Taking Care Of Orchids - And Not Killing Them Off

Taking care of orchids is not as difficult as it may initially appear.
But the flip side to that good piece of news is that it is also very easy to kill them off.
So how do you successfully take care of an orchid? Well, to do that you have to understand what orchids do and don't like.
The orchid is a fussy little soul and doesn't like excesses.
They do not like too much water, or too much sunlight, and to keep you on your toes they like moisture and light.
So the key to keeping your orchid happy is balance.
When it comes to light the orchid needs light to thrive.
However it is a fundamentally delicate plant and as a result direct sunlight can actually burn its flowers and leaves.
The best location for an orchid is in a light and airy room, but out of the rays of direct sun light.
Watering is rather similar to light; you need to find the balance between too much and too little.
Most house orchids have their roots exposed or partially exposed.
This means that the root draws moisture from not only the soil but also from the atmosphere.
There are several ways to keep your orchid moist.
One way is to have a small tray or bowl of water near the orchid and to let it evaporate.
When the moisture hits the leaves of the orchid it will condense and run down these leave then feeding the roots.
Another way to water your orchid is to spray or sprinkle water on the plant from above.
Although orchids do not need much watering, it is important to adjust the amount you water your orchid depending on its needs.
At different times of year and in different climates its needs will adjust and you must be able to respond to these.
Keep and eye on your orchid.
If it is flourishing you are doing fine, but you may also be able to over water, so hold of the next watering for an extra couple of days so that it can use up some reserves.
Orchids need to be fixed, so be sure to keep an eye on the soil or stones around your orchid and make sure that it is not losing its hold.
Once an orchid looses its grip on its surrounding it is hard to keep them healthy.
If you think it needs more soil be careful not to bury it, just add a couple of tablespoons of damp soil to the base and keep an eye on it.
If you are unsure then it is better to put too little than too much.
You can always add more soil, but removing soil can damage the orchids delicate roots.
So the best advice for taking care of orchids is to be really gentle with them and to watch and respond to their needs.