Beginner Orchid Growing Getting Started With Orchid Plants

Can you start an orchid from a root?

Separation can be done when the keiki has grown at least 3 roots that are at least 3 inches long. If it's growing from a flower spike, then just cut it off and plant it in a pot with moss and bark in it. Keep the medium moist enough, so the roots can start to grow in it.

How do orchids grow for beginners?

3 Essential Tips for Orchid Beginners

Watering the Just Add Ice Way. The single most important thing to remember when caring for that first Phalaenopsis orchid is to give it just the right amount of water. ...
Here Comes the Sun. Orchids like sunlight just as much as the next plant. ...
Choosing the Right Climate.

How do you induce an orchid to bloom?

So put your orchid in a room that gets a little cold by the window—and put your orchid in the window. When the sun goes down, the heat will drop and the cold will stimulate it to re-bloom.

Can I cut the aerial roots off my orchid?

Orchid air roots shouldn't be trimmed as they are part of the system the plant uses to absorb nutrients and water. Trimming the aerial roots could cause the plant to struggle or even die due to disease or inability to absorb sufficient water and nutrients.

Will an orchid grow a new stem?

However, of all the orchid species only Phalaenopsis will grow shoots off the same stem when the stem is cut above a nod or eye. ... This does happen, but after you cut the stem all the way back the plant should produce another shoot from its base. Be patient, as it can take several months to see this new growth.

What is the easiest orchid to care for?

PHALAENOPSIS OR MOTH ORCHIDS, EVERYONE'S FAVORITE

These long flowering, easy-to-grow orchids are hands down the most popular beginner orchids. In fact, 80% or more of all the orchids that are sold in the US are phalaenopsis.

How often should orchids be watered?

So how do you water orchids? The easiest way is to soak your orchid in a bowl of water once every week or two --- when the moss dries out. Unlike most houseplants, you don't need to keep orchid moss evenly moist; if it stays too moist, the orchid can rot.

Where should I put an orchid?

Most Orchids are grown best in indirect, bright light, placing the orchid pots near a north-facing window may not provide them with enough light so try to place them near a near a south or east-facing window in your living room to ensure that they receive the right amount and intensity of sunlight to bloom.

How do you salvage a dying orchid?

In most cases, with the proper care and immediate action, the orchid can be saved. Depending on the issue, the orchid can be saved by re-potting, trimming off all the dead roots, cutting out leaves with spreading bacterial infection, relocating the plant, or by stimulating root growth.

Can orchid grow without soil?

Most tropical orchids are epiphytes, meaning they grow on other plants instead of in soil. ... Many orchids sold as houseplants come in a planting medium, such as moss or stones, but they will grow just as easily on a piece of bark once their roots take hold.

How long does it take for orchids to grow new roots?

It takes months for the first leaves to develop, and, even then, they will only be visible with a magnifying glass. Roots appear even later. It will be at least three, and possibly as many as eight years before you see a bloom. It is far easier to propagate orchids by division.

What time of year do orchids bloom?

Most orchids grow during the summer and bloom in the fall, winter or spring. Knowing the season that an orchid blooms helps alleviate the frustration of feeling like "It's July, why isn't my Phalaenopsis in bloom again now?".

How do I grow a new spike in my orchid?

To get a new orchid flower spike, place the plant in an area with a lower room temp — about 55–65°F at night should do it. Placing your orchid in a window away from the heater might work, too. We've had best success getting new flower spikes in winter, when our homes and their windows aren't as warm.

What does a new orchid spike look like?

Quite often, Phalaenopsis orchids will send up new leaves and new roots shortly before producing a new flower stalk. ... Flower spikes are usually greener than roots and have a flatter, mitten-shaped tip. While growing, spikes remain green along their full length.

What do unhealthy orchid roots look like?

Unhealthy Orchid Roots

Rotted roots are easily identified because they are brown, mushy and hollow. These roots are probably the result of overwatering. Brittle roots indicated under-watering. If the plant is still alive, but the roots have all died and turned to mush, the plant may still be saved.

Where should I plant my orchid outside?

Dig a hole large enough for the orchid, plant it, then fill the empty space with the gravel mixture. Terrestrial orchids of the Pleione, Sobralia, Calanthe, Phaius and Bletia genuses can be grown in a well-drained area with a lot of shade. Alternatively, you can make a raised bed to plant your orchids into.

What do you do with an overwatered orchid?

Overwatering is a frequent source of trouble. Overwatered orchids can sometimes be saved if the problem is identified quickly. Remove any mushy or damaged orchid roots using a sharp, sterile knife and repot the orchid in fresh potting media following the orchid repotting instructions on our website.

How long do orchids live for?

With good care and regular maintenance, an orchid plant may live for a lifetime — 100 years, or more.

How do you get an orchid to rebloom inside?

Follow these simple steps to help reblooming begin.

Continue to water your orchid with 3 ice cubes once a week. ...
Fertilize your orchid once or twice a month using a balanced houseplant fertilizer at half strength. ...
Help your orchids grow by providing plenty of indirect sunlight.
Put your orchid in a cooler spot at night.

Do orchids bloom on the same stem?

Let's talk about the Phalaenopsis orchid or moth orchid, the one you likely got from the grocery store. This is the only orchid that will rebloom on the same stalk. All other orchids will bloom again, but not from the same stalk. All other orchids can be trimmed at the base of the flower stalk.