Orchids grow in 30,000 different species in the wild.
Orchids are bright and elegant in home atmospheres and bring an exotic touch to even the plainest of rooms. They require very specific care, but these beautiful plants thrive and live for years in the right conditions. Orchids make the biggest splash when they grow in groups and arrangements, with different colors and sizes of blooms. Choose orchids with similar growth habits, in a range of colors, and plant them in a large pot to build your own natural orchid arrangement. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Prepare a wide, shallow pot with drainage holes for multiple orchid plantings. These plants don't need deep pots but do require drainage, air and room to stretch and breathe.
2. Fill the pot three-quarters full of orchid-appropriate potting mix like gravel, perlite, fern matter, peat moss or coir. Use fern matter and peat moss for the most natural look. Orchids need plenty of air around their roots and don't do well in thick, traditional soil.
3. Choose orchids with similar needs from the same family for the most successful growing experience. Well-known families like Phalaenopsis, Dendrobium and Cymbidium feature many cultivars in different colors and sizes for variety. Remove the orchids from their original pots and trim away any dead or rotten roots. Place the orchids on the new potting medium spaced about 4-to-5 inches apart and pack more potting medium over their roots to secure them and fill the pot after all the plants are placed.
4. Place bamboo orchid poles in the growing medium next to each orchid to secure the medium. Clip orchid flower stalks to these stakes for support as they grow .
5. Put the arrangement in a location that gets bright indirect light or morning sun and afternoon shade. Maintain orchid family-specific temperatures for best growth. Orchids such as Phalaenopsis need warm temperatures, while Cymbidiums need cooler surroundings.
6. Water the orchids with 2 inches of water every two-to-three days to keep them moist, but don't get water on the crowns or foliage. Add water-soluble 20-20-20 fertilizer to the watering once a week for nutrition. Switch to high-phosphorous 10-50-10 or 10-30-10 during the blooming season to encourage growth and blooming.
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