Posts Tagged ‘orchid’
Care for Moth Orchids
Posted on: December 4, 2011
- In: Flower | Flowers | Gadgets | Garden | Garden Decoration | Growing Flowers | Orchid Flowers | Orchids Tips | Types of Orchids
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Moth Orchids are one of the most popular types of Orchid flowers. They look very beautiful and give an elegant look to your garden. They are commonly found in South East Asia and Northern parts of Australia. They can be grown in homes as they are a perfect option for an amateur grower. These flowers are very easy to grow as compared to the other types of Orchids but still they need proper care and handling.
Here some important and helpful information is given that would guide you to care for your Moth Orchids. The important factors to be considered are:
- Temperature
- Light
- Humidity
- Watering
Now these factors would be described one by one.
Temperature
Orchids grow very finely at the normal temperatures in houses. They require different temperatures in day and night. So the ideal temperature in the day time is 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit and in night time these flowers require 60 to 70 degree Fahrenheit.
Light
Moth Orchids require indirect light. It is ideal and preferable to place them in front of east-facing window. The color of its foliage indicates that how much light is required by them.
- Bright Green Foliage (means its getting correct amount of light)
- Deep Green Leaves (light is not sufficient)
- Yellow Leaves (absorbing too much light)
Humidity
Moth Orchids like humidity that’s why they are mostly found in rain forests. In warm weather, they require moisture after one or two days. The humidity is lower in homes, so it becomes necessary to moist them. To do this you can place a tray containing stones and water below your plant. Due to evaporation, the surrounding air will become moist and humidity requirements would be fulfilled.
Watering
It is better to water your Moth Orchids early in the morning once a week. They require more water in summer season as compared to that of winter. Some people get confused about watering their Orchids. The best time to water them is when the pot becomes dry.
Following the above instructions would help you a lot to take good care of your Moth Orchids.
Decoration with Orchids
Posted on: November 6, 2011
- In: Decoration | Flower | Flowers | Garden | GARDENS | Growing Flowers | GROWING PLANTS | Orchid Flowers | Orchids Tips | Seeds | Sunflowers | Types of Orchids
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Decoration with Orchids
Decorating interior spaces and gardens with orchid flowers is a good idea to fill spaces that will make you relaxed and feel good. Orchids have long list of advantages that make them perfect for home decoration if you are aware of special care these plants need. You can have this plant by following simple rules to create a huge visual space it is placed in.
Decoration of house or interior space needs much consideration. Use of plants within the whole area is a common idea but it needs much care. Green and leafy plants are always attractive that can greatly transform interior spaces, gardens and offices if perfect orchid is selected to decorate these spaces. Have you ever thought to decorate your home, garden and terrace with orchids? If not then you should think of this to get a new green environment in your home or office.
- A very big advantage of these flowers is that you can keep these flowers fresh for months contrary to other indoor plants.
- These are hardy plants and don’t require much water. They are virtually immortal if and only if you are aware of proper care and maintenance needs of orchard plants.
- They are also considered as best for indoor and garden decorations as you can get wide range of colors that you exactly want for decoration of your chosen space.
Definitely you need to know details that you have to pay attention from very first day you grow orchid plants in your home. Here is very useful information that will help you in making your decoration successful and attractive exactly you have dreamed.
Make Sure to Buy Orchids in Healthy and Good Condition
Remember that healthy and fresh orchids, without diseases and pests, you are guaranteeing more than 60 percent of your success to make your decoration project great. Make sure that there should be no spots on leaves. Bulbs and flowers will help you in determining the health status of orchids you are going to buy.
Think about the Space You Want to Decorate with Orchids
Determine if that selected space is too hot, too cold or it is exposed to lot of breezes. Any extreme condition will be bad for your orchids.
Check Availability of Light of the Place You Want to Decorate
Light is a very important factor to be considered before thinking to select a place for decoration with plants. Some orchids are very resistant to light than others. Make sure to choose right orchids for the space according to light and other conditions to ensure proper growth of orchids without any problem.
Determine Moisture Level of the Space Where you Want to Plant in Orchids
No extreme situation is good for orchids. Don’t make a mistake to place the plants in the area that has either very high or low humidity.
