Help! My orchid is potted in a non-draining pot. What should I do? It’s happened to all of us…we are at the store and we spot a beautiful orchid in a decorative pot. “That would make an excellent gift and/or it would be amazing on my windowsill at home.” We snatch the orchid up and bring it home. To our shock and sadness, it only blooms for a short while and then the leaves start to turn yellow or wrinkle up. So we toss it. “Orchids are so hard to grow,” we think. What we failed to realize is that this beautiful orchid was planted in a pot without a drainage hole (as shown in all ..read more

It has been a long time coming but we have finally created our own orchid mixes. Each mix has been formulated with select specialty ingredients that are hand washed, mixed, and packed to optimize orchid care so your orchids bloom and grow year after year. They are available for sale at Rolling Ridge Nursery’s online store. All Purpose Bark Mix Ideal for a wide variety of orchids – includes premium ingredients that are hand washed, mixed and packed. This mix is excellent for a wide variety of orchids as it provides ample air flow and drainage. It is easy to use a ..read more

This post is going to be a “one stop guide” of everything I do throughout the year with my orchids and what’s going on with them during this time. You can search the various topics in the search feature on the blog for extra advice on what to do. Quick background on orchids to help explain the seasons – Orchids grow in nature at a different rate than orchids sold in stores (please click on my post titled “Orchids Grown In Nature” for more information). This is because stores buy orchids from nurseries which have a controlled environment which “forces” orchids into bloom by speeding up natural ..read more

So you just got a brand new orchid and you want to know what to do? If you are new to this world, you need not be afraid. Orchids have a reputation of being really hard to grow but are actually very easy. All you need to do is take some time to learn what they need. Orchids have also been known to be expensive, however  with good care, an orchid can be in bloom for several months a year and can live indefinitely. That makes them an excellent value as far as blooming plants go. Orchids are not like other potted plants. Orchid care is not difficult, it is just different. They are ..read more

Many times when we get orchids into our homes, they were mistreated before we got them. Mass production of orchids in green houses forces them into bloom (which in itself does not hurt orchids) and then they are shipped to stores. The shipping process can be taxing to orchids, and then they are placed in grocery stores etc. that tend to over or underwater them and most provide zero natural light. And A LOT of places sell orchids in pots with no drainage holes (as shown above) which exacerbates all the problems stated above. The roots are basically trapped in water and begin to rot (even though ..read more

How do I clean my orchid leaves? Washing your orchid leaves with a gentle cleaning solution will make them very happy! Orchid leaves need a healthy surface to absorb moisture and to allow them to breathe. Cleaning your orchid leaves removes residue build up such as hard water residue, fertilizer residue, dust, dirt, mildew, and mold, and it restores their natural luster. Plus it helps to combat and prevent bugs, especially scales. Home remedies; 1. You can use lemon (or lime) juice mixed with a bit of water. Lemon juice is acidic so it helps to dissolve the above mention residues. Simply ..read more

Help! All my orchid leaves have fallen off? If you have a Phalaenopsis orchid (which is one of the most common orchids) otherwise known as a “Moth” orchid or a “Phal” and ALL of the leaves have fallen off, then there is not a lot that can be done. I know this is heartbreaking, from personal experience, because the above orchid is mine and I had taken very good care of it. You see, with the absence of leaves the plant can not manufacture food, thus breaking down the orchids growth cycle. Orchids work in cycle between growing new leaves and new roots to new blooms. And without it having curren ..read more

Why are my orchid leaves turning yellow? If your bottom orchid leaf has turned yellow, it does not necessarily mean your orchid is sick or dying. You can not prevent your bottom orchid leaves from ultimately turning yellow because this is the natural cycle of an orchid. You see, orchids work in balance between new leaves, new roots and blooms. In order for blooms to appear in the winter and spring, new leaves and new roots need to grow in the summer and fall. Older leaves, over time, will die back naturally as will new leaves appear (shown below). This new growth provides the orchid with th ..read more

My orchid leaf split/broke? What do I do? Split Orchids Some of my orchids have split leaves. They were either damaged before I got them or split from an already small tear (as shown above). They just keep growing with these splits and it does not affect any other growth. It’s slightly ugly but it will have no damaging effect to the orchid. The split leaf will continue to grow from the base but will always look split at the top – it will seal itself off and be a little crooked. Don’t cut if off. It will still give the orchid energy even though it is split. Torn orchids I have also had orchi ..read more

The Different & Unique Parts of Orchid Blooms Orchids are gorgeous and once you get the chance to watch one that is about to bloom, you will know how exciting it is! You will get a chance to see it, day-to-day, slowly open and the final product is amazing!! Orchid blooms are initially sealed, protectively, with three sepals. Sepals are the outer covering of the bud and are normally green (sometimes they are a dark maroon color) and then change color upon blooming. As the bud slowly opens the sepals fold back to show the inner petals of your orchid. Inside the three sepals are three peta ..read more