If you want a stunning flower then you might be looking at growing orchids in your garden. While these flowers are gorgeous you must also know that they have very specific needs. As a matter of fact when caring for orchids you must put in a little more work than most flowers. Improper care will result in diseased and dying plants. The best way to prevent this from happening to your orchids is to learn before you grow them how to care for them properly. You want to make sure your orchids thrive in your garden and you can do this if you stick to a few key guidelines about their care.

Watering orchids properly is the hardest part of caring for orchids. These plants are known for their very particular watering needs. Orchids require enough water to keep the plant alive and healthy while not giving it too much water. Orchids that are over watered will often die or become diseased easily. However, dried out or dying blooms are a problem with too little water. Caring for orchids sometimes requires testing things to determine the perfect levels. Environment, type of orchids you have and other factors will make a difference in the water levels needed. After playing around with water levels you will find the perfect balance for your orchids.

Caring for orchids also requires that you become an expert at temperature and lighting. Orchids are complex flowers that need a specific amount of heat and light to survive. Depending on the type of orchids you have, your plants will need sunlight from 4 to 12 hours a day. This does not necessarily mean direct sunlight however. Many orchids are also known to need shade as well. If the temperatures are too high or the heat is too much it could actually kill the plant. There is a delicate balance needed to determine the proper lighting and temperature for your orchids. This is where research ahead of time can come in handy.

When you are caring for orchids you need to make sure you start off caring for the plants properly. This begins from the moment you decide to plant them into soil. Ordinary soil is not for orchids. The roots of orchids are thick and generally attach themselves to bark and other items. Nutrients and water are absorbed through these roots. Caring for orchids begins by using a mixture without soil to plant your flowers in. Attaching the roots to bark ahead of time will ensure their health and growth as well. You can easily find a mixture that was created for your orchids.

You will find in your research that one of the most important parts of caring for orchids is to provide ventilation. Without the right air flow your plants could be in danger. Orchids will collect moisture if there isn’t adequate ventilation allowed for the plant and the roots. This could cause your plant, and your garden, to become overrun with pests and it could cause disease to spread to your orchids. One way to keep constant air flow is to occasionally re-pot your orchids.