Below are three excellent tips from two of Zone 5’s best orchid growers. Susie and Al, recent recipients of the Orchid Society of Greater Kansas City’s 2009 Orchidists of the Year, live near Lawrence, Kansas, about 50 miles west of Kansas City. [Click on the Photos page to see recent blooming orchids from Susie and Al’s collection.]
TIP #1: Re-pot newly acquired plants immediately or as soon as possible. When you get that new plant, you don’t know how old the media is, or what condition the roots are in. Give it a fresh start, but give it a similar type of media when you re-pot.
TIP #2: Water quality is extremely important. Provide water with less than 100 ppm of dissolved salts (minerals), and regularly monitor the quality of the water. You can do a simple test of your water by boiling down some water in a clean pot to see how much residue is left when boiled dry. If you use a Reverse Osmosis filter system, change the filters often enough to keep the water quality high. Too much mineral residue in the water can result in blackened root tips and leaf tips, and for sensitve plants can be their demise.
TIP #3: Assess your collection. Discard or move on plants that are not growing well or that no longer interest you. Your time is limited, so focus on the plants that you like and that do well for you. It’s better to have 100 well-cared for plants than 250 plants that don’t get the care they need.
Orchids Alive in Zone 5 