6 Ways To Fix Common Orchid Problems

Generally orchids, that are grown indoors, are not affected by most of the plant related pests and diseases. However, there are various conditions which may impact on the health of the home-grown orchid and which are identifiable from noticeable changes to the appearance of the orchid plant.

The following 6 common orchid problems are both easy to identify and equally easy to deal with and rectify.

Lack of New Growth

The orchid will only show signs of new growth during its growing season, it is normal for an orchid to have a dormant period after its season of growth. Any attempts to 'kick start' growth by additional applications of watering and fertiliser should be resisted as this may be detrimental to the plant's health.

Priority should be given to providing the correct temperatures and lighting conditions which will promote growth in a healthy orchid.

Orchid Does Not Flower

First check that the plant is receiving sufficient light which is critical to the orchid's flower growth.

Alternatively, a newly purchased orchid may not bloom during the following year's flowering season. Once the plant matures it will then produce flowers each year.

Leaves Have Turned Dark or Blue-Green

This condition is a sure sign that the orchid is receiving insufficient light. This is best corrected by gradually moving the plant to brighter daylight conditions over several days to avoid the sudden shock from higher illumination levels.

Alternatively, supplement the natural day light with fluorescent lights placed at a height of 30cm (12 inches) above the orchid.

Leaves Have Become Yellow

Conversely to the last problem, yellow leaves can be a result of the orchid getting excessive lighting levels. In which case increase the amount of shade for the orchid.

Alternatively, the yellowing of leaves can often be caused by a lack of nutrients resulting from insufficient fertiliser. For most indoor orchids apply a soluble orchid fertiliser at two weekly intervals during its growing season.

Finally, it may be the yellowing of old leaves which are being replaced by new leaf growth, in which case there is nothing to be concerned about.

Areas of Black on Leaves

A common cause of black areas on orchid leaves is intense direct sunlight causing sunburn, which can be rectified by providing shaded or filtered sunlight.

An alternative cause which can result in more extensive blackening of the leaf is fungal disease.

The cure for this is to cut away the infected area with a sharp blade, and apply an appropriate fungicide treatment.

Flowers Showing Signs of Wilting

When orchid flowers begin to show signs of wilting, which also may be accompanied by buds dropping off, it could be due to a shock caused by a sudden change in temperature.

It is vital to provide an environment for your orchid in which there is a regular daily temperature range between night-time and day-time without sudden extreme temperature changes.

Black Spots on Flowers

The most frequent cause of black spots on flowers is a specific fungus, known as Botrytris which occurs in conditions of excessive moisture and insufficient air circulation.

To reduce the moisture on the plant, increase the air circulation through the use of an electric fan, along with limiting the amount of watering and misting.

Multiple Orchid Roots Growing Outside the Pot

This phenomenon is usually due to the potting medium decomposing and the orchid needing to be re-potted.

It is recommended that the new potting medium is based on a medium cut bark mix which should reduce the re-potting frequency to two years.

Bacterial and Fungal Diseases

As previously mentioned, the best way to avoid these diseases is give your orchid continual air circulation although this air should be at room temperature.

In addition, any watering or misting of the orchid should be carried out during the morning which will enable any excess moisture to evaporate during the warmth of the day.

Again, these diseases should be appropriately treated. Your local garden centre or orchid supplier will be able to recommend suitable products.

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Demystifying Black Orchids

Black orchids gained the reputation of mysterious flowers. They are mistakenly perceived to possess magical powers as they are often portrayed in witchcraft rituals, especially in movies, books or legends. They are flowers imbued with power, authority and class. Orchid flowers are symbols of absolute authority and great power. Though they are friendly flowers, the unhampered destruction of their natural habitat put them at constant threat of extinction.

As flowers belonging to the Orchidaceae family, the black ones share the origin with other orchids that derived their name 'orchid' from the Greek word "orchis" which means testicle. Thus they are seen as symbols of virility. Though black orchid flowers can be achieved by having white orchids dyed black, as alternative way, the natural ones can be obtained similarly to the other flowers belonging to this species. They can be propagated through areal cuttings, division, keiki, meristem, tissue culture and seeds.

Black colored orchids come in two types, they are the terrestrial ones that grow mostly on the ground, and the epiphytes, those that grow on trees. Some of the most common black orchid flowers are the so-called Black Pam, Dendrobium fuliginosa, Coelogyne pandurata, Dracula roezlii, Oncidium henckenii and the hybridized ones like the Candor Blackheart, Candor Neat and Florafest's Queen. However, the Liparis nervosa is, undisputedly, THE black orchid flower due to its pure deep black hue.

Though used quite often, black orchids never lose their elegance and class. They have a distinguished beauty to show, for anyone to appreciate and be proud of. Consider some of the combinations listed below:

A wedding bouquet with contrasting shades

Whilst many may shy away from the use of black orchids, you should try combining them with other flowers, like white lilies, wrapped with silk ribbons, the assortment makes a beautiful bouquet for a wedding. Such a wedding bouquet can be set up in a round or in a cascading manner. The contrast between black and white is surely attracting the attention of the people around.

