How to Take Care of Orchids

Learn Orchid Care the Easy Way

Orchids are stunning tropical flowers and they have special needs that must be met if they are to be grown successfully. The window of error with orchid care can be quite small; and anyone who is planning to grow these plants must know what requirements are necessary for the different species. If you want to fill your home or greenhouse with these colorful and exotic flowers here are some of the facts regarding basic orchid care.

Proper Lighting

Most of the tropical orchids are able to be grown in a room of your home that receives filtered sunlight during the day. They can also be grown successfully in a greenhouse or in a room where plant lights are used to mimic the effect of the sun. If you are using artificial lighting with your orchids the best combination is generally a mixture of fluorescent and warmer white lighting.

When orchids are being raised in a house, most growers will place the plants near a window so that the orchid can receive the benefits of this natural light. Prolonged, direct sunlight exposure can damage the plants and you must carefully monitor the amount and type of light the orchids are receiving. Bright sun can create scorched areas on the leaves, wilt the plants and it can damage the delicate flowering blooms.

A window that receives indirect or filtered light from the sun is a perfect setting for orchid enthusiasts to use to grow their plants. The available light can be increased, if needed, with the use of some type of growing lights designed for tropical plants.

Some orchids have very particular lighting requirements. For instance Phalaenopsis and Paphiopedilums will grow well if they are given filtered sunlight or bright indirect lighting during the winter months and provided with shade during the summertime,

Temperate Temperatures

Phalaenopsis and Paphiopedilum are orchids that must have night temperatures that are controlled between 60–65° F throughout the year.  Cattleyas, Laelia and Sophronitis are all orchids that prefer a nighttime temperature that ranges from 55–60°. The lovely Vandas does best when placed near a south facing window and it requires a temperature between 50-58F at night. Cymbidiums enjoy this same night time temperature setting once they have set their flowering spikes.

Humidity and Air Ventilation

Orchids require specific levels of humidity that range from 45-65% if they are to be grown successfully. This airborne moisture can be achieved with the use of simple pebble trays. Just place a pan or tray under the orchid pots. Fill the pan almost to the top with pebbles or small river rocks. Then add water to the pan until the rocks are just covered. The orchids can then be set on the rocks and their roots should remain slightly above the level of the water.

You should also mist your plants periodically, especially if the day is particularly hot or sunny. A light mist of water will provide the orchids with additional humidity. Always perform misting early in the morning or close to the middle of the day. This will allow the plant to dry before nighttime. Orchid enthusiasts know that damp plants in the late evening and night is an environment that encourages fungi, diseases, and bacterial growth.

Proper ventilation is another crucial factor that is needed for healthy orchids. Do not place these plants too close together. Their leaves should not be overlapping with those of other plants. A small fan on a low setting or opening 1 or 2 windows in the room are both ways that you can increase the air circulation and improve the ventilation for your flowers.

Water, Drainage, and Feeding Requirements

Orchids will thrive if they are handled properly and given a proper growing environment. It is crucial that you provide them with adequate drainage. Never use a pot that has a sealed bottom because the water cannot drain away from the roots.

The watering requirements of orchids are much lower than you might think. These plants should only receive water when they are dry, as opposed to giving them regular daily drinks. The water from infrequent showers and rains are what these orchids are designed to handle.

Most of them have pseudo-bulb structures that store excess water in much the same way that cacti and other succulent plants do. If your orchid has these pseudobulbs present, you should refrain from providing any extra water until the orchid has become completely dry to the touch. Cattleyas are orchids that possess pseudobulbs.

The more common Phaelaenopsis and Vandas do not have pseudobulbs; and neither do the Paheiopedilums. These are all species of orchids that need to receive water when you determine that the plants are moderately dry.

  • Remember that all of the different orchid species will require a little more water if they are in their active growing phase.
  • The water used for your orchids should be room temperature. Never use cold water because it can send the plants into shock.
  • When watering an orchid you stop only when the water is seen draining from the bottom of the pot.
    Feeding for orchids occurs when you water these plants. It is only necessary to feed orchids with every other watering. There are many commercially prepared orchid formulas that can be easily added to the water.
  • For orchids that are in an active growing state use a food that is labeled 20-20-20. This provides a balanced diet for your plants
  • Orchids that have completed the new growth phase can use a formula that is 10-30-20 because they need less nitrogen at this time.
  • Most orchid foods are so concentrated that you will only need ¼ of a teaspoon of the food for each gallon of water.

Growing Orchids Outdoors

If you have your orchids growing indoors in your home, you should begin moving them out of doors by the middle of May. When growing orchids outdoors, you should provide them with shade for protection. If you are careful about where you place the orchids, they can be left outdoors during most of the summer. They must be protected against direct sun exposure and long rains however.

Vandas and Cymbidiums are sun-loving orchids and they can survive everything but the strong mid day sunlight. Some of these flowers will eventually be able to weather a full day in the sun late in the summer season. Phaelonopsis and Paphipedilums must be kept in full shade when you take them outdoors.