As an orchid grower, you’re only as good as your orchid supplies. Once you’ve decided to raise your first orchid, you’re most likely going to be somewhat excited to jump in and get started.
But remember, it pays to be patient and make certain that you’re appropriately outfitted for success first. By becoming familiar with all the necessary orchid supplies on this list, you’ll be prepared for everything that comes along during your journey as an orchid grower.
#1: Orchid Pots – Usually, orchid growers enjoy unsophisticated pots of plastic or terra cotta that let the natural good looks of the plant speak for itself. But they’ve got an added benefit: they are also inexpensive. This is imperative to never forget because your orchids will generally need to be repotted every year.
#2: Fertilizer – A lot of people have the incorrect perception that you must not fertilize these plants. This couldn’t be any further from the truth. While some soil mixes can be too dense for an orchid to thrive in, a growing plant must have the kinds of nutrients that are found in fertilizers. Search for concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium that are compatible to your plant’s individual needs.
#3: Potting Mixes – Orchids must have air circulation around their roots, so make sure to choose a potting mix that provides for enough aeration. This is a very important orchid supply, so choose something that has either perlite or vermiculite to get the job done.
#4: Misting Bottle – Although you’ll only be watering your plants every week or so, you should keep a misting bottle on hand to occasionally spray down the leaves of your plants. (This is especially true for the kind that requires high humidity.)
#5: Lights – Although natural sunlight is by far the best kind of light for these plants to thrive in, many growers provide the sun with their personal set-up of growing lights. When you are choosing your orchid supplies, you may very well enjoy the degree of control this gives you over your plant’s exposure to light sources.
#6: Pest Control Supplies – One thing you should keep among your orchid supplies is an abundant amount of pest control products. these plants are known to periodically become infested with bugs such as spiders, mites, slugs, snails, and even scale bugs that blend into the surface of the leaves. An all-natural insecticide is a good option, but so are chemical treatments such as malathion.
#7: Pruning Snips – As your plant nears the flowering period and beyond, you’ll want a pair of precise pruning snips to exercise total control of its appearance. With these, you can prune back straying leaves and shape your plant to the utmost excellence. Every serious orchid lover keeps this in their tool chest of orchid supplies!
#8: Orchid Mounts – Many of these plants are so fragile, they require support to stand up straight. Often, you’ll see people with sticks jutting up from their plant’s pots, with a thin piece of string tied around the stick and the main stem of their orchid. This is a less than ideal situation. If your plant needs vertical support, use the proper plant mount that doesn’t risk destroying the leaves, stems, and flowers you worked so hard to grow.
#9: Humidity Trays – When germinating your plants, or getting them through vegetative growth towards the flowering stage, humidity trays can be one of your best friends. These wide flat trays are ideal for caring for small amounts of orchid plants that require a humid environment in which to thrive.
Do not forget, you don’t need to be very rich and have a vast, well-equipped garden to grow beautiful orchids. You simply need to pay attention to your plant’s individual needs, and make sure to gather these few essential orchid supplies with which to take care of them.
No related posts.
