Orchidaceae - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

by Admin on February 24th, 2007

Orchidaceae - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Orchids (Orchidaceae family) are the largest and most diverse of the flowering plant (Angiospermae) families, with over 800 described genera and 25,000 species. Some sources give 30,000 species, but …

Kauai Orchids - Dendrobium Orchids
DENDROBIUM (den-DRO-bee-um) Dendrobiums are among the most commonly encountered orchids in the retail trade today. This is a large genus of over 1,000 species, ranging from India and Sri Lanka …

Beautiful Orchids Home Page
Nothing can compare to the graceful elegance of pure white Phalaenopsis in full bloom. Their popularity helped to increase the worldwide demand for orchids.

Orchid Plant Food: The Right Plant Food is Essential

Orchids are capturing and beautiful flowers, with a variety of species numbering close to 30,000. With all the information known for the care of orchids, the element of orchid plant food and the importance of taking carefully into consideration which type to buy, seems to be unfortunately overlooked for the most part.

Why Orchid Plant Food is so Important

Orchids are an incredibly diverse group of plants which thrive from all climates except for the Arctic. The most popular type of orchid today is the Phalaenopsis or Moth orchid, which can bloom healthily in modern centrally heated homes and offices. Orchid plant food is significantly important for several reasons. The right plant food can transform a struggling and striving orchid into a thriving, resplendent, regular-blooming beauty. A good all-around general use orchid plant fertilizer can also be used as a foliar feed.

All plants need certain basic nutrients to grow, and orchids are no different. These nutrients for the most part can be found in soil and are then absorbed by the plants roots. A lot of the time gardeners will give their plants extra nutrients and feed if their soil has lost an especially significant amount of nutrients recently or if the nutrient content is unbalanced.

Wegeners Liquid Fertilizer

One of the most revolutionary and popular orchid plant foods available today is Wegeners Liquid Fertilizer, which is made in New Zealand, and is considered to be an exceptionally high performance fertilizer. Not only does this particular orchid plant food provide long term nutrition plus all the required minerals that your orchids need for growing in pots or in the garden, it is also safe for children and pets. The formulation of this plant food includes calcium, magnesium, plus a mixture of trace minerals and elements including such things as plant based extracts which help plants to absorb and use organic nutrients.

Orchid plant food is available at various locations online or in stores, and of course depending on which type of plant you have and what type of food you personally prefer, it is in the end up to the buyer exactly which type of plant food is best to purchase. There is also the choice between the usual plant foods, which are often times synthetic and include harsh chemicals, and the ever increasingly popular organic plant foods. These issues must be considered before a final decision is able to be made.

Wild Orchids

Halekulani Hotel - Dining - Orchids
Orchids: A colorfully unique tropical island ambience boasting spectacular… Orchids is Halekulani’s casually elegant oceanfront restaurant, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner amidst a abundance of …

Winter Vacation…

by Admin on February 23rd, 2007

Winter Vacation…
I can’t wait for winter to end… I’ve hardly gardened in our yard after being discouraged by some really cold weather… well, relative to our normal…

The Greenhouse I
The Greenhouse I February 20th, 2007 Managed to take some pictures in the greenhouse yesterday. Here are a couple of Vanda orchids that are blooming…

Not one word, folks!
One Wing of course it hurts to transmogrify, the flipping back and forth between angel, gargoyle angel and gargoyle. but its one hard wart grown out…

Morning surprise with…Morning Joy…
:drool: :photo: :cheer: Fresh bloom like a surprise bomb… how can it be so wonderful…?:cheer: :cheer: :cheer: Attached Images DSC07066.jpg (77.1…

Wild Orchids

Peter Branscombe
Peter BranscombeFeb 19, ‘07 11:44 PM for everyonePeter Branscombe has been identified as a Def ‘Leper’ by the ‘Real Player’ and so shall he remain…

Nurturing an Orchid Plant

Orchids, like all living forms, need care for their growth and health. Raising an orchid plant at home or in gardens for commercial benefit, both require the caregiver to understand hindrances that thwart the normal growth and health of the plant. A number of things need to be given care, commonly including: blooming of the plant, using a suitable fertilizer, preventing the plant from fading out, health of leaves, cutting and trimming, and repotting. Though the nurturing needs of an orchid plant depends on which species you are growing, some measures are common to proper caring for orchids in general.

Blooming of Orchids

If your orchid plant is experiencing problems in maturing to bloom in effulgence, the most probable reasons are less than required exposure to light, improper potting, retention of excess water at the roots, and/or absence of optimum level of temperature change. To allow for the best plant bloom, place your orchid plant near the window to get enough light.

If sufficient artificial light is provided, you can place the plant anywhere you want. Repot the orchid plant if you come to detect signs of excessive retention of water at the roots. About ten degrees of daily temperature variation is commendable for proper growth of most orchid species. Water rich in minerals is not suitable for the plant; instead use distilled water or just clear rainwater.

Suitable Fertilizers

An orchid plant, in general, does not respond well to urea-based fertilizers. The use of suitable fertilizer depends on more than one factor including temperature, sunlight, and which particular location you are living in. Get your orchid a fertilizer that is free from urea, if you are unsure.

Fading Out of the Plant

Two types of signs are indicative of fading out of the orchid plant: (1) the leaves develop wrinkles and (2) buds grow yellowish and start falling. Wrinkling of leaves is caused mainly by either insufficient watering or by excessive watering. Check the roots of the plant to see if excess of watering has turned them brown and unusually soft. If so, repot the orchid plant and decrease the frequency of watering.

If lack of water has left them white and firm, provide more water daily. In case the orchid plant is shedding buds that have grown yellow and weak, the amount of water, light, or temperature conditions provided to the plant need be revised.
Remove the plant from the vicinity of sources of heat, placing it in a place where it can get optimum intensity of light. Take care to position the plant in a room with no harmful chemical fumes (paints etc.). Keep from overwatering the plant.

Repotting an Orchid Plant

Repotting an orchid plant requires different considerations in case of different species. As a general rule, repot the plant after a year or two when the roots break the medium. Carefully remove the old mix from the plant roots, rinse the roots, and place it in a new pot. You can cut the hollow or excessively soft parts of the root: they are dead anyway.