Follow above mentioned basic information that is very necessary to keep your orchid healthy and happy. It is hopped that information provided here will help you to create very attractive space using best orchid flowers.
Ten Creative Garden Design Ideas
Posted on: October 27, 2011
- In: Flower | Flowers | Garden | Growing Flowers | Orchid Flowers | Orchids Tips | Types of Orchids
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It always gives great pleasure to the gardeners to add some new design ideas to their gardens. There are a lot of ideas which can be added to the garden. Some of them need much time to give them a finishing touch, while others need just a moment, but all of them help in beatifying the garden.
Here are some of the most popular and unique garden design ideas. Gardeners can use them to make the garden look wonderful and attractive, and also to add style to the landscape.
1.The Rose Walk
If you have enough space in your garden then constructing a chain of three to five arches of uneven-cut cedar, and planting the climbing roses at each foundation is the good idea to make garden look attractive. The path surrounded by them, could be grassy, flagstone, or pea gravel. If you like, you can also use thyme or chamomile as a path.
2.A Florid Patio
Another great idea is to place the big square stones close together giving a little space between them and utilize the open areas for planting creepers, herbs, and other low-growing plants. Violets and pinks thyme looks perfect here. A florid patio is best for small gardens.
3.The Chamomile Lawn
Chamomiles are beautiful and scented plants that give their strong scent when walked over. Therefore, making a chamomile lawn or chamomile path is a wonderful idea for designing a garden.
4.The Laburnum Walk
Planting the yellow hanging flowers or laburnum on the sides of walkways is a great idea. It adds romance to the garden as these flowers make the tunnel affect of a traditional laburnum walk. If you do not want to plant laburnum then you can go for easy-to-grow vine plants.
5.Morning Glory for Quick Coverage
Annual vines, such as morning glory, not only give colorful flowers but also make a quick coverage over an unattractive wall, shed, or fence. You just need to twine a wire upright from the top to the base, and sow the plant seeds just a few inches away from the base of the wire. This plant is very fast growing and gives splendid flowers in the mid-summer.
6.A Rock Garden on the Flat
Generally, rock gardens are made on hillsides to keep the soil in place. The low-growing alpine plants grow well in the spaces of a rock garden.
However, you can also make a rock garden on a flat surface. The plants in it grow vertical and the attractive stones are more visible. Also, weeding and cultivating become easier if stone pathways are made between the beds.
7. A Topiary
Topiary surely adds interest, innovation, and formality to a garden. You can spruce and prepare at least one evergreen into topiary. A lot of informative books are available in stationery shops about the different ways to do this. A garden gate having smaller topiary in iron or cement pots at each side of it provides a graceful welcome.
8.Runner Beans and Sunflowers
Runner beans and sunflowers can be grown side by side. The strong stems of the sunflower provide a support to the beans and both the plants grow up collectively. This idea creates a great interest to the vegetable garden.
9.The Plant Collection
Another design idea is to start collecting a particular plant species. Many plants come in a number of varieties that are not only available in the garden centers but also online. Get the information as much about your favorite plant as you can and grow its different types to add more colors to your garden.
You can also make separate sections of the garden and devote each section to one plant such as lily garden, rose garden, or peony garden.
10.The Pink Garden
Pink gardens are very eye-catching and make your garden beautiful. For this, you can plant a border with pink flowers but the trick is to disintegrate the many shades of one-color garden. Adding some gypsophila and different shades of green foliage will do just fine.
These are some of the design ideas that can be applied in the garden. It all depends on the gardeners’ own sense of creativity that how many ideas they can introduce to their gardens to make them beautiful.
Building Rock Garden
Posted on: October 26, 2011
- In: Flower | Flowers | Garden | Growing Flowers | Orchid Flowers | Orchids Tips | Types of Orchids
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A rock garden is an area with different types and sizes of rocks and various species of small flowers. It looks quite natural and also gives you a great pleasure to have a rock garden in your back or front yard.
Building a rock garden is not a difficult task. If you have an area in your yard with a mild slope that receives a good amount of sunlight then you can easily build a rock garden in it. If you do not have that type of sloping place in your yard then you can use your own imagination to create a natural looking rock garden.
