Basic orchid care for beginners: how to grow Phalaenopsis | Oncidiums | Cymbidiums!

This week Plant Lovers I've decided to make a stab at the kind of basic orchid care video, suitable for my climate, that I wish I could have found three year sago when I started trying to grow orchids! Ambitious I know - but here goes. We'll look at the three most commonly found types of orchids in Australia and take a look at basic care for each one: Phalaenopsis, Oncidium and Cymbidium. And the catalyst for this video was someone giving me a white flowering Phalaenopsis as a gift for hosting a dinner party and I thought....that is SUCH a gateway moment...so many people are given white Phalaenopsis, but then what!? So in this video we'll look at light, fertiliser, watering and humidity requirements for growing these three easily found types of orchid in the home or outside if your climate is mild enough. And the bottom line? Orchids are generally a lot tougher than you think so RELAX! Again, I'm no expert; there are many ways to grow orchids depending upon your exact climate, but these things worked for me and they may be of use to you!
You can find my basic re-potting video here: • What do I pot my orchi...
And you can find my basic fertilising video here: • What fertilisers do I ...
And you can find the channel I found most useful when I started growing orchids here - Gardening at Douentza: / @gardeningatdouentza

[@zs1dfr]

If you aren't a teacher or a lecturer, you ought to be. Your videos are concise and to the point, and perfect for casual growers like me! Thank you very much🙂

[@helloplantlovers]

Thank you! Glad it was useful!

[@rhythmandblues_alibi]

Great to see an Aussie orchid channel! Subbed 🙌 I agree, it is hard to relate to other channels because our climate is so different. I have lost many orchids due to following advice on a very large orchid channel that recommends against using anti-fungal products. Glad I stopped following tbh as I'd rather save my expensive plants with products that are designed for purpose than use bloody hydrogen peroxide for everything.

[@helloplantlovers]

Ha! Yes! Each to their own ultimately - it takes a while to figure out what works in your own particular environment.

[@lorihobson7397]

Great video! Very informative! Thank you for showing your growing locations in your home. I believe so many plant lovers struggle with lighting requirements. Yours is the first video I've seen that actually shows where you grow your orchids in your home. Thank you for sharing.

[@helloplantlovers]

Thank you - I agree - so important to see exactly where things grow!

[@risalinlyngdohnongbri7946]

Thankyou so much for sharing your knowledge about orchids, I love to see your videos again and again, May God Bless you and keep sharing and smiling ❤

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching!

[@raeannedray3570]

Thank you
I have the same problem getting info related to my area in SE Qld.
Greatly appreciated

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching - is there an orchid group near you?

[@supinthornsaengsukyen2246]

Thank you so so much for sharing these tips as I am a beginner and killed couple of orchids before. Hopefully this year I will get successful with all of them!

[@helloplantlovers]

Good luck! Water, light, temperature and potting are the most important thing for any orchid to get right first!

[@supinthornsaengsukyen2246]

@@helloplantlovers Thanks Matthew❤️

[@barblucas2539]

Thanks for the information, im from USA, and just a beginner in orchids, I got some orchids from store, they tolded me to just water with ice cube, Let me tell you one big mistake,Was so happy when I found your videos, still learning about orchids.

[@helloplantlovers]

I'm glad! Thanks for finding me!

[@Hazel_Dazel]

Congratulations on 6k subscribers!

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for noticing!

[@paulawebster8573]

I am at the top of a small mountain so my water has very little dissolved solids. I just don’t seem to get the growth I’d think I should have. The water is slightly acidic and I know that plants need to be in a certain range to absorb nutrients. Love your episodes. I learn so much. Thank you!!

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching!

[@deemaxwell4172]

And a quick note on all three orchids, the older leaves on the maturest parts of the plant (lowest on the phal, oldest pseudobulbs on the other two) do naturally turn yellow then fall off, one at a time. They key is "one at a time" and "oldest parts". If there are more all at once, then yes underwatering (or overwatering) is the problem.

[@Kay-qt2id]

Exactly what I needed thank you

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching!

[@elleneisenkolb8689]

A very timely and practical post, thank you. I really appreciate you sharing your knowledge and experience with us. I’m in Adelaide, while not as chilly as you are in Melbourne, I too found it difficult to get advice for our climate. I had just purchased an oncidium and have been worried about where I had placed it. Clearly I need to move it now.

[@helloplantlovers]

Good luck - it should thrive in Adelaide!

[@louisegunn2323]

Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge. I live in Sydney Australia.

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for finding me!

[@mt2766]

Exactly what I needed to learn-thank you! I puzzled over why my orchid leaves were turning yellow. Now I know! Thank you, thank you!

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching - glad it was useful!

[@user-nm7kz8xl4j]

Hi I have watched your u tube and I just got a orchid it is very pot bound it it a 30 year old plant that has never been repotted

[@helloplantlovers]

Wowser! Good luck with it!

[@paulawebster1324]

Hi Matthew. Thank you for your wonderful videos! Can you tell me if you have acidic or basic water where you are? Do you collect rain water for your inside orchids or do you use well or tap water. Thank you in advance for your answer! Have a lovely day

[@helloplantlovers]

Hi there - Melbourne water is some of the best tap water in the world - lucky me! So it's not acidic and I use it everything. However, I'm going to give Phragmipedium's another go and with those I'd either use distilled or rainwater.

[@Muffin21814]

Wonderful!! Volume was a bit too low.😊👍

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching!

[@angelaobrien7698]

Fantastic video ❤ thank you.

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching!

[@sandrasutherland.5070]

Great information. I really appreciate it.

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching!

[@annadaccione332]

great instructive video, thank you

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching!

[@masondanshortyfaddoul2596]

Thx for sharing mattew

[@helloplantlovers]

Thankns for watching!