Orchid Power - Fragrant Orchids

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Fragrant Orchids

If fragrance is important, one of the most sweetly scented orchids is Oncidium Sharry Baby. This prolific blooming plant is sometimes called – and marketed – as the Chocolate Lover's Orchid. The one- to two-inch blooms, which can reportedly number more than 300 on a fully mature plant, are deep ruby red or mahogany and exude a rich and warm chocolate fragrance.

Cattleya are often larger plants with huge white, pink or purple blossoms, traditionally thought of as corsage flowers. Generally larger "cats" will bloom once a year with flowers lasting up to three weeks, although some hybrids can last up to eight weeks under ideal conditions. The full-sized plant is often too large for most home conditions, but a number of miniature Cattleyas are available, often less than 10 inches tall. The mini-cats are known to flower twice a year, with blooms lasting up to one month. Both large and small versions are fragrant when the blossom is fully open.

Feeding and Watering Orchids

In addition to humidity, orchids require watering and feeding. Many of these tropical transplants are used to rainforest conditions, where they receive intermittent downpours, and so generally prefer a period where their growing medium is almost allowed to dry out between waterings. However, orchids should never be allowed to sit in soggy pots, which can lead to root rot and other diseases. Also, watering and misting should take place in the morning, allowing leaves to dry before nightfall.