Do your orchids appear to be suffering from too much or too little light? Orchids need a certain amount of light to live. Like other plants, they use light to turn carbon dioxide to useful nutrients – by a procedure known as photosynthesis. The level of light an orchid variety needs depends on where it originated and how it grows – for example, is it an epiphyte or a terrestrial orchid? Did it originate in the mountains of Madagascar or the south-west of Australia?

Some terrestrial (ground-growing) orchid varieties originated in forest areas – where they were accustomed to being protected from lengthy periods of direct sun by a dense tree canopy. Epiphytic (tree growing) varieties may have grown high up in the trees and received a higher level of light for a lengthier period each day. If you cannot offer your orchids the right levels of light naturally, you may be able to do it using either artificial light, or by altering the light conditions around your orchids.

1. Natural Light Adjustments

Regardless of whether you keep your orchids inside or outside, it might be possible to alter the surroundings to increase or decrease the amount of light for your plants. Can you reposition something to offer more or less shelter? Perhaps you can simply move the plant closer or further away from the light source.

If you are determined to grow your orchids in a specific location that does not have the right levels of light, you’ll need to consider using artificial lights to maintain healthy plants.

2. Artificial Orchid Lights

Orchids often live quite happily in artificial light however, as with sunlight, the duration of exposure to the light and the intensity of the light still needs to be correct. Different varieties of orchids have different light preferences.

Once you’ve identified your orchid’s light requirements you can choose your orchid lights. You can also purchase a light meter that measures the level of light in footcandles – and you’ll often see the light requirements of orchids described in footcandles.

It’s also a good idea to install an on/off timer for your lighting system so that you don’t need to remember to switch them on and off.

3. Symptoms of  Insufficient or Excessive Light Exposure

An orchid that is getting too much light or not enough will often exhibit tell-tale signs. If you know what they are you’ll be able to act quickly to fix the problem

When over exposed to light, some orchids will start to show a red pigment on the leaves. Leaf tips may have signs of scorching. Insufficient light can result in the orchid leaves turning a deep green color. They can appear to be quite healthy but the correct color for most orchid leaves is a bright green.

Correct lighting is essential if you want your plants to thrive and flower well. Without sufficient light your orchid may not flower at all and that would be truly disappointing.

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About the Author:
Want to learn more about orchid lights? Visit my website at http://www.orchidscaringcenter.com helpful tips and information on growing, watering, pruning, repotting, propagating and general care of orchids.
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Have you succumbed to the charm and beauty of an orchid? If you’re already a keen gardener there’s every chance you’ve decided you want to start a family – an Orchidaceae family that is! You may have heard that orchid propagation isn’t easy. Dismiss that notion – with the correct information and a little practice, you’ll soon be creating little orchids together.

There are a few different propagation methods for orchids but some are best left to the professionals while others are quite suitable for the average orchid lover. The two most common ways of propagating at home are dividing plants and using back bulbs. Which method you use will be dictated by the type of orchids you’re propagating.

General Tips for Repotting & Propagating

When it’s time to re-pot, take the opportunity to examine your plant’s roots for any signs of disease. Remove or trim back any unhealthy roots.
It’s possible to transfer diseases from one orchid to another via gardening tools so sterilize tools in between using them on each orchid.
When you slice through a rhizome to separate a plant or remove a diseased section, apply an anti-bacterial product to the cut. Some gardeners use cinnamon or sulfur powder but suitable products can also be purchased from a gardening center.
Always position some chunky material in the bottom of the orchid pot as this helps excess water to drain.

Dividing Orchids

Orchids with pseudobulbs and varieties that form clumps can be separated when they’ve grown to a sufficient size. This right time to do this is after your plant has flowered and is starting to exhibit fresh growth. This is the time your orchid has the best capacity to cope with being repotted. It’s emerging new roots can quickly adapt to their new environment.

To propagate by dividing, simple remove your orchid from its pot and find sections where there appears to be a natural division. Separate these sections gently and pot each of them. If you are dividing plants that have pseudobulbs, ensure each section your separate has three pseudobulbs and at least some fresh root growth for the best results.

Propagating with Back Bulbs

To achieve good results using this method your orchids need to have enough back bulbs to separate. If you want to see your new orchids flowering as soon as possible, it’s recommended that you separate into sections of at least three bulbs. Each new plant should evidence of new root growth.

Some gardeners prefer to maximize the number of new plants and start new plants with only two bulbs and some fresh root growth. This can be successful however they’re likely to take an extra season to flower.

When you’ve completed the repotting exercise, a thorough watering will help your fledgling orchids cope with settling into their new homes. If you’ve done everything right you’ll soon be watching your new orchid family grow and blossom.

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About the Author:
Want to learn more about orchid propagation? Visit my website at http://www.orchidscaringcenter.com helpful tips and information on growing, watering, pruning, repotting, propagating and general care of orchids.
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