There is no specific layout or design for building a rock garden. But there are certain steps that should be kept in mind while building a rock garden. They are as follows:
- Lay the foundation:
The good rock garden depends on the good foundation. An ideal natural slope also needs to be dug up so that a proper foundation can be laid down. It is because many rock garden plants require water-retentive and fast-draining soil.
- Excavate:
It is ideal to dig down a slope at least 1 foot to clear out all the weeds and their roots. If you are not having a natural slope for building a garden, then you can build a raised bed elevated upheld by walls. It is recommended for a raised bed to dig down about 3 feet. The higher the walls, the more your delicate flowers will be safe from the pets.
- Put down the drainage layer:
It is important to place a layer of a hodgepodge of clunky rocks, old pieces of concrete or brick and even broken pieces of clay pots in the base of the foundation. As this drainage layer will absorb excess moisture from the soil above, you need to make up about one third to one half of your trough’s deepness.
- Put down the sand layer:
The sand layer will hold up the topsoil and acts as a water-absorbent layer. A few inches of coarse layer should be added between the drainage layer and the soil layer.
- Put down the soil layer:
Blooming of your garden plants highly depends on this layer. It is best to use a mixture of following components for the proper growth of garden plants:
- 1 part leaf mold
- 1 part topsoil
- 1 part small gravel
- Place the rocks:
You can use rocks found in your surroundings. However, there are several different types of garden rocks are also available. It is a good idea to get one variety of rock in various different sizes. Arrange them in a way that it looks natural and blends in with your environment.
- Let the garden settle:
Before planting the flowers, let the garden settle. This is important because the soil can fall a bit after few weeks. If this happens then fill it with the remaining mixture of soil.
- Plant flowers:
Planting should always be done carefully and properly to make the flowers grow fast. Many different plants can grow easily in the rock garden. The best evergreen plant to use is low growing junipers such as the Armstrong, and the low growing conifers, ground covers, and bulbs are also a good choice for the rock garden. You can also grow Alyssum, Gazania, Pansy, Verbena, etc.
- Proper and regular care:
If you select your plants wisely and according to your climate then they will require less care. You just need to weed them occasionally to keep them healthy. During dry season, always give them plenty of water so that they could not wither away.
Following these steps will make it easy for you to build a nice, beautiful and natural-looking rock garden.
Flower Planting Tips
Posted on: October 19, 2011
Gardening is a wonderful hobby but it is not a simple task unless you know the basic knowledge of planting and taking care of different kinds of plants and flowers. Fortunately, there are some easy-to-follow tips which can help you in making gardening easy and enjoyable. They are briefly discussed below:
- Identify the suitable area for planting:
Before start planting, you need to identify the suitable area of the garden where you want to plant the flowers. Generally, plants and flowers require proper and adequate sunlight to thrive and grow. But it should be remembered that different flowers need different amount of sunlight. Some flowers flourish well in direct sunlight while others need indirect sunlight to bloom fully.
Therefore, you should not only know the basic light requirements of the specific flower you want to grow, but also know that particular area of your garden where that flower will get enough sunlight and thrive well.
- Buy the flowers carefully:
Planting should be done properly so that flowers can bloom soon. For this, always try to buy those flowers which have the tags attached to it. These tags provide you the necessary instructions for planting the flowers in a most suitable way.
There are several kinds of flowers that you can buy. Some of them are perennial flowers, annual flowers, flower bulbs, and roses.
Perennial flowers include perennial fruits (such as banana), perennial herbs (such as fennel), and perennial vegetables (such as eggplant). On the other hand, annual flowers include henbit, peas, deadnettle, chickweed, winter cress, etc.
Flower bulbs and roses can also add beauty and color to your garden. Flower bulbs include flowers like daffodils, tulips, crocus, allium, etc. On the other hand, different types of roses are also available such as hybrid tea roses, floribunda roses, shrub roses, and polyantha roses.
Besides flower bulbs and roses, it is always best to purchase perennial flowers as they bloom yearly, on the other hand, if you go for the annual flowers then they will last only for a year and need replanting next year. You can also consider purchasing inexpensive wild flower seeds to make other areas of your garden more colorful. However, the selection of flowers entirely depends on you.
