Orchid Growing Tips How To Take Care Of Orchid Plants Indoors

Here are the main requirements for proper orchid care

Most orchids require water once a week. ...
Position your orchid in a bright windowsill facing east or west.
Weekly feeding with a fertilizer designed for orchids.
Repotting in fresh orchid mix when your orchid stops blooming.

How do you take care of an indoor orchid plant?

Orchids need ample water but should be allowed to dry out some between waterings. One way to check for watering is by poking your finger about an inch into the growing media. If it's dry, give it some water; otherwise, let it be. Indoor orchid plants also need adequate humidity, about fifty to seventy percent.

Where should orchids be kept in the house?

The ideal spot for growing orchids is either south or east-facing windows. Usually west windows are too hot while northern windows are too dark. Placing orchids under artificial lights is the last resort if you can't find a good location to grow your orchids.

Do indoor orchids need direct sunlight?

These plants thrive in strong light, but direct sunlight can burn orchids. Bright, indirect light from an eastern or southern window is ideal. Leaf color is a good indicator of the amount of light an orchid is getting: Bright green leaves indicate a happy, healthy plant.

How do you not kill an orchid?

8 Ways to Kill Your Orchid

Water it every day. ...
Establish a watering schedule for your orchid. ...
Water your orchid whenever you water your other plants. ...
Water your Phalaenopsis orchid with ice cubes. ...
Find out where your orchid is native to and water it when the Weather Channel says it's raining there.

How long will orchids live indoors?

Orchid plants do not have a finite life span, but after 15 to 20 years, the plants will naturally become weaker, producing fewer blossoms. Plants have a natural immune system, and over time it becomes worn down by natural bacteria and fungi. Repot orchids regularly, once every two or three years, to prevent disease.

How long does it take for orchids to rebloom?

It takes a month or two, or even several months for Phalaenopsis orchids to rebloom. Many other varieties of orchids bloom annually. The anticipation and eventual reward of an emerging flower spike bedecked with tiny buds are so exciting.

How do I keep my orchid blooming?

To prolong the flowering time, keep the blooming plant in a cool, bright room out of direct sunlight. Once the last flower drops off the flower spike, follow the tip of the stem back to the stump of the lower-most flower. Then continue to follow the stem down to the second inverted V-shaped node beneath that stump.

How often do you water an indoor orchid plant?

In general, water once a week during the winter and twice a week when the weather turns warm and dry. The size of your orchid container also helps determine how often you need to water, regardless of climate conditions. Typically, a 6-inch pot needs water every 7 days and a 4-inch pot needs water every 5 to 6 days.

Should orchids be watered from the top or bottom?

To master watering orchids, it is essential to water from above with fresh, pure water. For orchids with water storage, pseudobulbs, water when the potting mix is approaching dry. Otherwise, for orchids without water storage, without pseudobulbs, keep the potting mix barely damp.

Do orchids like bathrooms?

Because orchids are native to tropical climates, they love humidity and will thrive in the steamy confines of a bathroom. Just be sure that they have minimal sunlight (a skylight or small bathroom window should be enough to keep them happy).

Are banana peels good for orchids?

Orchid Food

Banana peels provide a natural way to give your orchids potassium, potash, phosphorous, nitrogen and magnesium, although not in huge quantities. They work similar to a slow-release fertilizer when added to the soil in solid form.

Do orchids need to be repotted?

Orchids generally need to be repotted once a year. The best time to repot is just after flowering, or when new growth appears. You'll know it's time to repot if any of these reasons apply to you: Your orchid has tightly tangled roots.

Should I remove yellow orchid leaves?

Don't remove them from the plant yourself! Some people remove them because the look of yellow leaves is unsightly. Manually removing the leaves from your plant increases the risk of diseases. It's essentially like creating an open wound on your plant.

Do orchids like coffee grounds?

Coffee grounds are an excellent fertilizer, especially for orchids and African violets.

Is tap water OK for orchids?

Orchids are a wildly popular flowering plant, belonging to the Orchidaceae family. ... Most chlorinated tap water can be used as long as the chlorine isn't excessive; however, watering orchids with collected rain or distilled water from the store is best.

How did I kill my orchid?

The easiest and fastest way to kill most orchids is to grow them too wet. Keep the pot sitting in water, and you will have a rotten plant before long. When in doubt, don't water; always use pots that have drainage holes; and use a potting mix designed for orchids. 3.

Do orchids die easily?

Just like any plant, an orchid can wilt. They can wilt for a wide variety of reasons. It can be a lack of water, lack of fertilizer, lack of light or other factors. Overwatering can cause plants to wilt and die.

What do you do with an orchid after the flowers fall off?

After the flowers drop from the orchid you have three choices: leave the flower spike (or stem) intact, cut it back to a node, or remove it entirely. Remove the flower spike entirely by clipping it off at the base of the plant. This is definitely the route to take if the existing stem starts to turn brown or yellow.

How do you keep potted orchids alive?

5 Ways to Keep Your Orchid Alive

Let there be (bright, indirect) light! An east-facing window that gets morning light is ideal. ...
Not too hot, not too cold. Phalaelnopsis are happy in the same temps we are: above 60º at night and between 70º and 80º during the day. ...
Cut spent blooms. ...
Remember food and water. ...
Repot on occasion.

Do orchid leaves fall off?

Most orchids tend to drop leaves as they produce new growth, and some may lose a few leaves after blooming. If leaf loss is substantial, or if new leaves are falling off, it's time to do some troubleshooting.