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Orchid Care Made EasyOrchid Care Made Easyby Nate HardingThere’s a myth that orchids are only for the rich and famous because it required lots of time and money. Perhaps the misconception is also due to the ancient Greek royalties who worshiped orchids as gold. But, today, most people know that orchids are very easy to care for. It does not take much time and money to keep them healthy. The secret in orchid care is actually in the preventive measures you need take. One of the basic orchid growing tips is -- you have to look closely at your plants once a week. How long does it take? Most likely, its only a minute per plant, but it could be the most important minute you spend! Inspect the leaves including the underside. Then look at the pseudo bulbs, spike and roots. Beginners may not know what look for at first. As more time is spent, they will be able to spot any abnormality. Once they know what is wrong with the plant, they could refer back to an orchid care book such as http://www.grow-orchids.com to find out possible preventive treatment. Another preventive measure that you should take is to purchase orchids from a reputable supplier. There are no fixed rules to determine whether you have bought a healthy plant or not, but the general rule is to buy orchids that look vigorous. Once you bring orchids to your home, you should quarantine them. It is better to separate them from the rest of the collection for at least 1 or 2 weeks. Sometimes the plants may have contracted a disease that’s not easy to spot, and you don’t want this to spread to other plants. Whenever you spot a problem, you need to act on it quickly. If you are not sure what it is, you could consult local orchid society or nursery for advice to determine the best orchid care treatment. There will be times when insects attack your orchids. The most common ones are aphids, scale, mealy bugs, and spider mites. You will need a magnifying glass to spot those insects. Next, check with the nursery or a handbook for the best treatment. The trick is not just to kill all the insects, it is to stop the life cycle of insects and prevent future attack at the plants. It is reported that many orchid breeders in Asia burn certain kind of woods to repel the insects. Perhaps this method is worth investigating. Here is another preventive measure… Most people understand that orchids thrive on highly humid environment, but many forget to keep excessive moisture away from the plants. High humidity without proper air circulation will naturally breed fungus and bacterial diseases. The leaves are usually the first to be affected. You will often see spots or rings. Sometimes it is better to trim them immediately, rather than using medicinal treatment. The flowers could also be affected. You will probably notice some speckling, deformation, or irregular brown spots. This could be due to contagious viral disease. The treatment could be expensive, and sometimes it is better to give up before the disease spreads. Article Source: http://www.articlecube.com |