Better Homes and Gardens (Australia)
CHOOSE YOUR ORCHIDS
You fall in love with their shapes and colours, but you also need to be sure orchids are right for your environment.
Tree (Dendrobium SP)
These showy clusters of flowers on long stems look lovely in a north-facing garden under dappled light. Hang them in a tree or grow in a pot of orchid mix. Or, put the pre y li le natives (D. kingianum x speciosum) on rocks. They require heat and moisture when growing in summer and autumn, and cooler, drier conditions when growth is finished and flowers shine in winter or early spring. Water regularly but gently in summer and autumn. Feed regularly with a fertiliser formulated for orchids.
Boat (Cymbidium sp)
Large sprays of big, bold, waxy flowers emerge from long strappy leaves in winter or early spring. Many are Australian natives so are quite cold tolerant and o en flower in summer. As they are semi-terrestrial they thrive best in containers with an orchid mix, or a rich but very loose organic mix. They’re best grown outdoors but, if you’re prone to frosts, bring them indoors in winter where they can get indirect light from the north or west. Water frequently in spring, summer and autumn and in winter just keep the soil damp. Feed with a weak orchid fertiliser every couple of months.
Corsage (Cattleya sp)
Looking like they’re grown in a lolly shop, these showy, fragrant, frilly flowers are best known for the classic corsage or bu onhole bloom. As slow-growing epiphytes, you can grow these outside a ached to trees in a warm, sheltered position with bright, indirect sunlight, or mounted on a board. But if you get frosts, put them in pots in an orchid-growing medium and bring indoors in winter. The flowers last for weeks and can surprise you by blooming twice a year. Water about once a week. Don’t let it sit in water or its roots may rot. Feed with a weak solution of orchid fertiliser monthly in spring and summer – if it’s too strong it will produce foliage at the expense of flowers.
Moths (Phalaenopsis sp)
Their large cascades of moth-like flowers have made them the most popular indoor orchids in recent years. But o en they get tossed when the flowers fade. Instead, save them for another year by cu ing off the flower stalks at the base and pu ing them in a spot that mimics the tropics – warm during the day and much cooler at night, as well as maintaining humidity. WATER regularly and don’t let the roots dry out. Feed regularly with a fertiliser formulated for orchids.
While it’s annoying for some, the best thing for most orchids is a lot of hot air!