The lightning bolt orchid is one of the more challenging species to grow. This exotic tropical plant, native to Central America, is not as easy to succeed with as some of the other exotic orchids that you might have experienced. Its massive size and thick, green stems are a challenge for any novice gardener to take on. Yet it is also not as hard to grow if you do things correctly. It is an amazing plant that requires very special conditions to flourish.

Lighting is a critical element of successful growing of the lightning bolt orchid. It will not grow at all in direct sunlight. They do well in half sun or half shade, but cannot tolerate partial shade either. Only six hours of light is necessary, and you must be patient with your potting mix. In a week or two your beautiful jewel orchid grown from seed will show some early signs of leafing.

To best prepare your flower for the coming weeks, let it go for a month or more without fertilization or hosing off. The lightning bolt orchid does require a lot of care. You will have to feed it every couple of weeks, and it will demand pruning if you don’t want it to grow into a miniaturized tree. In fact the pruning part is the most satisfying part of growing the jewel orchid grown from seed. The pruning makes it relatively inconspicuous.

The beautiful blue orchids of Central America were almost wiped out by the introduction of electricity, but a few adventurous enthusiasts still continue to grow them, albeit in small amounts. It’s amazing to watch as these orchids go from a few bright blossoms to a rainbow of dazzling colors, all in one growing season. Perhaps this is why the lightning bolt orchid has become so widely regarded.

As mentioned earlier, the orchid is quite sensitive to too much water. If the potting mix is too dry, you’ll find that your new plants quickly begin to die. Instead, start with a slightly moist plant. During the second week of the growing season, water only to maintain the moisture level of the plants and don’t wash the petals. By the third week, both the pots and the petals should be filled with water and the lighting of the jewel orchids can be stepped up a notch to warm lighting levels. The last week of the growing season is a time when you can actually cut back the number of hours of light the plants are getting to help prevent the formation of lightning bolt markings.

Like all other miniature plants, the lightning orchids will require a lot of care. To begin with, the orchids are still quite delicate and have slow growing habits. So, they will need regular feeding; you can either use an established liquid fertilizer, or you can substitute it for a soluble fertilizer.

Just like its sister species, the lightning bolt jewel orchid needs a significant amount of humidity. So, as the plant starts to form and develop, it’s best to move it from the hot sun rays of the summer to the cool shade of a shaded area. The second week of the growing season, the petals can be removed and replanted into a larger container. The third week is the best time to move your miniature lightning petola into the outdoor setting.

Watering of your lightning bolt orchid will need to be quite frequent, perhaps once or even twice each week. Be sure not to over water the orchids because they will become bloated and very susceptible to fungal decay. Your beautiful new flowering orchid is also at risk because it is so vulnerable. Make certain to repot your miniature orchid every few weeks in order to prevent the loss of leaves and new growth. Repotting orchids is a lot of work but very rewarding if you have a beautiful collection of orchids. With a little tender loving care, your orchids will reward you with their breathtaking blooms and marvelous appearance.