All About Orchids: Expert Orchid Care Tips

pureplants
3 days ago
3 min read

Phalaenopsis 'Moth Orchid' surrounded by Orchid care products, repotting mixes and fertilisers.

If you love flowering houseplants then Orchids are a great choice, as they have long-lasting blooms, in a wide range of colours and have the potential to flower repeatedly for many years. Orchids are also known to be air purifiers and have been used traditionally in herbal remedies in some cultures. They are also relatively easy to care for, especially species like Phalaenopsis orchids (moth orchids) if you follow a few simple steps...

Orchid Light Requirement Care Tips:

Most orchids like bright light, but not direct sun, which can scorch leaves. From March to September, a north or east-facing windowsill is ideal. In winter, move them to a south-facing windowsill or brightest position you have, to encourage flowering for the next season.

Phaphiopedilums and Miltonias would prefer a bright room rather than a windowsill.

Phalaenopsis 'Moth Orchid' with pink speckled blooms trained around a wire frame.

Orchid Watering Care Tips:

Signs to look for

Orchids like to dry a bit between waterings, so look for silver-white roots and the weight of the pot feeling lighter. if the roots are green and plump it doesn't need watering. Shrivelled roots and leaves are a sign of underwatering.

How often to water

As a general rule, check if your orchids need watering every 7-10 days. In hot weather they may need checking twice a week, in winter, once every 2 to 3 weeks.

How to water

If you live in a hard water area it's best to use rainwater or filtered tap water, ideally tepid or room temperature. The best way to water orchids is by pouring water onto the top of the growing medium. Give a good amount (about twice the volume of the pot). Avoid leaving them sit in water after.

Only Cymbidiums will benefit from being dunked in water, for 10-15 minutes, as they are harder to water from the top.

Humidity Care Tips:

The Orchids we grow in our homes tend to originate from tropical rainforest regions so will not thrive in low humidity. Their leaves may grow smaller, twisted and be more brittle. a good way to increase humidity if your home has quite dry air is to put some pebbles in the base of the ceramic pot under your orchid and keep them moist or put a tray filled with water next to your orchid.

Alternatively, you could spray the leaves, aerial roots and top of the growing medium with rainwater, filtered or a foliar feed but you would need to do this 2-3 times a weeks. It's best to do this in the morning and avoid leaving any water sitting in the core of the plant where the top two leaves meet.

Feeding Orchids:

Orchids need regular feeding. Use an orchid specific fertiliser. I stock Orchid Focus GROW and BLOOM in the Hexham shop.

The biggest secret to more orchid flowers, is more leaves. Poor leaf growth, or a small or unhealthy root system, can stunt or even stop flowering from happening at all. Fertiliser plays a huge role in supporting a big, healthy root system and leaves.

Use GROW every other watering until first sight of a spike or peduncle, or new buds on existing spurs, then shift to BLOOM. It's best to know your plant's cycle and shift to BLOOM before the first spike or buds appear. If you don't know your plant's usual cycle from last season's growth, stay on GROW until the first sight of a spike or peduncle, or new buds on existing spurs, then shift to BLOOM. Once the flowering season has finished go back to using GROW.

Hand holding a bottle of Orchid Focus Bloom fertiliser.

Hand holding a bottle of Orchid Focus Grow fertiliser.

A bag of Orchid Focus Repotting Mix, graded bark.

Repotting Tips:

It's best to repot orchids every 18-24 months. Ideally in spring after flowering. Phalaenopsis can also be repotted in autumn when not in flower.

Orchid's need a chunky mix that allows for good drainage and aeration, such as orchid bark (see offers below).

Use the next size up pot, ideally a clear plastic pot so you can see the roots.

How to Encourage your Orchid to Reflower:

For moth orchids, after all the flowers have fallen, trim the stem just above a visible joint (node). This may encourage the growth of another flower stem, which should be clipped onto a support. If no new shoot appears and the original stem turns straw-coloured, remove it at the base. Most other orchid varieties do not bloom twice on the same stem, so cut off spent stems immediately.

Orchids are grown for their flowers, so it's important to deadhead them properly to promote more flowers. Moth orchids can bloom multiple times on a single stem, so trim faded flowers just above the next flower bud. For other orchids, cut the old flower stem right down to the base.