Want to start an orchid growing hobby ?

Here we going to mention how to grow orchids in indian conditions as outdoor plants. Ex In Balcony or  under sunshade or on garden etc…

how orchids plants different from other flowering plants? ( There have ground orchids which can grow as normal plants in grounds. we are not going to that varieties.)

1) Water – When watering orchids, we need to remember the aerial root system, water is best applied with a spray or mist sprinkler system. Do not over-water them.

2) Moisture:- these plants love moisture not water

2) Light – Light requirements for orchids are variable from tropical heat to the cool jungle environment according to the species.

3) Nutrients – Foliar sprays are best applied during the cooler part of the day to allow more absorption. A water soluble formula fertiliser is recommended as it can be washed off and re-applied in two to three weeks. The best time to apply is during the active growing period. There are a lot of fertilisers for orchid growing in the market.

4)Potting mix – Orchids need a good water-retaining medium like charcoal, coconut husks, bracken sheet lining, tree fern bark or sphagnum moss. These offer the best aeration and do not retain too much water to cause root rot. Charcoal is also useful to absorb toxic substances.
So from which orchid species starts with this hobby?

we suggest dendrobium.

why dendrobium?

It is the cheapest orchid available and more tolerable for newbie or for our climate conditions. since watering, nutrients and potting mixture are generally same for all varieties. The difference is in shade/light conditions. these plants required 50% shade. No direct sunlight on noon time. either morning or evening direct sunlight is ok.

Growing locations

 

Dendrobium plants with flowers

a dendrobium plant

Dendrobium small plants

you will get new plants these way also ( below )

Dendrobium care

Shade 

Required 50% shade.
Dendrobium can tolerate full morning sun followed by an afternoon of shade.
watering

Daily in the morning. which we do in our condition.  make sure medium is almost dry out between watering. Check the medium with your finger – if you feel moisture do not water.
Fertilizer

When your orchid is blooming, fertilizer is not needed. we using Green care 30:10:10 (0.5mg/l) for small plants ( we used one times in a
week)  and Green Care – 13:27:27 ( 0.5mg/l )for big plants. one time in two week.
humidity.

in very hot conditions it good to provide humidity by Humidity tray or by someother means.

Want to buy for trial ?

options   

1)  small plants    These plants require  8 to 9 months to get first flowers. go for cheap one. rate is different  depends upon the variety.

2) untagged blooming stage plants    These plants will get first flower with in 2 to 3 months.  these plants are cheap rated because don’t know what the colour of flower these plants  will produce

3) Tagged plants  cost depend upon the variety and know what the flower will be

 

 

klairvoyant orchids

Dendrobium Care

Shade

Required 50% shade.
Dendrobium can tolerate full morning sun followed by an afternoon of shade.
Watering

Daily in the morning. which we do in our condition ( kerala, india ) make sure medium is almost dry out between watering. Check the medium with your finger – if you feel moisture do not water.
Fertilizer

When your orchid is blooming, fertilizer is not needed. we using Green care 30:10:10 for small plants ( we used two times in a week) and Green Care – 13:27:27 for big plants. one time in a week.
humidity.

in very hot conditions it good to provide humidity by Humidity tray or some other means.

klairvoyant orchids

Dendrobium species in kerala

Seventeen species and two subspecies are found in kerala.

Some of the dendrobium species  available in kerala are of the  following:-

1) Den . aqueum

Flowers are large and white and lip yellow and puberulous .

Occurrence : Palghat District

2)Dendrobium barbatulum

This is a large flowered species.

Occurrence : Wayanad and Kannur Districts.

3) Dendrobium crepidatum

This species were collected  from Meghalaya . This species occurs in two forms-one with normal flowers and the other with more or less actinomorphic and self pollinating flowers .

Occurrence : Wayanad and Kannur Districts

4) Dendrobium herbaceum

These species were  collected  from ‘ East India ‘ and   it much branched and small flowered .

Occurrence : Trivandrum, Idukki, Palghat, Wayanad and Kannur Districts

5 ) Dendrobium macrostachyum

This species were collected from Sri Lanka. This is the most common species of Dendrobium in the lower elevations in Kerala.

Occurrence : Trivandrum, Quilon, Kottayam, Idukki, Thrissur, Palghat, Calicut, Wayanad and Kannur districts.

6 ) Dendrobium nanum

These species were collected from Bababoodan hills in Karnataka.

Occurrence : Pathanamthitta, Palgahat and Wayanad districts.

7) Dendrobium-microbulbon

This species were collected  from Ootacamund in Nilgiris.

Occurrence : Trivandrum District.

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Den. fimbriatum

Den. fimbriatum has erect, arching or pendulous cane-like stems that are 60-120 cm or more (180-200 cm) long.
They become light yellow-green and furrowed with age and bear many two ranked leaves along the upper half.
Its oblong acute, dark green leaves that are 8-15 cm long and 2-3 cm broad are deciduous after 2-3 seasons.
Pendulous inflorescences up to 18 cm long are borne from the upper nodes of the matured, leafless stems.
Each stem can produce racemes for several seasons.
Bearing 6-15 showy flowers that open together on each raceme, the resulting display on a large plant is certainly spectacular.

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Den. hercoglossum

Den. hercoglossum is a medium-sized plant with clustered,
slender stems that are 20-35 (-57) cm long and 7 mm in diameter.
The spindle-shaped stems are slender at the base and a little swollen toward the apex.
They generally become pendulous as they lengthen.
Howard Wood (2006) says that the stem sometimes grows for 2 years, producing 2 swellings,
with the leaves falling and blooming on the recently grown portion.
Each pseudobulb bears 4-6 narrowly linear, two-ranked leaves that are 5-10 cm long and 4-11 mm wide.

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Den. violaceum

Den. violaceum is an epiphytic or sometimes lithophytic plant that eventually forms a large clump.
It produces clustered fleshy cylindrical pseudobulbs that are 3-5 cm long,
which are swollen at the base and narrower at the apex.
The apex of each stem bears 2-4 upright to spreading linear leaves that are 13-18 cm long.
Short inflorescences are produced from nodes at the apex of the matured pseudobulbs, below the leaves.
Each raceme bears 2-10 flowers, with several open at the same time.

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D. nobile lindley

This is a medium sized, cold to warm growing terrestrial or lithophytic species
from the Chinese Himalayas, Assam, eastern Himalayas, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Sikkim, Myanamar, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam
that is found in broadleaf, evergreen, lowland forests and primary montane forests.

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D.White pink lip

White Pinky Lip Dendrobium Orchid with purple crown orchids are imported from Asia and/or Holland,
and are commonly used for cascading bouquets and tall floral centerpieces.
Pinky Lip Dendrobium have a hot pink lip and a white-blushed bloom. Depending on the time of the year, the blooms may look more white or more blushed due to weather.
This particular variety is characterized by its purple crown shown on the inner portion of the orchid.

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red with white edges ( dendrobium )

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Dendrobium Burana Emerald

Dendrobium Burana Emerald   has beautiful yellow sepals and burgundy petals. This dendrobium is an asset for enthusiasts.
Seggregation of orchids: The most useful way of seggregating orchids in the green house is according to its water requirements.

Dendrobiums often require a dry period for flowering before it is watered unless it is in active growth. Water supple should be reduced in winter and rainy seasons to help flowering.

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