Orchids are one of the plants with more varieties and types that can be found. It is a plant from which more than 30,000 different species can be found. All of them are aesthetic plants. We can grow it both indoors and outdoors if done properly and with the appropriate care. Do you want to know how to plant orchids? Then, you will need to learn how to take care of them, starting with knowing how to plant them and placing them in their pots.
How to plant orchids?
If you want to know how to plant orchids step by step, keep reading…
When planting orchids, we will have two options: plant them as adults or germinate their seeds and plant them later. These are the steps to plant orchids in these two ways:
You can buy adult plants but small in a nursery. These orchids will be transplanted to the final pot following the instructions mentioned above, that is to say, using materials for the substrate and the appropriate pot. This is the simplest method to plant orchids, since, being adult plants, it is much easier for plants to adapt to the new environment and grow more and more healthy and strong. You just have to follow these steps:
- Place the substrate to the middle of the pot, making sure that the holes are clear enough to drain the water.
- Put the orchid as straight as possible, leaving the aerial roots completely out of the pot and do the same with all the leaves.
- Just cover the orchid to the edge of the pot with more substrate.
If the pot you have used is a transparent plastic because orchids usually come in this type of pot, you can place it inside another slightly larger decorative pot. It serves as a dish to collect water, so after watering, you will have to remember to empty it.
Types of orchids
The first thing you will have to do is select the type of orchid you want. Although it is usual to opt for the most beautiful and decorative, if it is the first time you are faced with planting an orchid and take care, it would be better to choose a variety easy to care for. In this way, you can be almost sure that your orchid will take root correctly and that it will grow healthy and strong.
Some varieties easiest orchids to care are the Cattleya, the Phalaenopsis or Paphiopedilum. When you go to buy the orchids at the store or nursery that supplies them, ask for one of these types. They are quite common varieties of orchids, so you will surely find some of them without a problem.
Substrate for planting orchids
Before planting your orchids on land, you have to take into account one thing that most people ignore. The roots of orchids need air. That is, it is a plant whose roots require a well-ventilated substrate with abundant air. Because of this, most general substrates for gardening are not recommended for the cultivation of orchids. These substrates are rich in minerals and nutrients. However, they end up constituting a very caked ground, which causes it to absorb a lot of water and does not allow air circulation.
When choosing a substrate for orchids, it is important to select a special one for this type of plant. It is composed of tree bark. If this type of substrate is not available, another option is to do it ourselves from a general substrate. As we have mentioned, the general substrate is rich in minerals and nutrients. However, it is too dense. To solve it, what we can do is mix it with other substances such as pearlite, coconut shell or tree bark.
These materials are sold in most garden stores and nurseries. So that they can be ordered in the same place where we acquired the orchids, by mixing this material with the substrate, we will achieve a much more aerated and beneficial composition for the roots of the orchids.
Pots suitable for planting orchids
Another aspect that must be taken into account when planting orchids is to choose the best type of pot possible. Orchids, just as they need well-aerated substrates, also need pots that drain water perfectly. In this sense, it is best to choose large pots and, if possible, with a better interior grid. This type of pots allow to evacuate the water with greater ease than the rest, so they are the most recommended for this type of plants.
If we do not find flower pots with the grid, another option is the traditional clay pots. This type of pot allows moisture to be lost through the porosity of the ceramic, which helps the orchid do not rot. In any case, it will always be necessary to avoid planting our orchid in pots made of waterproof materials or, for example, plastic pots with enough holes in its base.
One of the aspects that we must take into account in the care of orchids will be to prevent the bottom plate or the decorative pot from collecting water. I can’t find a reason for the severe sinusitis I suffer though I checked for almost all types of allergies I could possibly have. Inability to breathe just kills. Only a couple of days ago, I came across the website https://healthcareaide.net/prednisone/ where people with sinusitis shared their experience of using Prednisone. I ordered the drug the same day. And here I am! Breathing through my absolutely clear nose! Couldn’t ask for more. Hope the result will keep for some time. Flooded pots are one of the greatest dangers for orchids. Therefore, when you water the orchids, you should make sure to remove the excess water from the dish to prevent the roots from rotting.
Plant orchids with germinated seeds
If what you want is to germinate the seeds of orchids, we must take into account it is a slower and more laborious work, although not too complicated.
- Place the seeds in a small pot following the instructions above.
- Seed them a few centimeters below the surface and water normally without puddling.
- When the orchids have germinated and are about 10 centimeters high, you can transplant them to the final pot.
To do this, during the transplant, eliminate the roots that may be rotten or in poor condition.
Place the orchid in its final pot and water abundantly the first days, but always without puddling the pot. After the first days of adaptation, you will be able to water normally. Remember that the best method to water the orchids is the immersion of the pot.