2014 NYBG Orchid Show & Orchid Caring Tips

by Triplicity Flowers

If you are in New York City area in March and beginning of April, we highly recommend visiting the New York Botanical Garden in Bronx. This year thousands and thousands of orchids have been used to transform part of the Conservatory into a modern Key West estate Garden. The show is magnificent and a kaleidoscope full of colors is simply breath-taking. We love orchids and often incorporate them in our arrangements. Many people think orchids are tricky to grow, but there are some simple tips to achieve success:

If the leaves are too light, it means they are getting too much sun. If the leaves are dark green, it means they are not getting enough sunlight. Make sure to check the leaf color often to make sure that the changing environmental conditions aren’t affecting the amount of light your orchid is getting. If you keep the orchids indoor, provide them bright light. Try to avoid hot direct sunlight.
You don’t want the roots to soak after watering, so it helps if you put rocks in the bottom of the flower pot. Just make sure the water to drains completely.
When a lot of longer roots are spilling over the side of the pot, it’s a good indication that it is time to repot the orchid. Wait until your orchid stops blooming to repot, and watch the root length/amount of roots cascading out of the pot.
Water early in the day so that the plant dries out during the day. Typically for the most common orchid, such as Phalaenopsis, water once per week is sufficient. The water requirement for each orchid type is different. Be sure to ask when you purchase the orchids.
Own the right type of orchid! With thousands of different types of orchids, it is important when selecting an orchid for your home that you match up the correct living conditions, for example the amount of light into the house, the temperature and humidity. Read the label to see what conditions are optimal.