Making Sure Your Cymbidiums Bloom This Winter

  Fall is here and it's time to think about bringing your cymbidiums indoors for the winter. (Yes - they stay outdoors this long!)   Cymbidiums need a shock of cold weather to trigger blooming.  In most climates this means leaving them outdoors until after Halloween - and sometimes even until Thanksgiving! Cymbidiums can withstand …

Growing Amaryllis Outside for Summer

  Amaryllis make a striking impact during the cold, dark winter months. And getting them to rebloom year after year isn't difficult. Just give them a chance to replenish their reserves with adequate sunlight, water and fertilizer, and you'll be rewarded with some pretty amazing blooms. And this is the time of the year to …

Fertilizer for Orchids – How to Use What You Choose

      Fertilizer for orchids doesn't need to be complicated. Orchids do tend to be more finicky about fertilizers than houseplants because 1) in nature they grow high in the tropical forest where water and nutrients are pure, and 2) they have different seasons to their growing pattern. But setting up a nutrient program …

Your Orchids Are Hungry! What Should You Feed Them?

  Plant nutrition is one of the most debated subjects among orchid growers everywhere. Ask 10 people for advice on fertilizer for orchids and you'll get 10 different answers. Applying fertilizer shouldn't be complicated. I'm going to show you how easy it is to give your plants exactly what they're looking for - and you …

Time To Repot Your Orchids?

Summer is here and this is the active growing season for orchids. Is it time for repotting?   How Know If Your Plant Needs Repotting Are your orchids growing in bark or moss? If they are, get ready to repot with fresh media. How do I know that? Because those materials break down and decompose …

Moving Orchids Outdoors for Summer

  "Should I move my orchids outdoors for the summer?" That's a question I hear over and over this time of year  - and my answer is always the same - YES! Orchids thrive on the bright light, hot days/cool nights, and abundant humidity outdoors. Compare that to the hot, stuffy windowsill they're sitting on right …

Enjoying Cymbidiums

With their big, colorful blooms, cymbidiums are one of my favorites. And I like them even more because they can't be grown in the tropics, where orchids seem to grow without ant help at all. Let me explain. For many years I traveled to Florida buying (and growing) tropical plants for our corporate interior plant …

How To Get Your Amaryllis to Bloom Again Next Year (it’s easy!)

I hope you've enjoyed your amaryllis this winter as much as we have! Their big, colorful blooms never fail to brighten up dreary winter days. Unfortunatley, this is the time when most Amaryllis blooms fade away.     Most people think of Amaryllis as "disposable" and discard them after blooming. But wait a minute!!! I …