Overwatered Foxtail orchid Symptoms of overwatering include limp and wrinkled leaves, yellowing or decay, and general failure to thrive. When Foxtail orchid owners see their plant’s leaves looking limp and shriveled, they can sometimes assume that is a sign that it isn’t getting enough water so they keep adding more. This just compounds the problem, so it’s important to look beyond the leaves to identify what’s happening with the roots. Healthy Foxtail orchid roots are silvery green, green, or white and feel firm to the touch. When Foxtail orchid has been overwatered, the roots will look mushy, limp, and brown or black in color. Rescue an overwatered Foxtail orchid by cutting off any rotted roots with a sterile knife or garden shears and repotting them into a new growing medium. It is always better to avoid overwatering because it is possible you won’t be able to save your plant if root rot sets in, so be conservative with water to avoid this issue. Underwatered Foxtail orchid Unfortunately, the initial symptoms of underwatering and overwatering are almost identical in Foxtail orchid. Check the growing medium with your finger or a moisture meter to get a sense of how much water is being retained. You may need to increase the frequency of watering to get back on track with watering. Once again, the best way to understand the situation is to take a look at the roots. Underwatered roots look crisp, brown, and brittle. Healthy roots are pliable and green, so the difference should be obvious. Luckily it’s easy to revive a thirsty Foxtail orchid, as long as the plant still has some healthy roots left. Trim off any dried up or dead root pieces, as they won’t be able to come back to life. Then repot the plant and water thoroughly. Within a week or two, shriveled and limp leaves should start to firm up and look healthy. If the leaves are too damaged to be revived once you water them thoroughly, they can be removed to make room for new growth.

Regardless of which type of medium you use, your Foxtail orchid should be watered when the mix is mostly but not completely dry. This can vary depending on the environmental conditions, but generally it will be about once or twice a week in summer and as infrequently as once every 2 weeks in winter.

Foxtail orchid is a epithet plant, which means that they do not grow in soil as most plants do. In order to grow a happy and healthy Foxtail orchid, you’ll need to choose your growing medium carefully. Regardless of what your Foxtail orchid grows in, the container needs to have plenty of drainage holes. Foxtail orchid pots are specifically designed to hold a chunky potting mix with lots of ventilation compared to other plant pots. They also tend to be tall and narrow, allowing air to circulate around the center of the roots, not just the edges. One popular potting medium for Foxtail orchid and other Foxtail orchid is bark. It is generally sourced from fir trees and drains very well. Since Foxtail orchid grows on bark in the wild, it makes sense that they would do well with a similar substrate when grown indoors. The disadvantage of using bark is that the plant needs watering more often since bark dries out quickly. The other common planting medium for orchids in sphagnum moss. Most commercially grown Foxtail orchid specimens will be sold in moss, because it is lightweight, cheap, and it allows nurseries to water less often. Unfortunately, sphagnum moss is not very forgiving for those who aren't experts in orchids. Because it is extremely absorbent, moss runs the risk of holding too much water next to the roots, resulting in root rot. If your Foxtail orchid is planted in sphagnum and you plan to keep it that way, be very judicious in your watering. Less is more when it comes to watering in general, and it is quite difficult to reverse root rot once it has set in. Watering your Foxtail orchid from below is recommended, as this allows you to avoid splashing water on the leaves, stem, and flowers. To water from below, set the pot into a container of water and allow the roots to soak up moisture for 10-15 minutes. Normally, you can stop this process when the surface of sphagnum is wet. Drain thoroughly before returning your Foxtail orchid to its normal location, as these plants hate to sit in water.

Far from damaging the plant, regular pruning will actually encourage Foxtail orchid to produce more blooms. There are two primary forms of pruning for Foxtail orchid. The first is deadheading, which is the gardening term for removing spent flower heads once they start to wither. This concentrates the nutrients for the other flowers and allows the plant to flower better. The final process for pruning Foxtail orchid is the removal of yellow and diseased leaves, which increases plant ventilation and light penetration and facilitates plant growth. When nature runs its course, Foxtail orchid will bloom once, produce seed heads, and attempt to reproduce for the rest of the year. But, by consistently removing flower heads before they go to seed, you encourage the plant to continue producing more blooms for a longer flowering time. When the plant starts to wilt during the full, you should cut off the wilted part above the soil as well.

