Orchid Culture Articles

Orchid Culture: Articles by Sue Bottom
A Compendium of Sue's Articles, many originally published in the Newsletter

General Orchid Culture

General Orchid Culture

Beginner's Guide to Orchids - Oct 09
Bringing Home New Orchids - Dec 12
Top Ten Signs That Your Orchid is Happy - Jan 16

Orchid Plant Parts and Why They Matter - Sep 13
Understanding Your Plant Tag - Sep 14
Vegetative Propagation of Orchids - Jul 13

Orchid Toolbox - Apr 15
Wire Products - Dec 17

Watering and Water Quality

Watering Orchids During Each Season - Sep 12
Choosing Your Fertilizer Based on Your Water Quality - Jan 12, Nov 16
Citric Acid for High Alkalinity Waters - May 17

Fertilizing Orchids

Orchid Supplement... or Snake Oil? - Nov 12
Purely Organic Fertilizer - Sep 15
Calcium and Magnesium - Aug 14

Calcium Deficiency in Cattleyas - Mar 17
Orchid Myths - Foliar Feeding, An Evening with Alan Koch - Mar 15
Orchid Myths - Urea, An Evening with Alan Koch - Aug 15

Orchid Potting Media

Orchid Potting Mixes - Apr 13
The Mystery of Sphagnum Moss - Jul 15
Top Dressing Your Orchids - Apr 16

Repotting Orchids

Repotting Orchids - Feb 11
Does My Orchid Have to be Repotted? - May 14
Orchids Outside the Pot - Oct 16
Repotting Orchids - Wet or Dry - Jun 18

Repotting Bifoliate Cattleyas - Keith Davis Style - Jun 14
Repotting Hoss Cattleyas - Jun 15
Rebasketing Stanhopeas - Nov 15

Orchid Pots

Cleaning Clay Pots - Mar 13
Selecting a Pot for Your Orchid - May 13
Potting in Tree Fern Baskets - Apr 14
Broken Clay Pots - May 18

Temperature, Humidity and Air Movement

Why Do Orchids Need a Drop in Nighttime Temperatures? - Mar 14
Cold Tolerance of Orchids - Oct 13
The Importance of Fresh Air to Orchids - Feb 13
Humidity and Vapor Pressure Deficit - Apr 18

Light

Seasonal Changes in Light - Feb 14

Orchid Growth Processes

Plant Growth Processes - Oct 17
Orchid Roots - Jun 13
Apical Dominance and Growth Patterns - Jun 17

Seasonal Tips

Spring into Action - Feb 10
Hot Humid Summers and the Tropical Storm Season - Jul 18
Fall Preparations - Oct 11
The Winter Rest Season - Dec 09

More Orchid Information

Gifts for the Orchid Lover - Dec 16
Words of Wisdom - Feb 17
Secrets of a Great Orchid Grower - May 15
Evolution of an Orchid Grower - Dec 15
Try New Things - Mar 18

Specific Genera

Catasetums and Their Kin - Mar 16
Cattleyas - What Can Go Wrong, 1 Cultural Missteps - Aug 16
Cattleyas - What Can Go Wrong, 2 Common Pests & Diseases - Sep 16

Changes in Cattleya Nomenclature - Aug 13
Dendrobiums - Oct 09
Why Do You Grow the Orchids You Grow - Now It's Habenarias - Feb 15

Paphiopedilum Varieties - Jan 14
Growing Phalaenopsis - What Can Go Wrong - Dec 13
Winter Dormant Orchids Requiring a Dry Rest - Jan 17

Species and Hybrids

What is an Orchid Species - Oct 14
Breeding Improved Species - Selfing and Sib Crosses - Dec 14
Orchids Month by Month in 2017 - Jan 18

Orchid Ailments

Overview

Orchid Pests and Diseases - Oct 09
Orchid Hygiene - Nov 17
Orchid Triage - Jun 16

Orchid Diseases

Orchid Disease Control Part 1 - Response to Disease Pathogens - Jul 14
Orchid Disease Control Part 2 - Bacterial and Fungal Infections - Oct 15
Orchid Disease Control Part 3 - Bactericides and Fungicides - Feb 16

Bacterial Brown Spot - Jun 12
Root Rot Caused by Rhizoctonia - Jan 15
Fusarium in Phalaenopsis - May 16
Leaf Spotting Fungi in Cattleyas - Cercosporoid Fungi - Sep 17

Orchid Pests

Thrips on Orchids - Oct 12

Orchid Pesticides, Fungicides, Bacterices

Pesticides, Fungicides and Bactericides

Applying Fertilizers and Chemicals - Nov 16
Fungicides and Bactericides for Orchid Diseases - Jul 10, revised Nov 15
Hydrogen Peroxide - Jul 17
Pesticides for Orchid Pests - Dec 09

Orchid Physiological and Environmental Problems

Physiological and Environmental Problems

Bud Blast and Flower Blighting - Apr 17
Edema Blisters on Orchids - Apr 12
Weeds, Ferns and Orchids Do Not Mix - Jul 12, Jul 16
Leaf Reddening - Sign of Stress - Aug 17

Orchid Virus

Virus in Cattleyas - Aug 12

The opinions and recommendations published herein are those of the authors. The St. Augustine Orchid Society disclaims responsibility for any losses or damages that may be attributed to the use or misuse of any material or any opinion published in these articles and on the website. This website and the photographs, articles and content are protected by copyright and no part of them may be reproduced or re-used without the permission of the author.