- Plant the flowers properly:
When planting, you need to follow the instructions given on the tags. Mix some fertilizer in the soil and water it thoroughly so that the soil absorbs maximum water which is good for the proper growth of the flowers. Ensure that flowers are placed into a loose soil flower bed, providing each of them proper space. It is also necessary to transfer the flowers carefully into the dug hole to avoid any damage to the stem or leaves. After placing the flowers, fill the hole with the soil and water the plants.
After planting, dispersing a thin layer of mulch over the flower bed not only helps in preventing weed growth but also give a finished look to the flower bed. Regular watering and frequently feeding will reward you with colorful and beautiful flowers in the coming spring season.
Thus, by following these simple tips, a novice can easily create his own wonderful flower garden. And if perennial flowers are grown in the garden then they will bloom every year adding colors to your garden.
Water Orchids
Posted on: October 18, 2011
- In: Flower | Flowers | Garden | Garden Decoration | Growing Flowers | Orchid Flowers | Orchids Tips
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The beauty of Orchid flowers is the main reason for its increasing popularity. In order to make Orchid plants bear more flowers, they need to be provided an adequate amount of sunlight, minerals, and water.
The quantity of water required by the Orchids highly depends on the type of Orchids. Some species do not need plenty of water, whereas others need a lot of water more often. Therefore, it is very important to know what type of Orchids you are growing and how much water they need. You can get complete information about your Orchid type from Orchid stores, through internet, or by consulting a professional Orchid grower. These sources help you in finding out whether the Orchid plant needs more or less water.
Orchids are generally inhabitant of tropic climates where there are heavy rainfalls throughout the year. The humidity level in these regions reaches up to 80% which is quite suitable for the Orchids but not for the indoor home environment. However, you can easily recreate this humidity level around the Orchid plant by putting water in a deep tray or saucer full of pebbles or stones, and after that placing your Orchid pot onto these pebbles. You just need to ensure that the water level is not reaching the bottom of Orchid pot so that the plant roots can be protected from getting soaked. This artificial water Orchid source can provide sufficient amount of humidity to the plant the whole day.
When it comes to watering Orchids, some people give too much water to their plants because they think that a dry potting mix is harmful for the plant growth. This is not true for the Orchid plants. The Orchid potting mix contains bark which preserves water like a sponge. When water from the surface area of the bark is used by the plant then it seems like the bark is dry but actually it still holds much wetness in it. Over watering Orchid leads to the rotting of roots and destroying the whole plant.
Orchids can survive for quite a long time without water in their natural environment. But it does not mean that you start under-watering your Orchids. There are many ways of under-watering. The most common of these is when the Orchids are just sprayed with water and are not given adequate amount of water. Another way is to water the Orchid with enough water, but infrequently. Under-watering results in damaging the root system of the Orchid plant which eventually kills it altogether.
Thus, it is evident that Orchids should not be given over or under water. You should check the dampness just below the surface of the potting mix before watering, which should not be drenching wet or not extremely dry.
It is highly recommended to use lukewarm or room temperature water for watering Orchids. You should always water in the morning or early part of the day so that roots and leaves can get enough time to dry during the day. Also, you need to water the Orchid potting medium thoroughly so that fertilizer salts can be flushed out from around the roots.
Orchids are lovely plants and just need proper care to award you with wonderful Orchid flowers that you can enjoy throughout the year.
Growing Orchids
Posted on: September 28, 2011
Orchid plants are very fastidious, bearing the most attractive flowers having a wide range of colors. They can easily be grown both indoors and outdoors with minimum amount of care. Some of the Orchid species require to be kept in greenhouses, whereas some varieties of Orchids can grow among other house plants.
Growing Orchids indoor and outdoor could be a great fun. You just need to know some important general guidelines.
Natural light is very vital for the Orchid plants. Normally, an east or west facing window is more suitable for the growth of these plants. Direct sunlight can be harmful for them; therefore, you need to make sure that they are placed in the shaded area, having indirect sunlight. They need to have 10 to 15 hours of light everyday. Artificial lights can also be used in winter season.
