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Six steps to growing orchids

In honor of one of my orchids reblooming, I decided to do this post.

 

Here are six steps to growing orchids

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  1. Keep your orchid in indirect sunlight

 

Orchids can die if they get too much, or too little sunlight so don’t put them too close to the window, or too far away.

2 trim your orchid

trim away roots that are dead or unhealthy.

3 your orchid should be placed somewhere where the room temperature is not extreme.

Between 65, and 75°F is the best temperature range for orchids. They cannot handle drastic temperature changes.

  1. Water orchids every week

For best results, water every week, or every two weeks depending on how dry it is in your home.

  1. Keep orchids indoors

It is best to keep orchids indoors during the summer months.

  1. Repot your orchid

It’s time to repot your orchid when the roots start to turn brown, or the leaves start to wilt.

As you can see, this is very basic. If you are looking for a lot of detail, you need to look someplace else. If you’re looking for some basic tips, I hope this helps a little bit.

My Paperwhite Bulb Is Blooming

Paperwhite flower bulbs are great for the holidays. In 4 to 6 weeks, they will bloom. If you would like to grow these sweet smelling flowers continuously, plant narcissus bulbs every couple of weeks throughout fall and winter.

What You Need to Force Paperwhite Narcissus

  • A glass jar, vase or bowl without any drainage
  • Rocks, marbles or sea glass
  • Paperwhite narcissus bulbs

It is best to grow paperwhite narcissus in a tall jar or vase. That way you don’t need to be concerned about the blooms becoming too heavy, and knocking the vase over. I often find good containers at the Salvation Army.

Put the bulb in the jar, and then surround it with the stones to give the bulb support so that it won’t tip over. It should be watered enough so that the roots are covered with water, but not the bulb itself. As long as you make sure that there’s water in the jar, in a few weeks, the bulb should start to bloom.

For detailed information about how to do this, click on the link below.

​This is an easy guide with photos.
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https://www.thespruce.com/forcing-paperwhite-narcissus-to-bloom-847893?utm_source=emailshare&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=shareurlbuttons

HOW TO CARE FOR AN ALOE VERA PLANT

 

I bought the aloe vera plant pictured above at my local Home Depot for $5.98. I really like the color of the pot, and that the pot has legs. I think it’s a great plant because it looks nice, it’s inexpensive, and even can be used to treat burns. I think it’s pretty much a win-win situation all the way around.

HOW TO CARE FOR AN ALOE VERA PLANT

  • Place in bright, indirect sunlight or artificial light. A western or southern window is ideal. Aloe that are kept in low light often grow leggy.
  • Aloe vera do best in temperatures between 55 and 80°F (13 and 27°C). The temperatures of most homes and apartment are ideal.
  • From May to September, you can bring your plant outdoors without any problems, but do bring it back inside in the evening if nights are cold.
  • Water aloe vera plants deeply, but infrequently. To discourage rot, allow the soil to dry at least 1 to 2 inches deep between waterings. Don’t let your plant sit in water.
  • Water about every 3 weeks and even more sparingly during the winter. Use your finger to test dryness before watering. If the potting mix stays wet, the plants’ roots can begin to rot.
  • Fertilize sparingly (no more than once a month), and only in the spring and summer with a balanced houseplant formula mixed at ½ strength.
  • Repot when root bound.

Mature aloe vera plants often produce babies. These baby plants are genetically identical to the parent plant. In order to replant the babies, follow the following instructions.

  1. Find where the babies are connected to the original plant and detach them using pruning shears, scissors, or a sharp knife. Leave at least an inch of stem on the baby..
  2. Allow the babies to sit out of soil for several days; this lets the offshoot form a callous over the cut, which helps to protect it from rot. Keep the babies in a warm location with indirect light during this time.
  3. Once the offshoots have formed callouses, pot them in a standard succulent potting mix. The soil should be well-draining.
  4. Put the newly-potted pups in a sunny location. Wait at least a week to water and keep the soil rather dry.

I got this information from The Old Farmer’s Almanac at Almanac.com:

https://www.almanac.com/plant/aloe-vera

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