Orchids For the Beginner

Most people start out growing orchids in their kitchens, bathrooms or on a windowsill. Although most orchids do best in greenhouses; there are also quite a few that are easy to grow for beginners. When a grower has purchased their first plant and it stays in bloom for up to two to three months, they are usually convinced that orchid collecting is exciting and rewarding.

Beginning Orchids:
Beginner orchid growers should probably start with a Phalaenopsis, Cymbidium, or a Colmanara Wildcat.

The real trick is getting these beauties to re-bloom. The most important things for a new grower to remember is to provide proper light, fertilizer, and water. Most people do not fertilize often enough and do not provide enough light. It is best to purchase an orchid which will do well in your home’s conditions, if you expect it to re-bloom.

Most orchids need to be repotted within a year from the time you buy it. The best time to repot an orchid is shortly after it flowers (1-2 months after). We would like to suggest that you inform your readers that there will be repotting demonstration at the show to learn the proper technique. There is a ‘right’ way to repot.

There are many orchids, which will grow outside for most of the year in the Bay Area – Cymbidiums, Odontoglossums, Masdevallias, Australian Dendrobiums, some Laelias, some Oncidiums, some Dendrobiums, and Coelogynes.

As you become more addicted to these beautiful plants, you may want to invest in a greenhouse. Most orchids really do best with a greenhouse, because the conditions can be most easily controlled.