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ORCHID CARE
In
So. California, keeping orchids happy, healthy and productive depends
on environment (temperature, light, air movement), Water quality
(generally high in minerals, "hard"). We offer the
following general guidelines for successful orchid growing and
flowering: Orchids need to breathe, don't
smother them with extraneous decorative moss, don't seal off
their drain holes with plastic wrap, close fitting saucers or other
containers. Keep a good air space all the way around the plant
and it's pot. When watering, use copious amounts of tap water to
keep the salts flushed through the root system OR use bottled drinking
water in smaller quantities. A good source of additional
information: http://aos.org/aos/,
for The American Orchid Society and their "culture sheets",
http://aos.org/aos/orchids/page01.aspx
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Care
instructions for:
CATTLEYA
These many hued orchids grow
best in very bright light and partial sun conditions. Temperatures
between 50 and 85 degrees are ideal. Water and fertilize
regularly, once a week in winter and twice a week in summer. Good air
movement and perfect drainage are essential. Do not let the
plants sit on saucers or tables that clog their drain holes.
When the plants are flowering, they can be brought indoors (cool, no
direct sun) to enjoy.
ONCIDINAE
Graceful sprays of subtle fragrance
can bloom 2 times per year. Keep blooming plants in shaded patio or
indoors out of direct sun and/or heat. Water thoroughly every 10
- 14 days. Be sure to keep bottom of pot elevated to insure the
drain holes are open and the roots can breathe. When blooms have
faded and stems are withered, cut the stem off and place plant outside in
50/50 sun/shade, water and fertilize once a week. The Bright
light conditions and regular watering and fertilizing are essential for
optimum flowering.
PHALAENOPSIS
The ideal indoor
orchid plant. Requires a bright, but no direct sun location with moderate
temperatures. Water thoroughly every week and
fertilize. Keep pot elevated at all times to allow drain holes
to breathe. DO NOT trim off flower stems unless it is completely
withered. More buds and blooms usually form after the first set of
flowers have faded. Phalaenopsis can bloom for several months at
a time. ENJOY!!
DENDROBIUM
These plants produce
sprays of long lasting flowers in many colors and sizes. We grow
and offer for sale only the varieties which grow well in coastal
Southern California without excessive leaf drop and pronounced rest
periods (when the plant can actually look "dead"). We
grow them in as much sunlight as we can give them without burning the
foliage and thorough watering (with fertilizer) once a week in winter
and 2-3 times per week in summer. Keep them well drained.
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CYMBIDIUM
- Cymbidium
plants make a good patio or container plant for your garden.
They grow
- best in plastic containers in a
fast draining mix. In the past, we've used Douglas Fir bark in
the "Pathway" size but are switching to Coconut husk chunks
in a medium to coarse size. The Coconut husk chunks do need to
be well rinsed with water to wash out any residual salt from
processing but seem to be more tolerant of our hard water conditions
in Southern California. Tamp the chunks down firmly with a
potting stick or hammer handle so the newly potted plant does not
"jiggle". The cymbidium shown is potted in a 2 gallon
nursery container and has five flower spikes this spring.
Cymbidiums are the only orchid that we change fertilizers during the
year. No nitrogen during the summer, approximately Fourth of
July until Halloween. If bloom spikes are left on the plant for
weeks/months or the plant kept indoors for extended periods of
time, the cymbidium may take the next year off from blooming to
recover.
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