Common Orchid Care Mistakes

Houseplants
Orchid Mistakes

Phalaenopsis orchids are among the most beautiful flowering plants you can grow in your home, and they require only minimal care. This is why they are suitable even for less experienced gardeners who wish to grow orchids in their home but lack the advanced knowledge of the orchid care.

These orchids are very hardy and they can grow with just a minimum of care. All you need to provide is the right amount of light, humidity, nutrition, water and oxygen.

However, even the less demanding orchids such as Phalaenopsis require proper care. In their case, it means not being over-enthusiastic with care and not going overboard with watering and other things that may seem like a good idea but will ultimately make for unfavorable growing conditions for your orchid.

The most Common mistakes novice gardeners make when growing Phalaenopsis orchids include excessive watering, planting orchids in the soil, too much sunlight and not providing enough humidity.

These mistakes can bring more harm than good and they can bring your orchid in danger. It's important to avoid these mistakes if you wish to have a strong, healthy orchid that will grow well and give beautiful flowers.

Over-Watering

Excessive watering is dangerous for the orchids, and this is the most common mistake beginner gardeners make. You may get over-enthusiastic with your orchid and think that you need to water it frequently. This is a mistake. Phalaenopsis orchids only require limited amount of water to thrive. Excessive watering may bring several problems, most common being the root rot. You should never water your orchids with more than 1/4 cup of water per week (which amounts to 3 cubes of ice, if you choose to water them using ice cubes).

Planting in the Soil

These orchids grow on trees in their natural habitat, so soil is a foreign medium to them. They should never be planted in soil. They need a special potting medium that will allow for optimal air circulation around the roots. The best growing mediums for Phalaenopsis orchid are cork, tree bark or coconut shreds.

Too Much Light

Another beginner's mistake is to expose your orchid to too much sunlight. These orchids thrive under indirect sunlight, so it's important to place them away from bright, direct sunlight. It's best to place them in a north or west-facing window. It's easy to tell if your orchid is getting enough sunlight: simply observe its leaves. Healthy leaves mean just the right amount of sunlight. Leaves with yellow spots and yellowing leaves signal that you need to move your orchid to a different place.

Inadequate Humidity Level

Some people make a mistake of not providing enough humidity to their Phalaenopsis orchid. If you live in an area with a low humidity, you need to provide artificial humidity for your plant. Orchids need high humidity levels to thrive. You can provide enough humidity for your Phalaenopsis orchid by misting it from time to time. You may also place a humidity tray underneath the orchid's pot.

Photo credit: Heartlover1717

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