There are two primary forms of pruning for Foxtail orchid. The first is deadheading, which is the gardening term for removing spent flower heads once they start to wither. This concentrates the nutrients for the other flowers and allows the plant to flower better. The final process for pruning Foxtail orchid is the removal of yellow and diseased leaves, which increases plant ventilation and light penetration and facilitates plant growth. Since Foxtail orchid requires two types of pruning, you’ll be trimming your plants throughout the growing season. Pinching is most effective in the early spring before the plant develops any flower buds. Removal of yellowing or diseased leaves can be done at any time during the growing season. When nature runs its course, Foxtail orchid will bloom once, produce seed heads, and attempt to reproduce for the rest of the year. But, by consistently removing flower heads before they go to seed, you encourage the plant to continue producing more blooms for a longer flowering time. Finally, deadheading takes place as soon as the plants are producing full flower heads. Expect to take off spent blossoms from mid-summer through the first frosts of fall. When the plant starts to wilt during the full, you should cut off the wilted part above the soil as well.

Foxtail orchid doesn’t take much special equipment for pruning. A basic pair of scissors or garden shears should do the trick. It’s a good idea to ensure they are clean before use—you can soak them for thirty minutes in a solution of one part bleach diluted in nine parts water. This reduces the risk of spreading disease lingering on contaminated equipment into your flower garden. Some gardeners avoid using tools altogether and merely pinch off the blossoms with their fingertips. That can be a faster technique, but you run a larger risk of bruising the plant stems or accidentally pulling them out of the ground completely.

Here’s an overview of pruning instructions for Foxtail orchid based on which of the two types you’re completing. By completing these two types of pruning over the lifespan of your Foxtail orchid, you’ll encourage them to produce bigger, better flowers for far longer than the plants would otherwise. It only takes a few minutes to complete each step of the pruning process, and you’ll reap the rewards of your efforts for weeks to come. Deadheading Deadheading is a fast, easy way to refresh your garden by removing old flowers and providing space for new ones to take their place. You can use your fingers to pop off old flower heads as soon as they look tired, although you’re less likely to damage the plant if you use shears instead. When deadheading, make sure you cut well below the flower so that you aren’t left with a long, flowerless stem sticking out in your garden bed. Instead, cut the stem to just above the point where the side stem joins the main plant. Remove yellow and diseased leaves, this increases the ventilation and light penetration of the plant and facilitates its growth. When pruning, the leaves need to be trimmed off together with the petiole. It is best to use sterilised scissors to cut them off. Note: It’s a good idea to ensure scissors or garden shears are clean before use—you can soak them for thirty minutes in a solution of one part bleach diluted in nine parts water. This reduces the risk of spreading disease lingering on contaminated equipment into your flower garden.

The Foxtail orchid is classically beautiful plant with great, long-lasting blooms as long as it receive proper humidity and sunlight. When these plants have the right amount of sun, their blooms will stay on for long periods and grow strong and tall as their leaves stretch outward. Orchids will develop a healthy greenish-yellow leaf color when they’re healthy, and owners might really appreciate the sheer number of flowers orchids will produce in proper sunlight.

Foxtail orchid thrives in sunlight and need a minimum of six hours of sun daily. A few different Epiphytic Orchids may handle varying degrees of sunlight. While some orchids could withstand the hot heat of the afternoon sun, some orchids prefer shady light all day long.

Foxtail orchid might be immune to the sun’s damage as long as it's given tons of humidity. However, some Epiphytic Orchids require shady light and plenty of airflow to protect their leaves and flowers from overheating. Gardeners should make sure they give their plants anywhere from 40 to 70% humidity to help protect their orchids from heat damage. If your orchid is in hot weather, owners could also mist the leaves to keep them at a cooler temperature.

If Foxtail orchid gets too much sunlight, it will have growth issues. Too much sun might quickly lead to leaves with sunburn on them. This may also cause your orchid to dry out if they’re not provided with enough humidity and water to support them in the heat. Gardeners could protect their plants by placing their potted orchids behind windows with curtain shades. Indirect plants could sit right next to a window with a sheer curtain or a few inches away to ensure there is no direct sun. If you live in a tropical area, you could plant Epiphytic Orchids in areas that are granted shade, like under a tree or in places in your garden that receive indirect sunlight in the afternoon sun.

