These preparations usually contain a vitamin complex, synthetic amino acids and other nutrients. Its application is foliar and, in any case, should be avoided spraying the flowers

The different species of orchids are distributed in very diverse climates. However, most of them originate in tropical areas and therefore need warm or temperate temperatures. These plants will hardly be able to withstand frost or temperatures below 4 or 5ºC.

In general, the most common orchids are from the families Cattleya, Cymbidium, Miltonia, Oncidium, Paphiopedilium, Phalaenopsis, Cambrias, Vandas, etc. They need a minimum temperature of not less than 9 or 10ºC. With respect to the maximum daytime temperatures, they should not exceed 30ºC.

Probably, depending on the geographical area in which we have them, we will have to opt for mainly indoor locations to guarantee the appropriate temperature range.

It must be taken into account that the higher the temperature, the higher the humidity level must be to compensate for dehydration.

We must also remember that many species need a temperature difference between day and night of 10ºC.

more for to stimulate flowering. To do this we may need to open some windows to reduce temperature at night without reaching the minimum limits indicated above.

Humidity is one of the most important environmental factors in orchid care and, at the same time, one of the most difficult to deal with at home.

We have already mentioned that most of these plants have their natural habitat in tropical and subtropical areas. Most of them need an environmental humidity above 40%.

Ventilation

Orchids do not tolerate closed or stuffy environments (with little oxygen or a lot of tobacco smoke or others). If there are sources of methane nearby (fruit or other organic material in a state of decay) it can cause the flowers to fall out early.

It is generally advisable to ensure a minimum of daily ventilation by avoiding direct draughts on the plants (only Vanda plants tolerate these).

It can happen that ensuring proper ventilation makes it difficult to maintain a certain level of humidity depending on the environmental conditions we have. Even so, it is preferable to ventilate (open some windows occasionally) than not to do so in order to maintain the degree of humidity. Poor ventilation with a high level of humidity and temperature favours the proliferation of fungi, bacteria and viruses.

When we detect some infected plant it is convenient to separate it from the group and give it the care apart (quarantine), not sharing watering water and submitting it to the adequate treatment.

In case the plant is very affected and we decide to replace it by another one, we will have to disinfect the pot or container with bleach dissolved in water or another disinfectant before placing a new plant.

Periodically remove the remains of organic material (dead leaves, fallen flowers, etc.) preventing them from decomposing in the area next to the plants.

When handling the plant, hands should be clean or gloves should be worn.

Take special care with cutting or pruning tools. Disinfect them before cutting the stems or leaves.

If we cut a leaf (totally or partially) it is necessary to disinfect the wound that is left at the point of cutting. Normally we can use powdered cinnamon by sprinkling the affected area.

We must also take special care in controlling insects. Pollinating insects play a vital role in nature but in the domestic environment they can cause the flower to pollinate, which causes it to close and fall over immediately.

In other posts we will expand on these recommendations.