So, you’ve nursed and fussed over an orchid for many long months and now it is rewarding you with a gorgeous bloom.Should you handle the plant any differently now? The answer is a definite maybe.
Although the species of your orchid will be the final determinant, as a rule it would be advisable for you to remove the plant to a cooler and drier place that that in which it was grown. This will help the flowers to last much longer than in a warm and moist greenhouse or other typical growing room.
Most orchids will not suffer by being place in a drier and cooler location when they are in bloom. Most of them will definitely benefit from it. Still , you should make sure that the temperature where you place your blossoming orchid should not fall below 50 degrees Fahrenheit at night.
Here’s an experiment you can make if you happen to have two orchids of the same variety that blossom at around the same time. Leave one in the warm room or greenhouse, and put the other in a dry, cool location as advised above. You will almost certainly notice that the plant in your “cool room” will have fresh flowers for a significantly longer time than the one that was left behind.
The flowers of all orchids, including those kept in a cooler space, will of course eventually fade. When this happens you can move the plant back to the warm growing room. Just take care to shade it from the sun until it has re-adjusted to the warmer surroundings. Otherwise it could suffer scorching.
One of the keys to success in growing orchids is to understand their life cycles and the different stages they go through. Every stage requires a different kind of care, and the blossoming stage has its own unique “rules.”.
The most complete guide to expert orchid care, in the opinion of many, is Orchid Care Expert by Nigel Howard, which may be downloaded from the Internet. Mr. Howard’s ebook is a thorough course, enlightening for novices and more experienced cultivators alike. Also, be sure to visit the Orchid Secrets web site, which contains an ever-growing database of information on many facets of orchid cultivation.
