ORCHIDS
Growing Orchids Indoors And In The Garden
Growing orchid in your garden
If you want to grow orchids in your garden I
would start with the more common Oncidium family (Like the Oncidium
Dancing lady or simular) or dendrobiums (Australian king orchids and
the like) these are best suited grown in/on trees and rockeries or
in pots and will like morning and/or afternoon sun but in most
northern areas will need dappled light from the middle of the day
from the summer conditions
Orchids suitable for growing indoors
Indoor orchids there is one group of orchid that I think best suits these conditions the orchid phalaenopsis or moth orchid. These orchids are more commercially grown for cut flower and florist trade, you would of see the white or pinkish flowers before may of even been given one as a gift, but there is hundreds of different types and crosses giving and enormous
range of flower colours and shapes that are not commercially grown.
Phalaenopsis plants need to be grown indoors in our local climate all year round in a spot like an African violet would be grown. In a well lit area but not in direct sun (can have some early or late sun) even that I say they need to be indoors all year round they can be grown under a warm veranda or patio there is a need for southern area growers to keep from the sometimes wet and cold conditions of winter. But in most cases typical summer warm conditions are fine for out door growing.
Watering is a little bit different to other plants as they do not like to sit in a saucer of water. Water well once a month at the sink allow to drain and then sit back on your saucer holding no water. Typically water once a week in summer and once a fortnight in winter please read the watering tips section for more information.