If you want to grow orchids outdoors, there are a few simple steps to take. You need to know what types of orchids can grow in the area and climate where you live. You should also arrange for shade and water to help the orchid grow well. In addition to the common method of growing orchids, namely in pots, you can also grow orchids in the ground, in raised beds, and even on trees.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Choosing Orchids
Step 1. Choose an orchid variety that will grow well in the climate you live in
Look for orchid varieties that can be grown outdoors. Contact a local florist or search for “original [your area] orchids” in a search engine.
- In areas where dry season nights are cooler than 16° C, plant cymbidium orchids.
- If dry season nights stay consistently above 16°C, plant a vanda or cattleya orchid.
Step 2. Buy orchids from a florist instead of growing them yourself from seed
Florists (and many department stores) sell orchids all year round. Visit your favorite florist and ask if they sell orchids that grow naturally in your area. Buy the plant, not the seeds, as orchid seeds must be grown in sterile conditions and take 2 to 5 years to flower.
- If they don't have the orchid you're looking for, ask what orchids do well in your area. They can definitely tell what kind of orchids can grow well outdoors.
- Alternatively, you can buy orchids online.
Step 3. If you live in a subtropical climate, wait until the last frost to put your orchid outdoors
Orchids are tropical plants and do not grow well in cold temperatures. Make sure the average temperature is above 16°C before placing your orchid outdoors.
If you must introduce orchids into your home, place them in a window facing north, south, or at least east
Part 2 of 3: Growing Orchids Outdoors
Step 1. Allow the orchid in the pot to gradually expose to the sun
Orchids in pots should be allowed to acclimate to the sun. Start with 1-2 hours of exposure to sunlight in the morning and evening every day. Then after a week, move the orchid to an area that gets 3-4 hours of morning and evening sun. After about 1-2 weeks, move the orchid to a sunny area before 10 a.m. and after 2 p.m. Only then can you place the orchid completely outdoors.
Orchids don't like long, scorching sun exposure, so find a shady outside spot from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Make sure the orchid only gets morning and evening sunlight that is not too hot
Step 2. Plant the orchid in a pot for convenience and ease of mobility
Planting your orchid in a pot will make it easier for you to move it to a preferred location. Choose a pot that has drainage holes under it because the roots of the orchid can rot if there is too much water in the pot. Carefully remove the orchid from its original pot and place it in a pot that is the same size or larger. The orchid should be planted firmly in the pot and not swayed. If necessary, fill the remaining space with a mixture of 2 parts sand, 2 parts spruce bark or orchid bark, and 1 part peat moss.
- Do not put the pot directly into the new pot.
- Clean the pot completely before you plant the orchid.
Step 3. Plant terrestrial orchids as a beautiful addition to the garden
Replace the soil in which the orchid is planted with a mixture of sphagnum moss (sometimes called orchid moss) and gravel in equal proportions. Make sure the orchid has at least 30 cm of gravel mixture under and around it. Dig a hole large enough for the orchid, plant it, then fill the empty space with gravel mixture.
- Terrestrial orchids such as the genera Pleione, Sobralia, Calanthe, Phaius and Bletia can be grown in areas with good drainage and very shaded areas.
- Alternatively, you can raise a patch of land for your orchids to grow.
Step 4. Hang the orchid on a tree or as a unique accent to the garden
Carefully tie the orchid stem to the tree with cotton rope or cotton rope (or biodegradable rope). Within 1 year, the rope will rot and the orchid will attach itself to the tree with its own roots. This is best if you live in a place with warm temperatures and high rainfall.
- Choose trees whose trunks can still get sunlight, such as oaks, oranges, bottlebrushes (Callistemon), and palms.
- In an area that gets 6-8 hours of full sun, only plant vanda orchids.
- In areas that don't get much full sun, plant oncidium, phalaenopsis, and cattleya orchids.
Part 3 of 3: Keeping Orchids Outdoors
Step 1. Water the orchid roots in the morning, every few days
Water the orchid at the roots early in the day and avoid getting water on the leaves. Place the orchid in the kitchen sink and run the water out of the tap for 15 seconds, then place the orchid elsewhere to allow the water to dry. Watering them in the morning will give the orchid a sufficient supply of water and more sunlight to help it grow. If you water it at night, the orchid growing medium will remain damp throughout the night and will cause it to rot or mold.
Avoid over-watering by checking soil moisture with your finger. If the soil feels wet, wait another day until you water it again
Step 2. Spray the orchid with a homemade pesticide every 3 weeks
Spray the orchid leaves with a mixture of 950 ml of water, 2-3 drops of neem oil, and a drop of dish soap every 3 weeks to repel insects.
- Spray just enough of the solution all over the orchid, the rest you can use for other plants. Instead of saving the rest, re-create this solution every time you want to spray the pest because the ingredients will fall off as soon as the water is mixed in.
- Do not place the orchid pot on the ground because pests can reach it easily.
Step 3. Remove weeds as soon as you see them growing
Place some large tweezers near the orchid so you can pull out the weeds as soon as you see them. Weeds are small plants, usually leafy greens, that grow unwanted in the same place as orchids.
Remove the weeds and their tubers or roots thoroughly so that they do not grow again. Dig up where the weeds are growing and pull them out until all the roots or tubers are out
Step 4. Watch for blackish or brown-spotted rotting orchids and cut off any infected areas
If there are brown, black, or transparent stripes on the skin of the orchid leaves, sterilize the scissors or knife by soaking them in spirit for 15 minutes. Then, cut out the infected area. Spray a solution containing 1 part bleach and 10 parts water onto the cut area and remove the infected area.
- Cut off the infected area and leave only healthy plant tissue. Disease can spread easily if left alone on the orchid.
- This disease is spread by water. Prevent this by making sure the orchid dries properly in loose soil, and moving the orchid to an area with better air circulation.
- Clean cutting tools after you remove infected plant parts to prevent contamination of other plants.
Tips
- If orchids don't grow naturally in your area, change the environment they're in by adjusting the water and moving the orchid to change sun exposure as needed.
- If you live in hot, humid climates like Florida and Southeast Asia, grow your vanda and epidendrum orchids outdoors. For mild weather during the day and cool temperatures at night such as in Southern California or coastal New Zealand and Australia, plant a cymbidium in your garden.
Warning
- Butterflies or bees can pollinate orchids placed outside. Pollination can make orchid flowers develop into fruit and seeds, so the plant stops flowering.
- Inspect the orchid for pests, including the roots, before bringing it back into the house.
