How to Care for Orchids for Beautiful Blooms (2024)

Orchid Care

The golden rule forindoor orchid care is to duplicate the plant's natural growing behavior as closely as possible. In the wild, they cling to rough bark and their roots are exposed.

When you first get your orchid, it will likely be healthy and in bloom. Unfortunately, many store-bought orchids are potted in a medium that can cause root rot.

Never repot an orchid while it's in bloom, just reduce the amount of water it receives until the blooms fade. Follow these care tips to keep an orchid alive and thriving:

• Choose a location with plenty of bright, indirect light; a south- or east-facing window is ideal
• Allow the growing medium to dry out between waterings
• Feed with anorchid-specific fertilizeror a balanced fertilizer formula such as 20-20-20 at one-fourth strength after thoroughly watering the plant once a week. Reduce fertilization during the months that your species of orchid is dormant after flowering (typically in winter).
  

Light

Orchids need bright light to produce blooms. However, direct sun can burn them. Opt for bright, indirect light from a south- or east-facing window.

Soil

Orchids will not thrive in regular potting soil or potting mix. Purchase or make a DIY orchid-growing medium, which should be lightweight and fast-draining. Common mixes include bark, sphagnum moss, perlite, and peat. A slightly acidic soil pH is ideal.

Water

Orchids typically need water twice a week in the warmer months when the plant is actively growing and only once a week in the colder months. Use room-temperature water, and water slowly until it flows out of the pot's drainage openings.

Orchids need to dry out between waterings to prevent rot. If the growing medium feels dry to the touch and the pot feels light, it's time to water.

Or, look at the roots themselves: if they’re plump and white or green, that means they’re well-watered. If they’re shriveled and gray, they need water. If they’re shriveled but spongey and black or brown, they might be rotting.

Temperature and Humidity

Depending how they're classified, orchidsdo best in ranges between 50 degrees and 90 degrees Fahrenheit. They prefer humidity levels from around 40% to 70%.

You can keep an orchid blooming longer if you provide a warm and somewhat humid environment. Don't place your orchid where it will experience cold drafts, exposure to direct sunlight, or dry air from heating vents.

Fertilizer

During the growing season which for most orchids is spring and summer, use an orchid-specific fertilizer, following label instructions. Don't fertilize during the winter months.

Orchid Care After Flowering

When the blooms drop, shift your care to long-term maintenance. Most growers snip off the old flower spike near the base. Also after the orchid blooms fall off, you can repot your plant into a more suitable container with a light, porous growing medium and a pot that allows for good airflow, such as unglazed clay or a pot specially designed for orchids with holes in its sides.

Types of Orchids

About 30,000 species of orchids live in the wild along with more than 100,000 registered hybrids. Knowing the orchid variety you have is essential for its care. The majority of commonly-available orchid groups for purchase are:

• Phalaenopsis (moth orchids) have round flowers with a pronounced lip that grow on a single tall stalk arising from a whorl of fleshy, oval leaves. Flowers are usually white, purple, pink, or a combination.
• Dendrobium (cane orchids) have small flowers that grow in rows on stalks that rise from thick canes, often with several flower clusters per plant. Flowers are typically white or purple. Dendrobium leaves are narrow and emerge from the sides of the cane.
  
• Cattleya (corsage orchids) are the most frequently used orchids in corsages, Cattleya orchids have been widelyhybridized, leading to a large variety of colors and forms. Some varieties are quite fragrant and many have appealing freckles, streaks, or other bicolor features.
• Cymbidium (boat orchids) have multiple flower spikes to ensure a satisfying display. Good choices for beginners include the lime green 'Chica', the yellow and red 'Showoff', or the bright pink 'Frae', all recipients of the American Orchid Society’s Highly Commended Certificate.

Pruning Orchids

Properly pruning old growth from the orchid will make way for new blooms. When pruning an orchid, make sure your tool is sharp and sterilized. A clean cut will help to keep an orchid healthy.

Different orchids require different pruning methods, however, remove faded orchid blooms to keep the plant from spending energy on old growth. After flowering is complete, you can cut off the flower spike. However, certain orchid varieties (Phalaenopsis) are known to rebloom on the same spike. In that case, you should remove the faded blooms but not the spike.

Propagating Orchids

Propagating orchids by seed is notoriously difficult because the minuscule seeds need extremely specific conditions that are hard to duplicate. The most common way to propagate an orchid is by division:

1. Moisten the growing medium to make it easier to remove the plant from the container.
2. Examine the roots of the orchid, and remove damaged or dead parts that appear black, mushy, or paper-thin. Healthy roots are firm and plump.
3. Tease apart some of the roots and stems. If they won't separate by hand, use a sharp, sterile cutting tool.
4. Repot each plant in new orchid growing medium, stake if necessary, and water.
   

Potting and Repotting Orchids

If the orchid's roots are growing out of the pot excessively or the growing medium has completely broken down, it’s time to repot. Wait until you're sure your plant is done flowering before repotting your orchid.

1. Gently remove the orchid from its old container, moistening the growing medium as necessary to make it easier to slide the plant out.
2. Cut away any dead or damaged roots with a sterile cutting tool.
3. Set the orchid in the slightly larger container, and fill around the roots with fresh growing medium.
4. Because the roots won't be anchored to the medium yet, stake the plant if necessary to help it stay upright. Eventually, new roots will grow throughout the medium and attach to the pot anchoring the orchid.
   

How to Get Orchids to Bloom and Rebloom

An orchid should bloom at least once a year, though species vary in their bloom cycles. Flowers generally last, on average, two to four months.

If your orchid won't bloom, some varieties like Phalaenopsis can be stimulated to bloom by dropping the temperature down for a few nights. But the most reliable way to ensure rebloom is to provide the proper light, moisture, temperature, humidity, food, and growing medium.

Common Pests & Plant Diseases

Orchids don't tend to have major pest problems. But they can be appetizing for common plant pests, including aphids, fungus gnats, mealybugs, spider mites, scale, cigar-shaped thrips, and whiteflies.

Most pests can be eliminated with a gentle brush of the hand, a jet of water, or spraying them with insecticidal soap. Another solution to control insect populations is neem oil, which can smother pests.

In addition to root rot from overwatering, orchids also can become afflicted with various fungal diseases, such as anthracnose, phytophthora (black spots on leaves), botrytis, leaf algae, and petal blight.