Epiphytic Orchids are home to many tropical regions, so they’re used to warm weather and plenty of sun and will develop issues if they don’t get enough sunlight. Sometimes these plants will respond by developing much more lackluster leaves that maintain a dark green color. Most often, when Foxtail orchid doesn’t receive enough light, it will bud less altogether, and the buds on the plant will branch out further in between each flower. Also, if your plant isn’t getting its minimum amount of sun after enough time passes, its leaves will turn very yellow and fall off.

If you find yourself caring for a young Foxtail orchid, you could provide these plants with extra humidity and light to help them grow tall and fast. Be sure not to give a young plant too much direct light, as this could cause younger and weaker leaves to burn. When the blooming season comes, orchid growers should ensure their plant is getting plenty of light to encourage more buds to grow. More light during the blooming season also means that these flowers should last longer on your plant. Once orchids land in a permanent location that provides great sun, humidity, airflow, and shade, they will grow tall and have the potential to bloom year-round.

Foxtail orchid needs at least six hours of sun to use the nutrients it get through sunlight efficiently. Even though Epiphytic Orchids need different conditions met, they all need between six to twelve hours of sunlight. Many experts agree that home growers should put its Foxtail orchid on an east, south, or west-facing window, so the plant is sure to get the minimum amount of sunlight required. More sensitive orchids should be placed farther away from the window to allow more indirect light. Plant owners should also know that orchids are able to tolerate much more light and sun if there is sufficient humidity and air movement around, so the leaf temperature stays low.

While both Foxtail orchid and Foxtail orchid require different levels of maintenance, they both grow best within the same temperature range. For warm-weather plants to thrive, you’ll want to keep them between 75-90℉ (25-32℃). Foxtail orchid can handle some temperatures outside of this range, but if at all possible, keep your growing environment within several degrees of these limits. As for the highest and lowest temperatures Foxtail orchid can withstand, that would fall between 50℉ (15℃) on the lower limit and 95℉(35℃) on the higher limit. As Foxtail orchid prefers warmer weather, traditionally growing in summer if planted outdoors, the lower temperature range is the most important to avoid. Going below 70℉ (25℃) will result in slowed growth, and anything below 50℉ (15℃) will start to damage and even kill the plants.

The Foxtail orchid will not bloom or flower if kept in low temperatures, so make sure to maintain a consistent range to allow them to flower to their full potential. Temperature fluctuations are also harmful, no matter what phase of growth they are in. Going below 70℉ (25℃) and above 90℉ (32℃) can slow down and hinder Foxtail orchid growing phase, while sitting below 50℉ (15℃) for long periods of time can prevent them from flowering all together. Foxtail orchid is not hardy, and therefore need a well-turned environment to grow properly. You’ll want to retain as much control over the temperature as you possibly can. Foxtail orchid will also need to go through a cool period, which we discuss further below.

Tip #1: After Blooming, Foxtail orchid Need a Cool Period When grown outside, Foxtail orchid will go through a necessary cooling period for winter. When grown indoors or in a greenhouse, this same rule must be followed, but can happen during any season. If done correctly, your Foxtail orchid can bloom multiple times a year. Keep your Foxtail orchid between 75-90℉ (25-32℃) during this cooling period for the optimal effect. Tip #2: Foxtail orchid Prefer it Colder at Night While you are likely going to grow your Foxtail orchid, where you can keep them within the optimal temperature range and give them the right amount of light, Foxtail orchid prefers colder temperatures at night when grown outdoors. This temperature range usually moves between 50~75℉(15-25℃). Due to the lack of climate control that growing outdoors involves, it's usually impossible to control if Foxtail orchid stays within this range. Tip #3: Watch for the Signs of Cold Damage Because Foxtail orchid enjoys the higher temperatures and lacks the hardiness of winter plants, it is especially susceptible to cold damage. You’ll want to make sure you monitor the temperature of your growing space closely. Anything below 50℉ (15℃) will begin to harm your plants, and too much cold exposure can kill them entirely. Watch for the signs that this damage is occurring: if your Foxtail orchid starts to show discoloration on their foliage and stems, that means they are getting too cold. If large sections of your Foxtail orchid are drying and turning brown, that means that the tissue is dying. Move Foxtail orchid to a warmer environment immediately; in some cases, they can recover.

