Care tips for orchids

The most traded common orchids are: Phalaenopsis, Cymbidium, Miltonia, Cambria, Vuylstekeara, Ludisia, Vanda, Dendrobium nobile, Dendrobium Phalaenopsis, Paphiopedilum (Lady’s slipper) and Cattleya. With the correct care all these species can be grown on the windowsill.

Yes, some orchids do smell, such as Vuylstekaerea ‘Nelly Isler’, Miltonia, Cymbidium, Cattleya, Dendrobium Nobile, Dendrobium kingianum and Oncidium ornithorhynchum.

Yes, the European orchids can be grown in the open air. These die back in winter and do return in spring, but not so the orchids we offer. Some species do well in the open air, but only in a period the outside temperature doesn’t register 12ºC or lower

An orchid only needs water if the soil is fairly dry and the roots in the pot have turned grey. For in a ‘closed’ flower pot this is hardly to see you could use a small dipstick (kebab skewer is satisfactory). Check if the stick is dry every 7 till 10 days. If the stick is still moist the plant doesn’t need to be watered. Not until the stick is dry the plant needs to be watered. It averages out at every 7 till 10 days watering caters for the needs.

Most orchid species flower once a year for 6 till 10 weeks with the exception of the Phalaenopsis (or butterfly or moon orchid). This orchid can flower during 2 till 6 months and sometimes two or three times a year. This is one of the reasons the Phalaenopsis is so popular.

Every three or four years. Use a special orchid soil (existing of bark and peat). Carefully remove the bad roots before you put the plant in the new soil. The aerial roots also can be potted in the fresh orchid soil.

Best is to wait till some leaves are on the stem and the plant has about 3 aerial roots. Then you cut the plant from the stem and pot in orchid soil (existing of bark and peat). After repotting the soil should be moistened lightly. It’s also possible to let the plant grow plant at the stem.

Your orchid losing its flower buds probably means that it has been in a cold environment and has received too much water or too little sunlight. We recommend never exposing orchids to a temperature lower than fifteen degrees Celsius. Cold temperatures will cause the roots to stop being active and the buds to fall.

It’s hard to get rid of woolly aphid. The only way is to spray or dip the plant with a biological preparation dissolved in water. In tough propositions double the dosage indicated o the package. Biological preparation can be sold in our shop.

Are your orchids affected by vermin? Fight them with organic pesticides. Send a photograph of the orchid to winkel@pantropica.nl and our orchid experts will provide you with personal advice.