| PAPHIOPEDILUM | | | | during dry weather in the morning only. Misting is not |
| Paphiopedilum, or slipper orchids, originate from the | | | | required for fleshy leaved types. |
| jungles of the Far East and Indonesia. They are | | | | FERTILIZER |
| semi-terrestrial, growing in humus and other material on | | | | Use a fertilizer high in nitrogen (grow fertilizer) from |
| the forest floor, on cliffs in pockets and occasionally in | | | | about March to September and a fertilizer high in |
| trees. | | | | phosphorus (bloom fertilizer) the rest of the year. |
| LIGHT | | | | When in active growth plants need fertilizer every 2 |
| Most Paphiopedilum prefer shady conditions. In the | | | | weeks and when not growing, once a month. |
| home, east, shaded south and east windows are ideal. | | | | Thorough flushing with clear water every month is |
| TEMPERATURE | | | | recommended to prevent build-up of fertilizer salts. |
| Temperatures of the Paphiopedilum vary considerably, | | | | POTTING |
| but most are separated by the warm growing mottled | | | | This is best done in the Spring after blooming. Potting is |
| leaf group and the cool growing green leaf types. | | | | usually done every 1 - 3 years. Mature plants can |
| Warm types prefer 60-65F at night and 75-80F or | | | | grow in the same pot until the potting medium starts to |
| more during in the day, cool types prefer 50-60F at | | | | decompose, usually in 2 years. Root rot occurs if |
| night and 75-80Fduring the day. Although higher | | | | plants are left in a soggy medium. A fine grade potting |
| temperatures force faster vegetative growth, higher | | | | medium is usually used for fine rooted plants and |
| humidity and air movement must accompany higher | | | | coarser mixes with large rooted plants. To re-pot, |
| temperatures, the recommended maximum being 100F | | | | remove the entire old medium from the roots, trim soft |
| WATER | | | | rotted roots and spread the remaining roots over a |
| Water must be available to the roots constantly, since | | | | cone shape of medium in the bottom if a new pot. Fill |
| they have no pseudbulbs, and therefore store most of | | | | the rest of the pot with medium, working it through the |
| their water in their leaves. They need a moist medium | | | | roots, so that the junction of the roots and the stem is |
| - never soggy, but never dry either. Water once or | | | | at the top of the medium. Keep plant shaded and |
| twice a week and water only in the morning so the | | | | humid, but drier in the pot, for several weeks, to |
| leaves are dry by nightfall to avoid rot from occurring | | | | promote new root growth. |
| on the leaves. | | | | PHALAENOPSIS |
| HUMDITY | | | | Phalaenopsis, the moth orchid, is one of the best |
| Paphiopedilum require humidity between 40-50%. In the | | | | orchids for growing in the home and is also a favourite |
| home, set the plants on trays of gravel, partially filled | | | | with greenhouse growers. Well-grown plants will |
| with water so that the pot never sits in water or have | | | | flower for up to 6months! |
| a humidifier in the room. Mist the plant in dry climates or | | | | LIGHT |
| during dry weather in the morning only. | | | | Is easy to provide for Phalaenopsis, they grow easily in |
| FERTILIZER | | | | a bright window with little or no direct sun. An east |
| Use a fertilizer high in nitrogen (grow fertilizer) from | | | | window is ideal in the home; shaded south facing or |
| about March to September and a fertilizer high in | | | | west window are acceptable. |
| phosphorus (bloom fertilizer) the rest of the year. | | | | TEMPERATURE |
| When in active growth plants need fertilizer every 2 | | | | Temperatures for Phalaenopsis should usually be |
| weeks and when not growing, once a month. | | | | above 60F at night and range from 70 -85F or more |
| Thorough flushing with clear water every month is | | | | during the day. Although higher temperatures force |
| recommended to prevent build-up of fertilizer salts. | | | | faster vegetative growth, higher humidity and air |
| POTTING | | | | movement must accompany higher temperatures, the |
| This is best done in the Spring after blooming. Potting is | | | | recommended maximum being 95F. Night |
| usually done every 1 - 3 years. Mature plants can | | | | temperatures to 55F are desirable for several weeks |
| grow in the same pot until the potting medium starts to | | | | in the fall in order to initiate flower spikes. Extreme |
| decompose, usually in 2 years. Root rot occurs if | | | | fluctuating temperatures can cause buds to drop. |
| plants are left in a soggy medium. A fine grade potting | | | | WATER |
