Growing Info
Orchid Growing Fact Sheets
Practical growing guides from SCOCSA members and the broader orchid community. PDFs will be added as they become available.
Getting Started
Introduction to Growing Orchids
An overview of orchid culture for beginners — what to expect, basic requirements, and choosing your first plants.
Choosing the Right Orchid for Your Climate
Guidance on selecting orchid genera suited to South Australian conditions, both indoors and outdoors.
Understanding Orchid Labels & Names
How to read genus, species, hybrid, and cultivar names on orchid tags.
General Culture
Potting Mixes & Repotting
Bark, perlite, sphagnum, and other media — when and how to repot your orchids.
Cymbidium Culture
Detailed growing guide for Cymbidiums: potting, feeding, temperature requirements, and flowering.
Phalaenopsis Culture
Care guide for moth orchids — light, watering, humidity, and encouraging re-bloom.
Laeliinae (Cattleya Alliance) Culture
Growing Cattleyas, Laelias, and their hybrids in South Australian conditions.
Oncidiinae Culture
Culture notes for dancing-lady orchids and the broader Oncidium alliance.
Australian Native Orchids
Growing Dendrobium and other Australian natives — seasonal rest periods and temperature cues.
Zygopetalum Culture
Growing guide for Zygopetalums — fragrant, cool-growing orchids well suited to South Australian conditions.
Sarcochilus Culture
Culture notes for Sarcochilus — Australia's most popular native miniature orchid.
Watering & Humidity
Watering Frequency & Technique
How to judge when to water, how much to apply, and avoiding the most common mistake in orchid culture.
Humidity & Air Movement
Creating the right microclimate — humidity trays, misting, and the importance of air circulation.
Light & Temperature
Light Requirements by Genus
A quick-reference guide to low, medium, and high-light orchids and how to provide the right conditions.
Temperature & Seasonal Cues
How temperature fluctuations trigger flowering and what to do in extreme South Australian summers.
Growing Under Artificial Light
LED and fluorescent setups for indoor growing — spectrum, duration, and placement.
Fertilising
Fertilising Orchids
NPK ratios, frequency, and the weakly weekly approach to feeding orchids through the growing season.
Trace Elements & Calcium
Why calcium and magnesium matter and how to supplement them in bark-based mixes.
Pests & Diseases
Common Orchid Pests
Identifying and treating scale, mealybug, spider mite, thrips, and other common pests.
Fungal & Bacterial Diseases
Spotting and managing crown rot, root rot, black rot, and leaf-spot diseases.
Virus in Orchids
How orchid viruses spread, how to identify symptoms, and why prevention is the only cure.
Have a fact sheet to contribute? Contact the club and we'll add it here. You can also browse our growing blog or download the latest gazette for more tips.