Care for Orchids

Summary: Orchids have some of the most exotic and beautiful flowers in the plant world. They boast of at least 25,000 officially recognized individual species, and some botanists count the number even higher. With such a natural diversity and beauty, orchids have garnered much attention from the world horticultural community. Amateur gardeners and flower enthusiasts are constantly cross pollinating species, and have to date created over 100,000 hybrid orchids. Orchid cultivation happens on a global scale, with favorable climate conditions regulating regions of high or low growth.

Aside from the aesthetic qualities that orchids are famous for, they provide at least one well known nutritional benefit. The vanilla bean is the fruit of an orchid plant, and is considered to be an important, valuable crop in many areas.

Whether you’re new to horticulture, or a budding enthusiast, proper orchid care and maintenance is important for having a healthy, happy plant. In this free online guide to caring for your new orchid, learn how to repot the plant you bought, a delicate operation that can kill any plant if not done carefully. Get tips for judging the dirt mix, trimming the orchid roots, using fertilizer, pest control, and watering your new orchid.