How Should Orchids Be Maintained As Houseplants?

Orchids are beautiful houseplants that require proper care to thrive. With the right knowledge, you can grow them in a variety of ways, including choosing the right planting material, ensuring they receive enough light and water, and selecting the best soil and fertilizer. Orchids need to dry out between thorough watering, require bright, indirect sunlight, and maintain room temperature.

To care for an orchid, choose a location with plenty of bright, indirect light, such as a south- or east-facing window. Allow the growing medium to dry completely between waterings and use lightweight, airy growing media designed for orchids. Orchids thrive in a humid environment, so increase humidity by misting them or placing pots on a tray filled with gravel. Most orchids require water once a week and should be placed in a bright windowsill facing east or west.

Indoor orchid care is essential, but avoid placing plants more than 3 feet from a window and not to the side of a window. A daily mist or setting plants on a moist bed of gravel can help create the necessary humidity for orchid care.

Orchids need fast-draining but water-retentive soil, typically a mix of bark, beat, perlite, or similar materials. Most orchid house plants come from humid, tropical regions, so they thrive in a humid atmosphere. In most centrally heated homes, the air is dry, so it’s important to provide adequate humidity.

How often do you water an orchid house plant?

Watering your orchid every 7 to 11 days, especially when the mix is dry, is essential to prevent damage and prevent overwatering, which can lead to crown rot, root rot, and other infestations. Watering in the morning is recommended as nighttime watering can leave water sitting for a period. Additionally, consider the temperature of your house, as high thermostats may cause the orchid to grow in summer. Visit our shop to see beautiful phalaenopsis orchids grown in the south coast of England, and sign up for our newsletter to access our orchids at discounted prices when we have grown a few too many.

What should you not do with an orchid?

To ensure the health and longevity of your orchid, it is essential to avoid overwatering, misting, exposure to direct sunlight, and repotting with regular potting soil. Overwatering can lead to root rot and can damage the orchid’s growth. Misting is a natural process that tropical plants enjoy, but orchids are not one of them. Exposure to direct sunlight can also cause fungal or bacterial diseases to the leaves or stems.

To avoid these mistakes, it is crucial to maintain a balanced diet, avoid overwatering, and mist your orchid regularly. By following these tips, you can ensure the health and longevity of your orchid.

Where is the best place to put an orchid houseplant?

Orchids thrive in indirect sunlight, so they should be placed near a north- or east-facing window in your living room. If your room has west-facing windows, place them farther away on a table or shelf. If you prefer closer proximity, ensure the window is draped with a sheer curtain to block out direct sun rays. Phalaenopsis orchids, originally from the tropics, thrive in humid environments, so the bathroom is the most humid room in your home. The steam and heat from the shower will keep your plant hydrated and warm.

How to maintain an orchid indoors?

Orchids are the largest and most diverse flowering plant family, with over 880 genera and 22, 000 species. They are typically tropical plants, living as epiphytes or “air plants” hanging on trees for support. Some are lithophytes or “rock plants” growing on or among rocks, while the remaining orchids are terrestrials growing in the loamy detritus of the jungle floor.

To give general guidelines on orchid care, there are only several dozen species widely produced and even fewer available at local nursery. Hybrids, created by crossing different species and genera, are often sold at nurseries, florists, hardware chain stores, and groceries. These hybrids have desirable characteristics such as color, fragrance, flower size, and ease of care, outperforming the challenges of pure orchid species. Today’s orchid hybrids are rewarding house plants to grow and relatively easy to care for if understanding their basic needs is taken.

What is the secret to keeping orchids alive?

Orchids require bright indirect lighting to thrive and rebloom, so they should be left alone. In the Plant PPL series, we interview people of color in the plant world. The Black Thumb, a superhero, discovered his power through tragedy, accident, and supreme effort. Terry Richardson and Chelsea Richardson, a physical therapist, and their wife, welcomed an orchid into their apartment but killed it due to ignorance and neglect.

How long do indoor potted orchids last?

The lifespan of an orchid depends on various factors, including the type, environment, care, and watering. If properly cared for, orchids can bloom twice a year for 15-20 years, with phalaenopsis orchids typically lasting two to three months. After the initial bloom, the plants go into a resting phase, saving energy for the upcoming flowering season. Some common mistakes made by novice orchid growers include overlooking these details, which are part of the learning process. It’s important to be aware of these mistakes and take steps to ensure the longevity of your orchids.

What do you do when the flowers fall off an orchid?

To encourage an orchid to bloom again, cut back the flower spike to just above a node, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings. Keep watering as usual, avoiding overwatering to prevent root rot. Provide adequate light, ensuring the orchid receives bright, indirect light but not direct sunlight, to avoid scorching the leaves. Place the orchid in a location where it will receive plenty of light but not direct sunlight.

Do coffee grounds help orchids?

Coffee grounds can provide nutrient benefits to orchids, but their consistency can hinder their drainage, potentially causing negative effects. Carefully and sparingly use coffee grounds on orchids, ensuring proper drainage. Other kitchen waste, such as orange and banana peels, can also be beneficial for plants. Stay updated with design ideas, celebrity homes, gardening advice, and shopping round-ups in your inbox.

How to keep orchids blooming?

To make your Phalaenopsis orchid rebloom, start fertilizing it every other week with an all-balanced fertilizer, either labeled as “bloom booster” or specifically designed for orchids. Increase light, find a new spot, and provide extra love during dormancy. Dormancy allows the orchid to replace nutrients used during blooming, and nutrients and water remain stored in the leaves until needed again. Dormancy can last anywhere from 6-9 months, and each orchid may bloom on its own, so it’s important to provide extra care and support to help it rebloom. Remember, every orchid is unique, so it may need to bloom on its own.

Do you water orchids from the top or bottom?

To water orchids grown in bark, place the entire pot into a bowl deep enough to cover the bark line. Pour water over the bark, allowing it to soak for 10-15 minutes. Drain the excess water, return the pot to its regular spot, and water again when the bark is dry.

For orchids grown in moss, water from the top like other plants, but soak them in a sink or basin to allow the moss to rehydrate. Sphagnum moss can feel dry on the surface but still be damp inside the pot, so do a poke test with a finger or wooden stake. Overwatering is easier if the orchids are in a plastic, glazed ceramic, or glass pot that retains water longer than a terra-cotta pot.

Rainwater or melted snow is the best water for orchids, as it contains nitrogen and is free of chemicals used to treat tap water. However, regular tap water is fine if it isn’t softened with salts.

What do you do with an orchid after the blooms fall off?

It is a characteristic of orchids that they will bloom again from the same stock. However, in order to ensure optimal growth and development, it is essential to trim the stock at the base of the flower, thereby maintaining a level height with the surrounding soil.