Proper temperature is also necessary throughout the year for the good growth of Orchids because Orchid plants do not bear hot and unventilated conditions. They need to have daytime temperatures about 70 F in summer season and 60 F in winter season. In cold and frosty nights, keep your Orchid plants away from windows.
Watering is also very significant for the proper growth of these plants. Overwatering is fatal for them; therefore, let surplus water to seep away. You should water them when you feel that the growing medium is about to dry. Usually, watering the Orchid plants once a week would be enough.
Orchid plants flourish well in a humid atmosphere. Placing the plant on a tray of small wet pebbles would be quite helpful in increasing the humidity level. Be sure to place the Orchid pot on the top of the pebble layer, not in the water. The water around the pebbles will fade away and moisturize the air around the plant.
When growing Orchids, regular fertilization will lead the plant to grow soon and bloom well. But it should be kept in mind that over fertilization will harm or destroy the plant completely. Giving fertilizer twice a month is highly recommended. Avoid feeding the plant during winter season.
It is also important to know that you should reduce watering and fertilizing the Orchid plants once they stop blooming. Start giving water and fertilizer regularly when new leaves begin to appear.
The yellowish or brownish spots on the leaves are the indication that plant has red spider insects on it. In this situation the leaves wither away prematurely.
Re-pot the plant in new medium when you see small yellowish leaves with few or no flowers because this condition shows that the plant needs fertilizer or the medium is too damp. After repotting, water it carefully.
If your Orchid plant is unable to grow flower buds properly, it means that temperature is too cold or too hot for the plant. In this condition, you need to keep it in proper place.
Orchid plants can grow well in the places like cellars, terraces, or living rooms only if they are provided with appropriate light, temperature and moisture.
Wild Orchids
Posted on: September 27, 2011
The wild Orchids are beautiful flowers that everybody should have in his/her garden or in the backyard. They grow in different style and have a unique look. The good thing about wild Orchids is that they have wide range of species; each kind of specie has its own unique and attractive form and vibrant coloring. The most popular types of wild Orchids are Lady’s Slipper, Calanthe, and White Egret.
One of the most admired wild orchid types is the Lady’s Slipper which comes in a number of different varieties varying typically in the size of the flower and colors. Snowy color Lady’s Slipper is thought to be the most attractive and is in high demand by the Orchid lovers.
Many of these Orchids are about three inches in diameter and come in colors like pink, purple, or maroon with white blended in all over the petals. The wild Orchids can reach about two feet of height when fully grown. This is the maximum height of the Orchid plant.
Calanthe variety of Orchids is the more classic in shape, and has variety of colors. They give more flowers per stalk than the Lady’s Slipper. These Orchids are able to flourish in almost every climate on condition that you keep them in moderate temperature and prevent them from exposing in the direct sunshine or in the frost of winter season.
The most distinctive kind of wild Orchid is White Egret. It commonly grows in Asia and has been successfully flourishing in the United States. Its different appearance makes it feel like a flying bird. As its name shows, this type of wild Orchid comes only in white flowers. A completely grown flowering spike can have ten flowers, and can attain the height of sixteen inches.
Orchids, in general, bear capsules which contain thousands of microscopic seeds. These seeds need to have Mycorrhizal fungi to sprout. Therefore, wild Orchids require producing lots of seeds in order to grow and become a fully grown flowering plant because only the small portion of all the seeds has the ability to germinate and become a plant.
It takes at least 3 to 5 years to turn a seed into a plant and bear flowers. Some of the wild Orchids even take 15 years from seed to fully grown orchid plants, bearing flowers. Therefore, deciding to grow Orchid from seed is not a good idea as it is very time-consuming process and you need to be very patient as well.
Specialized horticultural methods abolish the requirement of fungi which the wild Orchid needs. You can easily buy a plant from the plant sales outlets and then providing adequate water and humidity will be enough for the plant to grow. Taking proper care of it will give you flowers that last for more than a month, giving you inner satisfaction and pleasure.