| medium is usually used for fine rooted plants and | | | | This is especially critical for Phalaenopsis, because |
| coarser mixes with large rooted plants. To re-pot, | | | | they have no major water storing organs other than |
| remove the entire old medium from the roots, trim soft | | | | their leaves, they must never completely dry out. |
| rotted roots and spread the remaining roots over a | | | | Plants should be thoroughly watered and not watered |
| handful of medium in the bottom if a new pot. Fill the | | | | again until nearly dry through the pot. In the heat of |
| rest of the pot with medium, working it through the | | | | summer in a dry climate like Calgary, this may be |
| roots, so that the junction of the roots and the stem is | | | | every few days and in the winter here, it may even |
| buried 2" in the center of the pot. Keep plant shaded | | | | be every 10 days. Also the type of potting media will |
| and humid, but drier in the pot, for several weeks, to | | | | determine the frequency of watering. Pots with moss |
| promote new root growth. Do not over pot the | | | | generally take longer to dry out than plants potted in |
| average plant should have a 4-6" pot. | | | | bark. Water only in the morning so the leaves are dry |
| ONCIDIUM | | | | by nightfall to avoid rot from occurring on the leaves. |
| This varied group of orchids includes plants from many | | | | HUMDITY |
| environments, some come from hot and dry areas | | | | This is important to the Phalaenopsis the |
| while other grow in less severe conditions. | | | | recommended humidity is 50-80%. In the home, set the |
| LIGHT | | | | plants on trays of gravel, partially filled with water so |
| Most Oncidium thrive with one to several hours of | | | | that the pot never sits in water or have a humidifier in |
| sunlight a day. Generally thicker leaved plants can | | | | the room. Mist the plant in dry climates or during dry |
| stand more light. In the home, east, shaded south and | | | | weather in the morning only. |
| east windows are ideal. | | | | FERTILIZER |
| TEMPERATURE | | | | Use a fertilizer high in nitrogen (grow fertilizer) from |
| Temperatures for Oncididum should usually be 55-60F | | | | about March to September and a fertilizer high in |
| at night and range from 80 -85F or more during the | | | | phosphorus (bloom fertilizer) the rest of the year. |
| day. Although higher temperatures force faster | | | | When in active growth plants need fertilizer every 2 |
| vegetative growth, higher humidity and air movement | | | | weeks and when not growing, once a month. |
| must accompany higher temperatures, the | | | | Thorough flushing with clear water every month is |
| recommended maximum being 100F | | | | recommended to prevent build-up of fertilizer salts. |
| WATER | | | | POTTING |
| Generally plants with large fleshy roots and/or leaves | | | | This is best done in the Spring after blooming. Potting is |
| need less frequent watering than thin leaved and/or | | | | usually done every 1 - 3 years. Mature plants can |
| rooted plants. Plants should be thoroughly watered and | | | | grow in the same pot until the potting medium starts to |
| not watered again until nearly dry through the pot. In | | | | decompose, usually in 2 years. Root rot occurs if |
| the heat of summer in a dry climate like Calgary, this | | | | plants are left in a soggy medium. To re-pot, remove |
| may be every few days and in the winter here, it may | | | | the entire old medium from the roots, trim soft/rotted |
| even be every 10 days. Also the type of potting media | | | | roots and spread the remaining roots over a handful of |
| will determine the frequency of watering. Pots with | | | | medium in the bottom if a new pot. Fill the rest of the |
| moss generally take longer to dry out than plants | | | | pot with medium, working it through the roots, so that |
| potted in bark. Water only in the morning so the leaves | | | | the junction of the roots and the stem is at the top of |
| are dry by nightfall to avoid rot from occurring on the | | | | the medium. Keep plant shaded and humid, but drier in |
| leaves. | | | | the pot, for several weeks, to promote new root |
| HUMDITY | | | | growth. |
| Oncidium require humidity between 30-60%. In the | | | | This information was conveyed to me while chatting |
| home, set the plants on trays of gravel, partially filled | | | | with Brian at Paramount Orchids in Calgary, Alberta. |
| with water so that the pot never sits in water or have | | | | For more information please check out my website for |
| a humidifier in the room. Mist the plant in dry climates or | | | | a link to his site. |