Orchid care for beginners
Indoor orchids are beautiful and one of the most popular houseplants — phalaenopsis orchids (or moth orchids) are those most commonly known, and generally the most popular of the many types of orchids (there are more than 25,000 individual species). With their long stems of gorgeous long-blooming flowers, orchids add an elegant touch to any room’s décor.
Perhaps you got an orchid as a gift. Or, you saw one in a garden centre, admired its gorgeous blooms, and just had to have it! So, you brought it home, perhaps placed it in one of your east-facing windows (in bright, but indirect light) and its delightful orchid flowers have been enchanting you ever since.
But, no matter how you ended up with your lovely plant, now you may find that you have orchid care questions. Happily, we have answers. Also videos, with answers.
How often should I water my orchid?
Orchids are tropical plants, and they typically rely on getting much of their moisture from the air, rather than through their roots. The short answer: orchids prefer environments in which they do not remain wet at the root, which can incur root rot. But, since we’ve had plenty of questions on just this very topic, we made a video to answer the watering question more thoroughly — we hope it helps you give your orchid plants the healthy roots they deserve.
Should I repot my orchid? And what’s that stuff it’s potted in anyway?
If you’re wondering if it’s necessary to repot your orchid — once again, the short answer to that is, probably not. And that stuff its potted in? It’s a mix of moss and bark, a potting medium particular to orchids for optimal plant health. But, since this is another question we’ve had often, we’ll take you through it in the video, too — it’s the sort of answer that’s much better shown than described.
How can I make my orchid re-bloom?
When your lovely plant arrived in your home, it likely had a number of blooms, which lasted for some time, and then one by one, the flowers finished blooming and now you’re left with a naked, possibly yellowing flower stem. Should you cut that stem? Yes! In the video, Shannon walks you through cutting the stem and why it’s necessary to do so for future plant thriving and orchid re-blooming.
Still have questions about orchid growing and care? No problem. We have more answers!
