Light - Generally orchids grow underneath a canopy in the forest. Therefore most orchids would prefer less than 50% light, and 80% shade is a common requirement. When in doubt, give less light.

Fertilizing - When I first started growing orchids, I was told to water weakly, weekly. What this means to the grower is that it is better to use a lighter dose often. A diluted amount of fertilizer given frequently is a better feeding regime than getting lazy and trying to feed a plant a lot at once. I recommend that fresh water be applied to your orchids before any fertilizer is applied. Plants love to be fed on their leaves (foliar) as well as on their roots. Use a watering can with a balanced number fertilizer (14-14-14) applied at the rate of 1 Tbs. per gallon, provided that you have already significantly moistened the plant with fresh water before applying the food.

Water - Orchids of Olinda is blessed by Maui's abundant rainwater. Many feel that our pure water is one of the keys to our plant growth and quality. A serious orchidist will test the quality of their local water supply. Often times the local water department will have figures available as to the salt content, chlorine level, and organic compounds found in the Municipal supply. Another place for water analysis is your Agricultural Extension Service. Fanatics like us use Sun-Gro Labs for routine fertilizer and water analysis. Your plants are only as good as what you're giving them.

Environment - One of my foremost mentors hammered away at the point that "you've got to grow the damn things" and he was right. In the forest, nature adapted orchids to the area that they would do best. The challenge for us is to now duplicate it in our backyards. The media, the frequency of watering, and the level of fertilization are all significant decisions that the grower needs to make. As a hobbyist, you are trying to duplicate a natural setting in a small area, often times with less than ideal conditions. Two things a grower needs to keep in mind are sanitation and ventilation. Sanitation is not allowing leaves to linger on your floors or benches. Keep your growing area CLEAN. It also means not sharing cutting implements from plant to plant. I suggest a box of single edged razor blades, and that you use one per plant. Do not share fluids from one plant to the next. Disinfect the blades by including them in your oven on a tray the next time you make baked potatoes at 350 degrees for one hour. Ventilation is the other challenge for a grower. Often air flow is restricted by the wall of a house or fence, or we live in a still air area. Without adequate air movement, pathogens can take hold and cause problems. Use fans as necessary.

Insects and Mold - These are the curse of the Orchidist. Regular use of an approved insecticide is recommended. We apply controls for snails, root rot, and caterpillars as needed. Grower discretion and judgement are required when using any of the above. Always do a test spraying on a couple of plants when applying something new. Allow one week to check for photo-toxicity. Never spray your whole place until such a check has been done. You have been warned.

For more information, contact the American Orchid Society at:
www.aos.org

Additional orchid growers may be found online at:
www.orchidmall.com