Hamilton Orchids & Plant Designs

Cool growing orchids can take temperatures down to 50 degrees. These include varieties of Cymbidium (some can survive at 40 degrees), Cypripedium, Draculas, Masdevillias and others in the Pleurothallis alliance, some Laelias like Laelia anceps, Zygopetalum, and reed stem Epidendrum. Some can be grown outdoors where the winters are mild.

Mid range or temperate growing orchids can take temperatures down to 55-60 degrees. These include Odontoglossum, Brassavola, some Dendrobiums, Epidendrum, Laelia, Lycaste, Paphiopedilum, and Miltonia.

Warm growing orchids can take temperatures down to 65-70 degrees and like daytime temperatures around 60-90 degrees. These include Phaleonopsis, Dendrobium, Cattleya, Oncidium, Vanda, Ascosendra, Brassia, Renthanopsis, and Doritis.

Phaleonopsis
Bright filtered indirect light 1000 foot candles with no direct sun.Keep warm 70 to 85 degrees with a night time low of 62. Water about once a week and let drain completely out of weep holes at bottom of pot (do this with all orchids); do not allow pot to sit in standing water. Water in the early morning and keep water away from the growth crown of the plant. Use a straw to blow out any water that gets in the crown. This helps to prevent crown rot. When plant is done flowering, cut flower stem to second or third internode to encourage a second flowering or remove stem at one inch from base to allow for a new flower stem to develop. Phaleonopsis orchids bloom about once a year for 4 to 6 weeks.

Cattleya
Bright light with no direct sun 1500 to 2000 foot-candles. Keep warm 70 to 85 degrees with a night time low of 60 degrees. Water once a week and let drain completely. When transporting Cattleya type orchids, protect flowers from bruising with shredded waxed paper on the leaves and secure well. Bloom about once a year; the flowers last 2 to 6 weeks depending on variety and thickness or texture of the bloom.

Dendrobium
Bright light with no direct sun 2000 to 3000 foot candles. Keep warm at 75 to 85 degrees with a night time low of 60 degrees. Water once a week and let drain completely. Bloom about once a year. Plants can become top heavy, so placing plastic grow container into a terracotta pot can help to solve this problem as well as placing crushed granite rock into potting mix. Blooms about once a year and flowers last 4 to 6 weeks.

Oncidium
Bright light with no direct sun 1500 to 2000 foot candles. Generally Oncidiums like 70 to 85 degrees daytime and can go down to 55 degrees at night. Watch for bacterial black speckling on leaves witch may occur in warm growing conditions. Water once a week allowing to drain completely (let plant dry out between waterings). Blooms last about 4 weeks.

Vanda / Ascocenda
Bright light with no direct sun 2000 to 3000 foot candles. Keep warm 75 to 85 degrees and nighttime low of 62. Water once a week and let drain completely. Try to keep water out of leaf at stem to help prevent stem rot. Bloom about once a year and flowers can last 8 weeks on some varieties.

Paphiopedilum
Bright light with no direct sun 900 foot candles. Keep warm 75 to 85 degrees with nighttime low 55 to 60. Water once a week and let drain completely ( some standing water can be OK). Blooms about once a year generally mottled leaf varieties bloom in the summer.

Miltonias
Bright light with no direct sun 1200 to 1500 foot candles. Keep warm 70 to 75 degrees and nighttime lows 55. Water once a week and let drain completely. Crinkled leaves are a sign of insufficient water which might come from watering or root problems. Transplant and change potting mix annually.

Cymbidium
Bright to medium light grow outdoors with an eastern facing exposure so the plants can receive direct sunlight in the morning hours when the light intensity is lower and cooler. Water once to twice weekly depending on temperature. Blooms once a year. Repot every 2 to 3 years with fine douglas fir bark 1/8th to1/4 inch. We are happy to take care of repotting at your home or office. We provide new orchid bark and plant containers. Charge: $75.00 per hour, plus materials. Hamilton Orchids is currently recognized as #1 in the Bay Area for your Cymbidium repotting needs.

Cymbidium repotting in the San Francisco Bay area is offered May through mid-August. Your Cymbidium orchids should be repotted every 3 to 4 years Please contact us to schedule an appointment.

Odontoglossum
Bright light with no direct sun 2000 foot candles. Cool growing 70 to 75 degrees nighttime 50 to 55. Water once a week and allow to drain completely. Do not allow plants to dry out. Blooms once a year.

Masdevillia / Dracula
Bright light with no direct sun 1500 foot candles. Cool growing 70 to 75 degrees 50 at night. Water once a week; do not allow plant to dry out.

Potting Mediums
You can grow orchids in several types of media. We suggest douglas fir bark that is sterilized. Fine bark 1/8 to 1/4 inch is suitable for most Oncidiums, Miltonias, Paphiopedilums, Phrags, and Cymbidiums. Medium bark 1/4 to 1/2 inch is good for Cattleyas, Phaleonopsis, Dendrobiums, and Laelias. Coarse bark 1/2 to 1 1/2 inch is good for potting Vandas and Ascocendras

For mounting orchids the materials of use are cork bark, and hopu bark. Many orchids like to grow mounted.

Fertilizers
Many different plant foods are available on the market today. We use Dynagro plant foods. You can contact them at 800/Dynagro.

We hope these Orchid growing tips have helped and welcome your comments and questions.

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