Unless you intend to grow Foxtail orchid outside, you won’t need to worry about different temperatures for different seasons. If you can’t find space in your home or a greenhouse and you have to use an outdoor space, make sure that you grow them in the summer. You’ll also have to check that your area reaches, but doesn’t exceed, temperatures of between 75-90℉ (25-32℃). It can be nearly impossible to control outdoor weather conditions in that way, so it's almost always better to use an indoor space or greenhouse. Foxtail orchid prefers as much sunlight as possible, so you’ll need to pick an area that gets ample natural light. A greenhouse makes this the better of the two options; these structures allow Foxtail orchid to get the most direct sunlight possible while still maintaining the high temperatures they require.

The best way to maintain the right temperature for Foxtail orchid is to place them in a climate controlled environment. This can be a room within your home, provided you have A/C or fans to ensure that the area stays within the optimal temperature range. If you live in a colder region, you will need to make sure you have a quality heating system. Foxtail orchid does best in a hot environment, so you’ll want to ensure you have the ability to heat a room to temperatures as high as 75℉ (25℃). If you can’t feasibly heat a room in your home up to those temperatures, you’ll want to consider placing your Foxtail orchid inside of a greenhouse. A greenhouse can save you money on heating, as the structure is naturally heated when sunlight passes through its clear or opaque glass panels. This keeps the greenhouse at the right temperature, making sure that Foxtail orchid is growing in the best environment possible.

Fertilizer, and soil nutrients in general, are an essential form of fuel that your Foxtail orchid will use to maintain healthy growth. In general, plants use the nutrients they find in the soil to develop new plant material and keep their existing components in good condition. For the Foxtail orchid specifically, fertilization is necessary to help this plant display the best version of its flowers. Since the flowers are the main form of attraction to this plant, most gardeners will want to do all they can to ensure the flowers appear in their best form. Fertilization is one of the most reliable ways to help your Foxtail orchid produce the best possible blooms.

The Foxtail orchid goes through two main phases throughout each year. The first phase is the dormant phase, in which this plant will put forth minimal new growth. This dormant phase takes place during the winter. The other phase is the active growth phase, which takes place during spring and fall, which is when your Foxtail orchid will need fertilization the most. Generally, it is best to fertilize your Foxtail orchid starting in the spring months. You should repeat the feeding about once per month throughout the rest of the spring and through most of the summer. As fall approaches, you can begin to reduce your fertilization rate.

You want to support Foxtail orchid growth, but you also don’t want to cause root burn. Your plant is actively growing in the spring and summer, it’s when the extra nutrients are necessary. In the fall and winter, your plant will enter its dormancy stage. It’s when you want to stop fertilizing.

The ideal fertilizer for a Foxtail orchid is one that has a relatively balanced mix of the three main plant nutrients, with slightly higher amounts of phosphorus. Alternatively, some gardeners choose to improve their Foxtail orchid 's soil by adding organic materials such as compost, worm castings, and manure. Fertilizers can come in many forms, and most of these forms will work well for your Foxtail orchid. However, some of the best fertilizers for Foxtail orchid come in either a liquid or a powdered form. Regardless of which you use, you should ensure that you dilute your fertilizer and apply it while watering your Foxtail orchid.

Once you have found a suitable fertilizer and learned the ideal fertilization schedule for your Foxtail orchid, you are ready to learn how to apply your fertilizer. When feeding your Foxtail orchid, the most reliable method is to mix your liquid fertilizer with water before applying it to the soil. Each fertilizer may have different directions on how to feed your plants. Usually, it is best to follow the manufacturer's guidance on how to use the fertilizer they produce. These instructions should include information on how to properly dilute the fertilizer to prevent overfertilization. Mixing your fertilizer in water is an easy process, and once it is complete, all you need to do is pour the mixture into the soil where your Foxtail orchid lives.

Overfertilization is something that you should consider when caring for any plant, but it is especially important when growing a Foxtail orchid. A Foxtail orchid, when overfertilized, will show clear signs of distress, which, at times, may be so serious that they lead to the death of your plant. Overfertilized Foxtail orchid will likely show leaf discoloration as well, including browning. In the worst-case scenarios, excessive fertilization will draw moisture out of your plant's roots, which can cause it to decline quickly.