What Winter Humidity Levels Are Ideal For Orchids?

The loss of humidity due to forced air heating can negatively impact orchids, as most grow optimally with 60+ humidity. For indoor and greenhouse orchids, maintaining the ideal humidity range between 40 and 70 is crucial for their successful winter growth. Orchids prefer high humidity levels, which can be challenging to maintain indoors during winter. To increase humidity around your orchid, create a humidity tray by filling a shallow tray with pebbles and water, and placing your orchid on top.

Orchids thrive in humid environments, between 55 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. However, this is more difficult in areas with dry or desert climates. Phalaenopsis orchids thrive in a humid environment between 55 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. To increase air flow around your orchids, add a fan if droplets are forming.

The American Orchid Society recommends that the recommended humidity for homes is between 30 to 50 percent. While many orchids prefer humidity levels between 50-80 percent, the recommended humidity for our homes is between 30 to 50 percent. The American Orchid Society states that virtually all orchids do best when humidity ranges from 40 to 70, even those adapted to growing under extreme conditions.

In summary, maintaining the ideal humidity for orchids is essential for their successful winter growth. Raising humidity can help reduce transpiration and water loss from the plant, making it a crucial factor in orchid care.


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Do orchids like bathroom humidity?

Given their tropical provenance, orchids flourish in environments characterised by high humidity, rendering them particularly well-suited to cultivation in bathrooms. They are not particularly sensitive to light intensity, provided that it is not excessive.

How to tell if your orchid needs watering?

Orchids need adequate water for their growth and development. They should have shiny, firm leaves and green roots. Too little water can cause dark, dry roots, yellow, brown, or hollow roots. In garden arrangements, too little water can cause wrinkly flowers and wilted veins. Leaves can be discolored, dull, thinned out, floppy, soft, and rubbery. Too much water can cause similar symptoms but will be visible in the leaves before they appear in the flowers. It is crucial to monitor and address these warning signs for your orchids.

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.

What temp is too cold for orchids?
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What temp is too cold for orchids?

Orchids typically thrive in temperatures between 50° and 80° F (10° to 27° C), but occasional periods above 100° F or even in the 30s (0 C) can be harmless as long as no frost forms on the leaves. Cold injury, chill injury, and freeze injury are all types of damage caused by temperatures above and below freezing. Symptoms usually appear days after exposure to low temperatures, with the rate of development depending on the severity of the exposure and the conditions in the growing environment.

The post-exposure environment affects the degree of injury and symptom development, with the importance of post-stress handling varying with the severity of cold stress. Overall, proper post-stress handling can significantly influence the damage to plants exposed to extreme temperatures.

How often should I water an orchid in winter?
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How often should I water an orchid in winter?

Orchid winter care involves regular watering, which is recommended to be done once a week. To determine if your orchid needs water, check the roots for grey or green roots. To determine when to water too much or too little, follow these three methods.

Place your orchid in a bright spot, close to a window, to allow it to catch enough light during the darker days. Consider factors such as temperature, humidity, and sunlight levels when selecting a spot. By following these tips, you can ensure your orchid stays healthy and vibrant during winter.

How do you keep orchids alive in the winter?
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How do you keep orchids alive in the winter?

Orchids prefer warm, dry temperatures during winter months, so keep them warm but not too hot. Find a space in your home where your orchid is not directly above a radiator but still close enough to enjoy residual heat. Avoid drafty areas to maintain temperature.

To increase humidity, create a “humidity tray” by filling a shallow bowl or saucer with pebbles or stones and placing your orchid on top. Fill the tray with water, ensuring it doesn’t reach the bottom of the pot. This method humidifies the air around the plant, mimicking the natural tropical environment.

To ensure orchids receive enough light, place them in the sunniest room with the most windows, avoiding window sills that would expose them to too much direct light. Choose an east-facing window for optimal lighting. Remember to avoid drafty areas and ensure your orchid receives enough light to thrive.

How to keep an orchid humid?

To increase orchid humidity in dry or winter-heating areas, you can mist the leaves or place a shallow tray of water underneath the orchid. This method requires regular water checks, but requires less maintenance than daily misting. A humidifier can also be placed in the room with the orchid. To keep the orchid happy, provide the right amount of water (three ice cubes per week for premium orchids) but avoid overwatering, as this is the biggest mistake encountered with new orchid parents.

How cold is too cold for orchids?
(Image Source: Pixabay.com)

How cold is too cold for orchids?

Orchids typically thrive in temperatures between 50° and 80° F (10° to 27° C), but occasional periods above 100° F or even in the 30s (0 C) can be harmless as long as no frost forms on the leaves. Cold injury, chill injury, and freeze injury are all types of damage caused by temperatures above and below freezing. Symptoms usually appear days after exposure to low temperatures, with the rate of development depending on the severity of the exposure and the conditions in the growing environment.

The post-exposure environment affects the degree of injury and symptom development, with the importance of post-stress handling varying with the severity of cold stress. Overall, proper post-stress handling can significantly influence the damage to plants exposed to extreme temperatures.

Should you mist orchids in winter?

Tropical orchids flourish in warm, humid conditions; however, over-watering can prove detrimental during the winter months. To obviate this issue, it is recommended that a mister or spray bottle be utilized to provide the requisite moisture. The roots of orchids are adapted to absorb moisture and nutrients from cloud and mist, making misting an effective method for nourishing and hydrating them even during cooler seasons. It is imperative to avoid over-watering and misting in order to ensure optimal orchid care.

