Nine years ago David Glass bought a half dozen or so orchids as an anniversary present for his wife.
“I thought she’d know how to take care of them, but she told me, ‘No way!’” he said. To learn to care for his new charges, Glass enrolled in a class for beginning orchid growers at the Atlanta Botanical Garden.
Using what he learned there, he was able to persuade his orchids to bloom again. Success with those first plants led him to buy more, all of which he grew on his window sills. Those first plants became the nucleus of a collection that now numbers about 350 plants. When the window sills would hold no more, the couple built a greenhouse and moved the orchids out of the house.
Glass recommends two varieties that work as houseplant orchids, well suited for the beginning grower. The first is the phalaenopsis, commonly called the moth orchid, with blooms that can last for months. It’s very commonly used by florists and decorators. The other is the paphiopedilum, or slipper, orchid whose blooms have a little pouch that looks like the toe of a bedroom slipper. Both are well suited for growing indoors because they don’t need much light to bloom.
The keys to growing orchids are to pay attention to the light, water, ventilation and fertilizing.
Light
Phalaenopsis and paphiopedium orchids prefer an east-facing window. They can handle the direct morning sun, but they don’t want bright sun all day. A south-facing window can be too bright and too hot, as can windows that get intense afternoon sun from a western exposure.
Water
Most orchids are killed by being overwatered or from being in pots that don’t drain well. “You hear all sorts of things about watering orchids including putting a couple of ice cubes on the pot and letting it melt. That’s really not the best way to do it,” Glass said.
In their original habitat, phalaenopsis orchids grow in trees, with their roots spreading out over the bark. When it rains, the roots get soaked, but then the sun comes out and the roots dry quickly. “That’s the same way you want to treat your phalaenopsis,” said Glass. They should be potted in a mixture that will drain quickly. Water thoroughly and allow to drain completely. It may be a week before you need to water them again.
Paphiopedium orchids like a little more moisture. The watering process is the same, but the plants may need watering twice a week. The amount of sun they get, the amount of breeze around the plants and the size of the pot will help determine how often the plants need water.
Ventilation
Keeping the air moving around the plants is another important element. A ceiling fan or even a little clip-on fan will keep the air moving, drying out the plants and helping prevent problems with fungus.
Fertilization
“The rule of thumb for orchids is to fertilize weekly weakly,” said Glass. He says any balanced plant fertilizer will do and should be diluted to half or a quarter of the recommended solution. When Glass was managing his orchids in the house, he would fertilize at the same time he watered, taking his plants to the kitchen sink, watering well, draining the pots, then adding the fertilizer solution and draining again.
Glass recommends new growers attend a meeting of the Atlanta Orchid Society. This group meets monthly at the Atlanta Botanical Garden and offers a monthly newsletter as well as a mentoring program. Beginning this Saturday, the garden is hosting a display of thousands of orchids, highlighting the natural bloom period of many orchid species. The orchid society's annual show will be part of the display March 11-13.
Attend the event
“Orchid Daze: Liquid Landscapes”
Atlanta Botanical Garden
Dates: Saturday through April 10
Open during regular garden hours
Free with admission to the garden
Events: guided tours, orchids for sale, orchid care clinic, Atlanta Orchid Society show March 11 – 13
For more information: www.atlantabotanicalgarden.org or 404-876-5859
