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Growing Orchids: July in St. Augustine
Based on Robert Scully's articles, courtesy of AOS
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General Orchid Growing Tips
The heat and humidity of summer are here. Orchid plants require the most water and fertilizer this month to produce the most growth. They require lots of fresh air to keep the plant leaves cool. Consider spraying under benches or the planting area to lower temperatures a few degrees. Pests are most active during the warm months. Be vigilant in observing signs of damage and treat quickly if they appear. The bulk of your repotting should be complete. |
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Cattleyas
Cattleyas can be watered and fertilized daily if mounted or every second or third day if in a coarse, freely draining medium.
Be careful to peel back the flower sheaths so the emerging buds don't rot. Also remove dried cataphylls to eliminate hiding places for scale. Watch for signs of pests or diseases and respond quickly. |
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Cymbidiums
Cool your plants in the early morning and late evening using a hose or automatic misting system set to come on at 7 in the morning and 6:30 in the evening for 5 minutes each time. Use pots with a 1 inch water reservoir in the bottom or set the pots in shallow pans to ensure that the cymbidium is never without water.
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Dendrobiums
It is almost impossible to overwater dendrobiums this time of year, assuming you have them either mounted or in a coarse, mostly inorganic medium. |
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Phalaenopsis
Once root growth begins, you can continue watering every 3rd or 4th day with a dilute fertilizer solution if your phals are in a coco type mix; the frequency might be weekly if your plants are potted in the more water retentive sphagnum moss. Don't let water accumulate in the crowns of plants, or crown rot can occur and quickly kill your plants. If grown outdoors, grow the plants with the pots tilted so rainwater will freely drain from the crown. |
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Vandas
Continue giving vandas what they want, light, water, fertilizer and air. Watch for signs of thrips that will mar the flowers and cause girdling on the roots. Respond promptly to any problems found.
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