Are you wondering how to root a jewel orchid? It may sound difficult, but it really isn’t. There are just a few things that you need to keep in mind when you are trying to grow orchids. Once you understand how to do this, then you can easily learn how to take care of your orchids.
First, you will need to consider how deep you want your orchid roots to go. Most orchids that are going to be grown indoors will need to have their roots about one to two inches down. The deeper they are the better. This is to ensure that the orchid doesn’t drown and to keep the roots from drying out and rotting away.
Secondly, you will also need to think about the type of pot that you will be using. Most orchid plants that are being grown indoors will need a plastic pot. Metal pots are fine if the orchid plants are going to be grown out of doors. However, when you are growing orchids that will be placed inside of a window, a glass pot will be more ideal. Keep in mind that pots with a large opening on the bottom are perfect for orchid plants, but you should avoid them as much as possible.
When you are learning how to root a jewel orchid plant, it will help to understand that there are actually three different types of orchids. There are the Cattleya, Paphiopedilum, and the Odontoglossum orchid. These orchids actually come from two separate species. The first is Paphiopedilum orchid, while the other is the Cattleya.
Both of these species come in very common colors, including blue, red, yellow, white, and green. The third type of orchid is the Odontoglossum orchid. The roots on this type of orchid will grow in a spiral fashion around the flower. It is possible to differentiate between these two orchids.
How to route a jewel orchid plant can be slightly confusing because the actual roots actually grow in different directions. You need to think of them as being a little like a tree. If you take a branch and break it at the base, you would not expect the roots underneath to go directly to the ground. It is more complicated when you have orchids. Below are some examples of different orchid types that will have their roots in different directions.
Most cattleyas and most orchids will grow without any visible roots. The exception would be Paphiopedilum, which will grow into the pot and create a new potting surface when the old one is removed. On this same note, Pterocarpus santalinus will grow into the pot without creating any sort of surface for the orchid plants to grow on. Some cattleyas and orchids will grow on the underside of leaves. Ocotillo, Paphiopedilum, Pterocarpus santalinus, and Paphiopedilum acutangulum are three examples of this. Other cattleyas and orchids can be identified by the shape of the leaf.
The third type of orchid that will have visible roots is the Odontoglossum. This is a common orchid plant found in the wild. In your garden, you might find an Odontoglossum which is still without any visible roots. If you have such a plant in your garden, you can still learn how to root a jewel orchid plant; it just takes some patience.
In most cases, such orchids would require some sort of ‘root balling’ procedure before they could be properly rooted. This process involves taking the orchid out of its container, pruning it back so that the branches that are not desired to grow in another direction. By this time, the roots of the orchid should be visible in the soil.
Once you have potted your orchid plant, it is important to keep it relatively dry. You can help to accomplish this by making sure that the soil is slightly moist but not soggy. Then, place your orchid in a shallow dish of water so that the roots get enough water. Once the roots are established in the water, gently place them in the pot and gently press the roots down. Continue in this manner until the orchid has roots deep down in the soil.
You might find that after carefully following the steps above, your orchid plant does not root in the pot at all. If this is the case, you will need to find a way to force the roots down. The simplest method for doing this is by using coarse grit sand paper. Place the orchid in a bowl filled with the sand paper and gently press down on the roots until they are deeply rooted in the sand. This may take some time depending on the size and growth of your orchid.