Planting Orchids

Selection of a good planting medium


Orchid plants can be planted around the house and yard or garden that is under a shade tree or with a given para net or the like by setting a certain light intensity or on open land. Therefore, Orchid plants have high economical potential, for certain species can be planted in the Greenhouse. In addition to protecting plants from natural disturbance, also will reduce the intensity of pest attack.

A good growing medium must meet certain requirements, that is not quickly decay, not a source of disease, have good aeration, capable of binding water and nutrients well, easily obtained in the desired amount and the relatively cheap price. Until now there is no media that meets all the requirements for growing Orchids.

For the growth of Orchid plants, medium acidity (pH) is good ranging from 5-6. Growing medium is essential for optimal growth and flower production, so there needs to be an attempt to find a suitable growing medium. The growth medium used are: moss, ferns, wood shaving, woods chips, coconut fiber, charcoal, and pine bark.

Broken bricks have been use as basic medium Orchids pot, because it can absorb more water when compared with the broken tiles. Media broken bricks use as the bottom of the pot, because it has the capability of good drainage and aeration.

Moss containing 2-3% N elements has long been used for medium to grow Orchids. Media Moss has good water binding capacity, and have good aeration and drainage as well.

Ferns suitable for Orchid Media, because it has a binding power of water, good aeration and drainage, decay slowly and contain nutrients necessary for growing Orchids.

Coconut fiber easily become weak and perishable, so it can be a source of disease, but the power to save water is very good and contain the nutrients required and easily available and cheap price. In using coconut fiber as a growing medium, should be selected coconut fibers that are old.

Coconut fibers growing media, ferns and moss is a good growing medium for plant growth of Phalaenopsis sp.. But when the ferns and moss growing on the forest is taken on an ongoing basis to be used as growing medium, it is feared the balance of the ecosystem will be disrupted.

The used of new media (re-potting) can be done because of Orchid plants is pots (containers) is too dense or more buds and medium long been destroyed, causing the acidic medium, could be a source of disease.

Maintenance Of Orchids


Orchid plants a actively growing, require more water than is already flowering. The frequency and number of water spray is given to the Orchid plants depends on the kind of small and large plant size and environmental conditions of planting. An example is a plant of Vanda sp., Arachnis sp., and Aranthera sp., namely Monopodial Orchid type who grew up under direct sunlight, so the need watering more than twice a day, especially during the dry season.

Like other plants, Orchids always need food to sustain life. Orchid plant nutrient needs will be similar to other plants., Orchids only require a long time to show symptoms of deficiency, binding very slow growth of Orchids. To the cultivation of Orchids, their habitats are not quite able to provide the elements needed by plants usually given both organic and inorganic fertilizers. Which is commonly used fertilizer compound fertilizer containing the macro and micro elements.

The quality and quantity of the fertilizer to adjust the balance of vegetative and generative plant growth. At the vegetative growth phase for plants that are still small ratio of 30: 10: 10 NPK fertilizer is, the vegetative growth phase for a medium- sized plant of NPK ratio is 10: 10: 10. While the generative growth phase which is to stimulate flowering, NPK fertilizer ratio 10 : 30: 30.

If the fertilizer into the pot, the only fertilizer that dissolves in water and direct contact with the root tip to be taken by the Orchid plants and the remainder will remain in the pot. Fertilizing in the afternoon showed a good response to growth in Dendrobium sp..