Do orchids need humidity in the winter?

Forced air heating can negatively impact orchids, as they grow optimally with 60+ humidity. To maintain optimal humidity, set orchid pots on water-filled pebble trays, mist them daily, or use a humidifier. If your apartment is small, run a hot shower with the bathroom door open to raise the humidity. This method not only flushes out sewage pipes but also helps maintain the plant’s health. To ensure optimal humidity, orchids should be kept in dry environments, with the pots not sitting in the water. Misting or using a humidifier can also help.

Can orchids have too much humidity?
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Can orchids have too much humidity?

Air movement is crucial in environments that struggle with drying out or don’t require frequent watering. It helps dry plants and prevents them from getting infected. In areas with frequent rains, air movement helps dry plants off, preventing fungi from infecting them. Even in high humidity environments, air movement prevents fungal spores from settling on and infecting plants.

In enclosed spaces like vivariums, any waterproof fan can be used, while in greenhouses, powerful fans should be used further up towards the roof. Indoors, this is usually not a problem unless too powerful a fan is used or a miniature, easy-to-dry-out species is placed in front of a fan, which may knock around the leaves and dry them out too much.


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What Winter Humidity Levels Are Ideal For Orchids?
(Image Source: Pixabay.com)

10 comments

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  • I live in Ohio near Cincinnati. It sure is a challenge keeping orchids hydrated in winter. I love your idea of the paper towels. It’s so clever. I’m going to try it for sure. I have 3 humidifiers running at all times. I do spray my aerial roots also. I agree with you that our orchids seem to dry out more in winter. That’s probably why I had the scale insects invasion. I’m still trying to find out if they were the cause for all the sticky stuff I was dealing with also. Rather than happy sap. God bless you and His shalom rest upon you and your family. 🙏🏻🤗🥀❤️

  • Hi Amy, 🤗🤗 I use wet cotton wool squares and wet muslin cloth to keep the air roots green. The muslin gets boiled in water to keep it clean. My humidifier that I purchased recently has a built in air purifier, I am hoping that helps the orchids with fresh air supply during the winter months when opening a window is just not possible. Apparently orchids are fresh air fiends! Have a great weekend. 🌸🌼🌸❤️

  • Hi I noticed that using a dropper with dry top roots helps a lot – just a squish to help them out and only on their external areas. Usually I use a soaking up water method plus I keep them perched on a second outer vase for long standing humidity. Seem to like the rota and one very lazy phal has just produced a tiny new leaf at long last it has woken up. The paper towel tip is excellent, in fact that’s what I started at the beginning of winter.Thanks for your articles always inspiring and useful

  • I always enjoy your articles you really have a lot of knowledge about orchids you answered one of my questions I’ve had for a long time about the Ariel roots you gave some good pointers and judging from your results you know what you are talking about thank you so much for sharing thank you also for the prayer you always say

  • God Bless You and your family. I needed your prayer so much. The time’s are dark but I am doing my very best to keep my heart and soul bright. Our 50th Anniversary is coming up very soon. So sorry everyone for taking up your time. Love and Blessings To Everyone and I have been a fan for a long time so thank you for sharing all your Beauty. ♥️🌹♥️🙏

  • Oh my days Amy!! Thank you so much, I started yesterday with placing wet kitchen towel on my mini phal air roots and it makes such a difference!! It’s so cold here in the U.K. so the central heating systems are on to keep warm but they dry out the air so much!! I don’t have a humidifier neither so the wet kitchen towel also increases the moisture of my little phals. The aerial roots already look so much better!! 😍😏

  • 💚 So many good tips! I use a massive humidifier set on 50% which runs 24/7 at times. Now, I’m a bit like you and took a chance and I now spray/mist my roots with the Cal-mag mix daily, sometimes several times daily. To my surprise I now have beautiful green root tips growing everywhere off of all the roots. I first experimented on my Vanda’s roots cause they looked tired and i liked the results so now I spray all of them and they’re beautiful! Blessings from Arizona🎋

  • Hi Amy. Another wonderful article. My one phal in bark is about to fall out of the pot. I might have to repot her before spring. I’ll try the paper towel method to keep her air roots towards the bark. I’m going to fill my little humidifier before heading to bed. Your orchids are looking Gorgeous!!! One of my new mini phals is loaded with blooms. I’ve never seen so many flowers on one mini phal. 🥰 My Vanda blooms are gone now. This Vanda looks pitiful. Many lower leaves are missing and what she does have are so damaged. I’m shocked she rebloomed for me. She’s in a Vanda basket with nz moss. Any suggestions? I’m just not sure what I should do with her at this point in time? 🤷‍♀️ Enjoy the few days of warner temps. The cold is not over yet. Blessings. Tammy in N AL. 🙋‍♀️

  • I love perusal your articles and you have such a calming voice! All of my orchids are spiking and some are ready to bloom. I have one that started getting a new leaf and then it spiked. The leaf is no longer growing. Previously the new leaves were always at least the same size or larger than previous leaves. Is this common for the new leaf to stop and will it grow more. Thank you for your thoughts.

  • I have orchids that are blooming now but the leaves are getting soft. What must I do? I feed my orchids and they are blooming but this problem with the leaves I really do not know how I can help. Would you have a solution or idea what I can do. It is winter in Manitoba, Canada now so I really need some answers what should be done. Hope you can help and God bless you.