Orchids have specific requirements such as the amount of light it's exposed to; it's watering and fertilizing cycles and the nourishment it receives. Probably the most important factor to an orchids health is the type of light it has access to. It varies from species to species, but as orchids hail from the tropical regions of earth, they will in most cases require a good amount of diffused light every day. As the lush areas they originate from typically have defined patterns of sun and shade, the orchid is best placed in an eastern faced window in your home. By doing this you'll create a similar environment that orchids are used to - cool morning light and also avoiding the midday sun that can be harmful. The orchid should be exposed to 12 hours of light a day, but you'll find that this isn't possible every day due to hotter than average days.

Being the owner of an orchid means bearing the responsibility of figuring out the correct amounts of light and shade that your specific species requires to thrive - and this means finding as much information as possible that is relevant to your plant. I'm happy to say that you have many options to complete this task. Firstly, just talk to the people where you bought the plant. Second, use the internet. It's an extremely valuable tool and will help you determine the specifics of your orchid before you purchase it. With the varied species of orchids, you'll discover that there are advantages and disadvantages to light and shade. For instance, some prefer more exposure to sunlight and others prefer more shade. To help you determine which orchid you have, there are just the two classifications. There are "soft growing" orchids which prefer a shady environment and there are "hard growing" orchids that that prefer a sunny environment. Generally speaking, the owners of a "soft growing" orchid will enjoy a healthy and long-living plant, but the blooms will be of a smaller size and less frequent. Owners of the "hard growing" kind have found that, although their plant blooms regularly, the plant itself will be smaller. The leaves of a "hard growing" orchid also tend to be yellow and undersized.

A very good way for ensuring the right amount of light exposure is by using growing lights for your orchid. Incorporating a grow-light and timer into the maintenance of your orchid will guarantee it receives the preferred amount of both light and darkness for optimal growth. Another alternate light source to consider is a florescent light which will provide light that won't be too strong for the orchid. For a long time a misconception has existed that growing orchids is only possible for experienced enthusiasts but all it takes are a few necessities to guarantee beautiful orchids to be had in your possession - a thorough understanding of your specific plant and a combination of natural and artificial light sources are all that's needed for even the most inexperienced novice to be the owner of a stunning orchid collection.