Please help - no idea where to start

[Amyleet]

Hi all, so my partner and I bought our first home this year, and we have the attached king orchid in our yard. I am only just starting to get into gardening, and would love to help this plant get back into good shape. Any and all advice is so welcome. Thank you in advance.

[SouthPark]

Usually, step 1 is to know what type of plant it is - such as dendrobium, cattleya etc.

In this case - it looks like from the dendrobium category.

And step #2 is - know the media and state of the media ------ what sort of media/medium are the roots currently sitting in? Is it rocks?

And how good is the drainage? Does the water have a chance to drain away from the roots, so that the roots don't get inundated by water for long periods of time?

If the orchid has survived for a year already, then maybe it has a chance to do well.

You could look into if needed, some orchid fertiliser. I just use a yates liquid orchid fertiliser.

Also look into temperature. Temperature of the roots. If rocks are on the ground - then some considerations might need to be made about what temperature the ground can become, among the rocks - during intensely hot times of the day. And whether the water can disappear or evaporate a lot during the day, and possibly even cause plant dehydration.

But once again - if the orchid has survived after a year or so, it could do ok in that spot.

Internet and online sources (eg. google on beginner's guide to growing orchids etc) can help a lot.

Also check out some possibly beneficial details at these links below.

Click Here and Click Here and Click Here and Click Here.

[Ray]

If the plant was there when you bought the home, it may be an established colony that just needs periodic feeding, but maybe not right away.

Several Aussie dendrobiums need a winter of no nitrogen in order to allow blooming next spring.