Climate

• The ideal location for orchid growing is in the open conditions, under appropriate level of shade.
• In Kerala certain orchids are grown under the shade of old coconut trees
• The most attractive orchids are all epiphytes.
• They absorb nutrients and water from the atmosphere through roots that grow from their buds.
• Both terrestrial and epiphytes grow under varying levels of shade.
• Plants grown under deep shade will have good vegetative growth and poor flowering.
• Hence shade and light regulations are very important operations for better flowering.
• A humid and warm atmosphere is congenial for the growth of most of the tropical orchids.
• Better results are obtained when the atmospheric humidity is 50 to 80 per cent.
• Care should be taken to keep the atmosphere clean by providing ventilation and to adjust the humidity and temperature as required.
• Orchids require proper temperature for good growth and flowering.
• Accordingly, there are tropical, subtropical and temperate orchids.