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Do you love the look of big and bright orchids in your home? If you want to grow these fresh flowers, orchids are really easy to keep as houseplants under the right conditions. Orchids have a few different requirements than other flowers you might grow at home, but we’ve got everything you need to know right here. Keep reading, and we’ll cover all of the basic plant care for your orchids so they continue to grow and bloom for years to come!
Things You Should Know
- Keep your orchid in bright, indirect sunlight.
- Water your orchid when the soil has almost dried out completely.
- Fertilize your orchid once a week during the spring and summer with a balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer diluted to quarter-strength.
- Grow your orchids in a pot with drainage holes filled with bark-based potting mix or moss-based medium.
Steps
Expert Q&A
- QuestionHow often should you water an orchid?Matt BowmanMatt Bowman is a Gardener, Landscaper, the Owner of Georgia Farm to Table, and the Owner of Tradition Property Services in Atlanta, Georgia. With over 20 years experience, he specializes in organic gardening, landscape maintenance, handyman services, homecare services, and supplying Christmas trees. Matt earned a BA in Journalism from the University of Georgia.
Gardener & Owner, Tradition Market & GardenOver watering is a very common problem with orchids. They don't require as much water as a lot of people give them. We recommend a small glass of water per week. - QuestionAfter flowering, should I cut off any brown or dead looking stalks?Lauren KurtzLauren Kurtz is a Naturalist and Horticultural Specialist. Lauren has worked for Aurora, Colorado managing the Water-Wise Garden at Aurora Municipal Center for the Water Conservation Department. She earned a BA in Environmental and Sustainability Studies from Western Michigan University in 2014.
Professional GardenerYes. Leave about 2 inches (5 cm) of the stem until the next flowering season. If it doesn’t regrow from there, you can remove the rest of last season's stem. - QuestionNew leaves are growing at the end of two separate flower spikes and air roots. Should I just leave them on the parent plant?Lauren KurtzLauren Kurtz is a Naturalist and Horticultural Specialist. Lauren has worked for Aurora, Colorado managing the Water-Wise Garden at Aurora Municipal Center for the Water Conservation Department. She earned a BA in Environmental and Sustainability Studies from Western Michigan University in 2014.
Professional GardenerLeaving it could cause the orchid to outgrow the pot. They might be able to be separated into two different plants if the roots are able to easily be separated. Replant the orchid into a bigger pot about every 2 years.
Tips
- Clean your orchid’s leaves twice a year by putting the pots in your tub and running warm water over them for 3–4 minutes.Thanks
References
- ↑ https://www.extension.iastate.edu/news/yard-and-garden-growing-orchids-home
- ↑ https://extension.umd.edu/resource/overwatered-indoor-plants
- ↑ https://warren.cce.cornell.edu/gardening-landscape/warren-county-master-gardener-articles/orchids-as-houseplants
- ↑ https://www.johnson.k-state.edu/docs/lawn-and-garden/in-house-publications/houseplants/How%20to%20Care%20for%20Orchids.pdf
- ↑ https://warren.cce.cornell.edu/gardening-landscape/warren-county-master-gardener-articles/orchids-as-houseplants
- ↑ https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/growing-orchids-indoors
- ↑ https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/ornamentals/orchids.html
- ↑ https://ipm.illinois.edu/diseases/rpds/614.pdf
- ↑ https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/growing-orchids-indoors
About This Article
The best way to take care of your orchid is to place it near a south- or east-facing window that receives strong, indirect light. Water your orchid whenever the soil feels dry, and fertilize it with a 10-10-10 fertilizer once a month while it’s flowering. Make sure the room your orchids are in receives circulation, or set an overhead fan to low if it doesn’t. For help from our Horticulturist reviewer on clearing bugs or removing diseased spots, read on!
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