Care of Slipper Orchids

Written by Bob Roy


Continued from page 1

Those paphs which have green leaves are usuallyrepparttar cool climate ones, whilst those with mottled leaves are warm growing ones.

As most orchids, slipper orchids require humidity between 40 - 60%, remember they usually grow onrepparttar 140969 rain forest floor. This may need to be augmented by using humidity trays. You can get a flat tray with sides. Fillrepparttar 140970 tray with stone pebbles and then add water about half way up. Placerepparttar 140971 plant onrepparttar 140972 tray making sure thatrepparttar 140973 slipper orchid roots are not touchingrepparttar 140974 water. If it does there is a good chance for root rot.

Because they grow in shade onrepparttar 140975 forest floor they should not be left in sunlight for very long. They do prefer shade, under a tree or near an east window. This is one ofrepparttar 140976 nice elements of slipper orchid care.

Fertilizer is needed and I recommend 1/4 strength given on a weekly basis. The fertilizer should be high in nitrogen so one with30-10-10 ratio is best. Monthly rinserepparttar 140977 slipper orchids with water alone to preventrepparttar 140978 fertilizer from building up onrepparttar 140979 root and potentially burning them.

One final point on slipper orchid care, you should re-pot infrequently, that is, about every second year is fine. You should use a mixture which has an excellent moisture retention like fir bark with perlite and some sphagnum moss.

Following these rather straight forward rules will give you years of enjoyment with you slipper orchid.

See our beautful paphs,

now that you feel more comfortable with slipper orchid care, treat yourself.

Bob's website is devoted to orchid plants. There is a great deal of information on the website, orchids-plus-more.com, as well as a large selection of stunning orchids.


Orchid Growing for Beginners

Written by Bob Roy


Continued from page 1

Growing orchids like Paphiopedilum and epidendrum should be slightly moist so that watering can be twice a week.

Humidity

Ifrepparttar humidity in your home is low (below 40%) you may need to either mistrepparttar 140968 plant occasionally or use a humidity tray. The tray is simply a metal or plastic tray that is filled with pebbles and 1/2 of water. The plant would sit would sit onrepparttar 140969 pebbles. Be sure not to letrepparttar 140970 plant or roots sit inrepparttar 140971 water while onrepparttar 140972 tray.

The Right Lighting

Growing orchids for beginners requiresrepparttar 140973 right light. It isrepparttar 140974 next most important element to growing orchid plants. As a general statement most orchid house plants do well in medium light. This would in a window or an area that could get about 4 hours of sun or bright light a day. Cattleya orchids do well in this light but can also do well in a sunlit area for up to six hours. Phals do well in indirect but bright light.

What about temperature?

Most orchids do well in normal house temperature. The low temperature at night do not impederepparttar 140975 growth. Here is a little guide you can use. Growing orchids for beginners should understand that there needs to be fluctuation in temperatures in order forrepparttar 140976 plants to bloom. For example, there should be about 10 degree fluctuation for cattleyas betweenrepparttar 140977 day and night temps.

Orchid Genre Minimum temp Degrees F Maximum temp Degrees F Phalaenopsis

Vanda 60 90 Paphiopedilum (mottle leaf)

Dendrobium

Cattleya,

Epidendum 55 85 Paphiopedilum (green leaf)

Oncidium

Miltonia 50 80



Bob's interest in orchids is evident in the depth of his orchid website, orchids-plus-more.com with its manhy informational articles. There is also a large selection of stunning orchids.


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