How to Tell Fact from Fiction

For as long as humans have been collecting orchids, there have been myths surrounding their origins and care.  The good news is that we now have about 200 years of 'modern' orchid collecting that has been chronicled for us.  Lots of great information from multiple continents.  The bad news?  The internet is making it very hard to tell the facts from fiction. 

Let's do a quick dive into some of what you might see being passed off a legitimate orchid growing advice.

• Light Levels.  You will find a plethora of advice about how much your orchid can tolerate. There are videos implying that most orchids can grow the same and still get good results.  The truth is, it varies greatly by the type of orchid and the growing conditions themselves.  A good rule of thumb is that the more common Phalaenopsis (moth orchids) and variegated Paphiopedilums (ladyslipper orchids) will do fine in a brightly lit window. You should see bright, filtered light in this area for at least 6-8 hours but not direct enough to cause warm spots on the foliage.  Other orchids like Cattleyas, Oncidiums, Cymbidiums, Vandas etc...need increasingly more amounts of light. Don't assume that all types need the same light to thrive. And hint- if all that grows in your space is a weedy, stretched out philodendron, orchids may not be for you unless you invest in some grow lights. 

• Potting Media. Not all packaging that says 'Orchid Media' is right for all types or even for orchids in general. Look for brands with quality ingredients like Douglas Fir bark (not southern pine bark) or New Zealand Sphagnum Moss with various components to hold moisture and provide stability. Usually that means lava rock, charcoal, spongerock/perlite etc...  Your media should not be one note, and different medias are right for different types and maturities. What is used for a large mature Cattleya will not yield the same results for a baby Phalaenopsis. And whatever you do, do not use anything that says 'potting soil'. 

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  Watering.  By now, most people have heard the story about Ice Orchids.  For the best results however, the water you use on your plants should be liquid and close to room temperature. Water from the top of the pot, early in the day on clear, sunny days.  This allows the foliage and crown to dry before nightfall.  An added bonus of top watering: it flushes out impurities, broken down mix and fertilizer salts that build up.  Bottom watering doesn't do any of that and can cause media to sour early.

• Fertilizer.   Orchids do require at least some fertilizer but in more moderate doses than most people would assume. And more fertilizer does NOT push your plant into flowering.  Orchids need food in proportion to how much light they receive.  Lower light levels mean less food is required. If you are only growing in your window and you feed the plant like it's growing in a greenhouse, it will turn into a couch potato.  All fat and happy foliage but no flowers.  The best orchid fertilizers for most growers are those with balanced numbers (N-P-K) and little to no urea nitrogen.  (Orchids do not readily use urea so it's wasted). Apply about once per month after your watering cycle so the roots are already damp. If you have a lush happy plant, try backing off the food and upping the light levels.  You will likely see better results. 

• Growing Hacks.  This is a big one to tackle. Every time I open the internet or social media, there are new videos of these great 'hacks' on how to grow a fabulous orchid from literal air or get a record number of blooms. Real answers: Garlic will not work miracles, banana peels and rice water are nasty for your plants, slicing up leaves off won't make viable cuttings and most orchid seed off the internet is a scam.  Monkey Orchids do not have literal faces, coffee grounds are toxic when applied to the pot and bread doesn't make a good fertilizer.

The best way to get good advice, is to get it from the American Orchid Society or one of the more local societies in your areas. In addition, orchid growers and nurseries with decades of experience won't usually steer you wrong because they want you to have a good experience growing the plants you have.  In general, if you see advice online and it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Happy Growing!