Orchid Care
Enc. Dr. Robert H. Palmer
If you’re new to growing orchids, or if you’re new to a particular genus and/or species of the family, you may be looking for some general guidance to help your plants thrive in your growing space.
There are several broadly-defined but widely accepted factors that determine the health and livelihood of an orchid:
Temperature
Humidity
Air circulation
Light
Water
Fertilization
Pot size
Potting media (or mix)
Orchidaceae is a very large and diverse family. Even within a given genus, optimal growing conditions can vary significantly. Without specific information about your space, it can be very difficult to provide broad guidance on things like watering frequency and plant location via email or phone.
We provide culture tips in the product listings of plants sold through our online store. And, of course, if you visit us in-person, our team will be happy to provide growing instruction for any plant(s) you’d like to learn about.*
That said, we also encourage you to do some independent research on your genus/species of interest. The American Orchid Society (AOS) is a terrific resource for beginners. AOS culture sheets are a good starting point for basic information on orchid care by genus (e.g. Cattleya, Catasetum, Stanhopea).
The AOS also provides "Novice Culture Sheets" on Cattleya, Dendrobium, Paphiopedilum, and Phalaenopsis -- as well as general information on watering.
________________________________
* We’re currently experiencing a high volume of online orders due to the pandemic. While our nursery is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday, Tuesdays and Wednesdays are our shipping days.
As a result, please be advised that our staff is less available for a personalized shopping experience on these days than later in the week.
We greatly appreciate your understanding.