Creating extraordinary bouquets out of ordinary materials

As human resourcefulness is an important ingredient to discovery, a hand tied bouquet of black orchids with white feathers or white calla lilies tied up with bows made of silk is a welcoming display. One can easily create extraordinary bouquet using natural black flowers or even black dyed ones.

Eye catching and impressive centerpieces

Centerpieces can be so enticing and alluring when black orchid flowers are blended in with white colored flowers such as white lilies, orchids or roses and even with lavender or pale shades of purple. The result of this combination of different flowers with contrasting colors is really eye-catching and impressive as it is not the usual floral arrangement anyone is encountering.

As sympathy flower to the bereaved kin

Keeping in mind the common association of black orchids to death, a floral arrangement set up in a wreath is effective to convey sympathy to the bereaved family when someone dear has passed away. A bouquet in a cascading manner is also wonderful as black means submission, in full authority and power, to the unseen forces.

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Orchid Fertilizer - How to Select the Best Orchid Fertilizer

If you're like most orchid lovers, you have good intentions in using orchid fertilizer on your plants. And you surely want the plants to have all the nutrients necessary. Unfortunately many people think using fertilizers are like feeding a child, where if you give them all the nutrients they need, they'll flourish.

With orchids, this is not the case.

Most orchid varieties are happy in a basic medium that is not overdone with nutrients. Unlike other plants, orchids need much less fertilizer and giving them too much is more harmful than not giving them enough.

On the other side, if you give orchids the right amount of fertilizer, at the right time, you will see impressive growth and health plants. The trick is to give your plants nutrients in a weak form.

If the orchid fertilizing product you are using says to apply it once a week, water the substance down by 50 percent. Also, about one time per month, water the orchids without any orchid fertilizer. Skipping this week will help to clean out any built up minerals in the soil and on the root bulb, which can cause damage if left there.

But is this enough?

Most people don't realize one of the best ways to understand orchids is to look at them in their natural environment. In that environment, orchids are continuously searching for nutrients and when they do come, they are in small quantities.

Within the orchid's natural environment, nutrients come in the form of droppings from animals and decomposing natural materials, like leaves. They are available only in small amounts and often it is in running water or moist ground.

Giving your orchids fertilizers in heavy doses is much like giving someone medication at too high of a dose. It does them little good.

So what should you focus on with your orchid fertilizer?

The following is a list of the nutrients orchids need you to supply them:

-- Hydrogen
-- Carbon
-- Calcium
-- Phosphorus
-- Potassium
-- Magnesium
-- Sulfur
-- Oxygen
-- Nitrogen

In addition, micronutrients needed include iron, chlorine, boron, manganese, zinc and copper.

Remember that hydrogen, carbon and oxygen come from the natural surroundings (water and air) and therefore do not need to be in the fertilizer you use.

You also do not have to be concerned with orchid fertilizers having micronutrients, since these are in most natural potting soils (especially when you choose organic versions) and in the water.

As a general common sense rule when buying any type of orchid fertilizer, simply read the label.

What exactly should you buy?

Orchid fertilizers do not need to be specific orchid fertilizing products. The label does not need to read "orchid safe."

Rather, there is little difference between using a standard plant fertilizer and an orchid-based product. Look at the packaging to ensure you have a 20-10-10 mixture, or if you are using other than bark or tree fern, look for a 20-20-20 mixture.

By providing this mixture to your orchids, they will do well on a regular basis. Remember, orchid fertilizer is not something to overfeed...or overthink!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5041281

Orchid Care Instructions - Watering Is An Art When Growing Cymbidium Orchids

With the advances in technology and lighting today, it's much easier to grow cymbidium orchids than it used to be. This is because cymbidium orchids need a good amount of sunlight and the proper temperature. They can receive a good amount of lighting (more so than other types of orchids) and love high humidity levels (like most orchids do).

However, one of the trickiest challenges for cymbidium orchid growers is knowing how much water to give to their cymbidium orchids and when to give it to them.

Here's some great information about cymbidium orchid care, but I want to point out a few things. Most people are determined to give water to their cymbidium orchids in good quantities, and certainly cymbidium orchids need water in order to survive (like virtually all living things). But many people overdo it.

The trick is that you need to keep the medium section of the cymbidium orchids MOIST, but NOT SOGGY. If you water the medium of the plants too much, you could cause your orchids to die.

To figure out if you are giving too much water, not enough water, or just the right amount of water, take your finger and place it about an inch or so into the soil medium. This will help you determine whether the medium is moist or not.

If you think it is, you don't have to give it any more water; however, if you think that it needs more water, then by all means, give it some more to make it moist.

Another mistake that many cymbidium orchid growers make is that they think that should fertilize their orchids while they are blooming. Fertilizers can discourage your orchid's ability to flower correctly if you are not extremely careful.

In fact, the author suggests that you only use a 20-20-20 mixture of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, and only when your plant calls for it. That is definitely good advice, as any other type of fertilizer combination could severely damage or even kill your plant.

Additionally, the author gives good advice when it is mentioned that you should wait another year before giving out more fertilizer - orchids do not need much fertilizer; watering them properly on a regular basis is more vital to their surviving and thriving than fertilizing them regularly.

Remember there is no one orchid care system that would fit all the orchid types. Be extra attentive and take time to learn first about your chosen orchid to achieve success in growing them.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6705896