Phalaenopsis Orchids: Bright light is very important. In the home an East window is the best location, followed by a shaded South or West window. In the greenhouse you will need 70-85% shade or 1000-1500 foot candles. No direct sun on leaves.

Temperatures: Night temperature of 60-65 degrees is ideal. Day temperatures of 70-95 degrees are best. In the fall, the plants must have three weeks of night temperatures of 50-55 degrees in order to set flower spikes.

Water: Plants should never be allowed to fully dry out. The media should almost dry out and then watered thoroughly. If plants are allowed to continually stay wet root rot may infect and kill your plant. Do not let water stay in the plant's crown overnight. Crown rot will kill your plant. Water in the morning so they have a chance to dry out before night.

Humidity: A humidity of 50-80% is desirable. In the home, a humidity tray should be used if air conditioners have removed humidity from the air. A shallow dish filled to the top with pebbles and half filled with water will boost humidity. Place plant on top of pebbles. Make sure dish diameter is greater than plant leaf span.

Fertilizer: Use 30-10-10 fertilizer for plants potted in fir bark. If potted in other media's you can use a 20-20-20. In the fall or when blooming, use Fertilome Blooming and Rooting 9-59-8 to help achieve bigger and healthier blooms. Using a 1/4 strength fertilizer solution at every watering in warm conditions is the best.

Vanda Orchids: Vandas are sun lovers. They must have sun in order to grow and bloom. Vandas with terete or pencil shaped leaves can stand full sun, while strap-leaf vandas require 25-35% shade. Semiterete, a hybrid between terete and strap-leaf, need about the same amount of sun as strap-leaf type.

Temperature: Temperatures of 55-65 degrees at night and 75-95 degrees during the day are good. Vandas love heat and humidity, the more they get, the faster they grow.

Water: Vandas need lots of water when growing. On hot days you can water 2-3 times. During the cool weather, keep plants drier. As with all orchids, water only on sunny days and make sure leaves are dry before nightfall.

Humidity: Keep humidity about 80% when temperatures are high. You can mist the general area, or wet down the floor if practical, to raise the humidity.

Fertilizer: Vandas must be fed on a regular schedule. During the warm growing season, feed 1/4 strength 20-20-20 at every watering or full strength once a week. Use a high phosphorus 9-59-8 every third application to promote flowering.

Note: Vandas are best in wood baskets. Do not over pot. Do not disturb the roots unless necessary. Use a coarse media; charcoal, tree fern chunks, etc. Some growers use no media at all in the baskets.

Cattleya Orchids: Good light is important for healthy growth and flower production. If grown in a greenhouse or screened area, they will need 30-50% shade. In the home they do best in a shaded south window. The next best location is an East or West facing window. Leaves should be a light green color.

Temperatures: 50-60 degrees at night and 70-85 degrees during the day. Higher day temperatures of up to 95 degrees can be tolerated if humidity, air movement and shading are increased.

Water: Mature plants must dry out between watering. Over watering will cause root rot and could kill your plant. When in doubt, DON'T. Do not water on cloudy or rainy days. Water in the morning so plants will be dry before evening. Seedlings do need more water than mature plants.

Humidity: Cattleyas need 50-80% relative humidity. In the home, mist in the morning. Place plants on a humidity tray. Fill a shallow tray with pebbles, then fill half full of water. The pot must not sit in the water. If outside, spray around the plants with water.

Fertilizer: Fertilize at every watering with a 1/4 strength solution of 20-20-20. Plants not in active growth should be fed less often. Fertilome Blooming and Rooting 9-59-8 can be used every 4 to 6 applications to promote good blooming and sturdy growth. Flushing with plain water once a month will help dissolve any salt build up.

Note: Like most cultivated orchids, Cattleyas are epiphytes (air plants) They store water in pseudobulbs and spongy roots. Pot in very porous media so roots dry out between watering.

Dendrobium Orchids: Strong light is very important while plants are growing. Less light is needed during their dormant periods. If growing in a screened area or greenhouse, 25-50% shade is needed.

Temperatures: Temperature needs vary widely. Most dendrobiums do well under intermediate temps of 55-85 degrees. Most plants need cooler nights while resting. They will tolerate highs of 95 degrees and lows of 45 degrees for short periods of time.

Water: Dendrobiums need to be watered frequently during active growth. Plants that are grown in baskets or mounted on driftwood can be watered every day. Those in clay pots water every other day. Dendrobiums love to be pot bound, therefore use more water. When active growth stops, use only enough water to keep bulbs from shriveling.

Humidity: A humidity of 60% is optimum.

Fertilizer: Same as Cattleyas

Note: Do not over pot Dendrobiums. They like to be pot bound. You can use the same type media as for Cattleyas.