Orchid Care 101: How To Keep Your Orchids Thriving

Orchids, of the Orchidaceae family, are known for having bright blooms and some varieties even have a fragrant scent. These beautiful flowers have structural variations in their blooms. In nature, they typically grow in the tropics on trees and shrubs; however, there are variations that live in grasslands or in forests. They are originally native to regions in Asia and Australia, but today the majority of neotropical orchids are found in Central America, South America, and countries along the Andes Mountains.

Orchids are not any average plant, they are diverse and easily distinguishable from others. All orchids are perennials that can grow in two patterns: monopodial and sympodial. Monopodial orchids grow from a single bud and grow vertically.  Sympodial varieties produce multiple shoots and grow horizontally. 

Want to try cultivating Orchids but scared that they are too exotic?  Don’t worry – orchid care is not as hard as you may think.  

Before anything else, you must know exactly which type of orchid you have. There are so many variations that thrive in different conditions so make sure to research exactly which type you’ve purchased. The most commonly found variety in greenhouses is the Phalaenopsis Orchid, but there are others such as Cattleya and Dendrobium as well.

Phalaenopsis orchids do not have any scent but do offer a wide variety of colorful mid-sized blooms. Their blooms can grow either vertically or be trained into a waterfall shape.

Cattleya orchids are scented with large vivacious blooms. There are less color variations available than the phalaenopsis varieties, but there are still many wonderful options to choose from.

Dendrobiums offer the widest selection of orchid shapes and sizes. Their bloom sizes range from itty bitty to mid-sized. They offer an incredible selection of bloom shapes and color combinations.

While these are not the only types of orchids, they are amongst some of the most popular. Again, it is always best to do research on your specific orchid.

When it comes to orchid care, overwatering is worse than underwatering. Soggy soil causes the roots to rot. The trick for orchids is to try and water them the day before they dry out. The finger test will tell you if your orchid is thirsty.  The soil should always be “evenly moist” – not soggy, not wet – moist.

Another way to tell if your orchid needs water is by its roots. Some orchid’s roots will be green when they are watered and silvery when they are dry. It is best to wait until almost all of the roots are the silvery color before watering. Both phalaenopsis and cattleya orchids have roots like these.

Without enough light, many orchids will fail to bloom. Here’s a trick for you: if the foliage is a dark green, it needs more sun. A well-sun-exposed orchid will have yellow-green foliage.

Orchid roots desperately need aeration. This is why most orchids are typically grown in bark. Planting your orchid in a typically growing medium, such as potting soil, is a huge mistake. Potting soil is way too dense for orchid roots.

While most orchids available for sale are planted in long strand sphagnum moss, it can be a good idea to change the medium once you bring it home. Sphagnum moss retains a lot of moisture, and if your orchid is not receiving enough sunlight, then this can quickly lead to root rot.

If you are an overwaterer, try removing all of the sphagnum moss and replacing it with orchid bark. This medium dries out relatively quickly and requires more attention for watering.

A happy medium consists of using a mixture of both orchid bark and sphagnum moss. This will help the orchid retain some moisture without causing root rot.

Orchids also need excellent drainage so make sure that the pot it is in has drainage holes. If you are using a nursery pot, we recommend also adding holes to the sides of your pot for more aeration.

Orchids will grow and flower without fertilizer for a while; however, you and your orchid will be happier if you provide some level of feeding. In the summer, fertilize your orchids weekly with a liquid fertilizer recommended for Orchids. In the fall and winter, twice a week is best. The best fertilizer for orchids are fertilizers that contain little to no urea.

One common misconception about orchids is that they have died once they have finished booming. This tends to be the point where most people give up and some will even throw the plant away. However, as long as you have taken good care of your orchid, it should still be happy and thriving.

After blooming, the orchid begins to refocus its energy on growing new roots and leaves so that it is strong enough to hold more and larger flowers during its next bloom cycle.

Once the blooms begin to die off, simple remove them from the stem. Eventually, the stem itself will begin to yellow and die off. At this point, with clean scissors, you want to cut all of the yellowed part of the stem off. In most cases, this will be the entire stem. However, some orchid stems will hold on to some green and produce new stems from that point.

Continue to care for and fertilize your orchid as stated above, and you should see beautiful new blooms during its next bloom cycle.

If you are starting to notice roots growing out of the bottom of your pot, or it has been 1-2 years, then it is a good idea to repot your orchid.

The best time to repot an orchid is after its blooms have died off. Repotting before or during a bloom cycle causes stress to the flowers and can cause your orchid to either not bloom or have the buds die before blooming.

When repotting, it is always a good idea to take a good look at the roots and trim off any dried or rotted roots with a clean pair of scissors.

Orchids are beautiful plants that create a light, airy feeling wherever they are. Sometimes their care can be difficult but like with any plant, they require close observation. Make sure to check on your orchid regularly. Are its stems weak? Do you notice wilting? Is it having trouble flowering? Make observations based on its behavior and change yours accordingly. If you’re really concerned about your orchid, feel free to stop by the nursery and speak to one of our greenhouse specialists. We’re always happy to help. Happy planting!