Cattleya Orchid
Posted on: September 21, 2011
Cattleya Orchids are the magnificent and the beautiful kind of Orchids in the Orchid family. The Cattleya Orchid is given name after William Cattleya who was the horticulturist and orchid collector in the 19th century. A lot of Cattleya Orchids grow in the rain forests of Central and South America. They flourish very well in the high altitudes of the Andes mountain range and in regions at sea level. They need moisture and light to grow.
Cattleya Orchids are mainly divided into two categories.
1) Unifolate – with only one leaf
2) Bifoliate – with two or more leaves
Both types of Orchids are popular as they bear large, ostentatious flowers that are broadly used in flower arrangements and bouquets.
Cattleya Orchids are Epiphytic Orchids, i.e. air plants. They have big, plump roots (pseudobulbs) for collecting and storing rain water as they flourish naturally on trees. Over the period of time, these Orchids have been widely hybridized and now Cattleya Orchids are available in all colors, except true black and blue. Talking about the structure of the Cattleya Orchid flower, it has three petals, one of which is an eye-catching lip that has grown to draw the attention of pollinating insects.
Cattleya Orchids come from diverse natural environments therefore they require special augmentation conditions. For fine blossoming condition, they need day temperatures between 75 degrees F and 85 degrees F, and night temperatures between 55 degrees F and 65 degrees F.
The favorable humidity level needs to be between 50% and 60% for proper growth. This humidity level can effortlessly be attained by keeping the Orchid pot on a damp plate that is filled with pebbles and water. While doing this, you need to be very careful. Make sure that its roots should not be in water for extended period of time because they will decompose. To avoid Cattleya plants from fungal infection, you need to maintain the moderate amount of air circulation. Cattleya Orchids flourish best in indirect sunlight.
Cattleya Orchids differ in size and color. You need to have a proper knowledge and information about them whether you want to buy them or grow them in your garden.
Sunflower Seeds Indoors
Posted on: October 12, 2010
- In: Events | Flowers | Garden | Growing Flowers | Orchid Flowers | Sunflowers
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Sunflowers are the bold and attractive flowers that add height and beauty to your garden. Their seeds can be sowed directly in outdoor soil, but they are the big attraction for the seed-eating birds and squirrels. Therefore, it is best to start seeding them indoors and later, when the danger of frost and animals is gone can be transplanted to the garden.
Following things are needed to plant sunflower seeds indoors:
- Sunflower seeds
- Terracotta pots
- Terracotta flood trays
- Clear plastic wrap
- Peat moss or Potting soil
- Old spoon or garden trowel
- Water
To start, place newspapers or an old cloth on the work area to keep the floor or ground clean.
Prepare the terracotta pots for the sunflower seeds:
The first step is to fill about three-fourth of the each pot with peat moss or potting soil. Place the filled terracotta pots on the flood tray.
Planting the sunflower seeds:
It is important to plant two or three sunflower seeds in each terracotta pot. You can either push the sunflower seeds down into the potting soil or place them on the top of the soil and cover them with another layer of potting soil. It is highly recommended to cover all the seeds with 1 inch of soil.
After planting, gently press the soil and water thoroughly until the soil is humid but not drenched. It is essential to keep the outside of the terracotta pots damp, and also try not to let the water stay in the flood trays for a long time.
Help the sunflower seeds sprout:
After planting the sunflower seeds in pots and placing them in the trays, its time to create a greenhouse effect for the seeds to germinate. For this, tightly cover each terracotta pot with the clear plastic wrap. Ensure that the plastic wrap is free of wrinkles and that the pots are fully sealed. This will help in keeping the moisture inside the growing area.
Place these covered pots in a sunny window and check them daily to ensure they are staying humid. Water them when the top layer of soil is dry. You can check the humidity and give water to them by peeling away a corner of the plastic wrap.
Once the seedlings reach half inch high, remove the plastic wrap and keep them at the room temperature so that the seedlings remain warm enough. Water them whenever necessary and provide enough light to make them grow fast.
The ideal time for transplanting the sunflower seedlings into outdoor soil is when they are a couple of inches tall and strong enough to grow in the outdoor environment.
Starting sunflower seeds indoors not only saves them from animals and cold temperatures but also provides them a good start on the growing season, giving beautiful and lovely flowers and adding splendor to the garden.
Orchid Flowers 