Before I proceed to talk about all the supplies that you as a grower might need for your healthy orchids, let us define what a healthy orchid or orchid plant actually is.

A healthy and happy orchid plant features the following characteristics which will be clearly visible season after season after season:

• Its root system is vibrant with all its roots being succulent and showing continual signs of new growth.
• Its leaves are smooth, erect and medium green in color. The leaves of a healthy orchid plant are also free of dark or light spots, blemishes or punctures, and show no evidence of being afflicted with pests or disease. When not in bloom, the healthy orchid plant will inevitably start growing new leaves to add to its arsenal.

  • It generates, on a regular basis, a sturdy stock with plenty of knobs from which the flowers will in due time develop.
  • It then produces its beautiful bloom which is just as striking as that which attracted its owner in the first place.

Achieving and maintaining healthy orchid plants requires some effort of planning, taking quick and deliberate actions as well as using needed tools. And so, as an orchid grower, you will need to know that you must do the following or your orchid plants will fall prey to damaging and/or fatal disease:

  • When bringing home a new orchid plant, segregate it from other orchid plants until you are sure that it carries no disease that can be transmitted. It is advisable to purchase your orchid plant from professional orchid growers rather than from supermarkets or some such retail stores.
  • Be sure that you are familiar with the needs of your new orchid and provide them as best as you can. Those needs will include the amount of lighting, the potting media, the range of temperature, the correct ratio of nutrients, the amount of water and the levels of humidity.

Here you will need:

a) Growing lights if your orchid plant does not receive enough natural lighting.
b) Proper orchid potting media or a potting mix.
c) A thermometer to measure the temperature and a thermostat to control the required range.
d) A well balanced natural orchid fertilizer.
e) A watering can and/or easy access to a water hose.
f) A humidity tray and a spray bottle.

  • If your newly adopted orchid is in bloom, be sure to snip off each flower as soon as it begins to wilt.

a) Here you will need a good pair of long-nosed pruning shears or sharp scissors which you will disinfect before every use.

  • Check your plant thoroughly at least once a week and cut off browned or damaged leaves and use appropriate pesticides or insecticides when the need arises.

a) Here you can either use a pair of shears or a razor blade and always be sure that they are sterile.
b) Organic and eco-friendly pesticide compound.
c) Organic and eco-friendly insecticide formula.

  • Unless otherwise advised for your particular orchid plant, water it once a week and let the water entirely drain out.

a) A good drainage system is needed here such as that provided by a sink.

  • Once your orchid has lost all its bloom, snip off the bear spike at the bottom of the plant and prepare to repot it.

a) Remove the plant from its existing pot, clear away all the old potting media, snip off dead and dried up roots. Place the plant into a new orchid pot with the potting media which you’ve already acquired.
b) You will most likely need stakes to steady the plant and later stakes to support the spike with ties.

The video below will give you a demonstrative idea about
caring for your orchid plant. Don’t miss it.

So, what are the healthy orchid supplies you will need? I’ve already made mention of them earlier but I will be happy to list right here again:

• Growing lights
• Potting media
• Thermometer and thermostat
• Fertilizer
• Watering can or water hose
• Humidity tray and/or spray bottle
• Pruning shears, scissors and/or razor blade
• Organic and eco-friendly pesticide and/or insecticide
• Drainage system
• Orchid pots
• Stakes and ties

We would be happy to become your number one source for everything orchids because ours is the most comprehensive and up-to-date orchid website. So, do visit us at Orchid Care.org as frequently as you can.

Filed under: Orchid Supplies

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