Orchids are beautiful plants that can add elegance and refinement to any home, that’s why people gift them so much at Christmas. They have large, lush leaves with prominent purple, pink, red and white veins. The small tubers of these plants are called corms, which is why an orchid is also known as a cormous plant. However, caring for an orchid can seem like a challenge at first. These exotic plants require specific temperatures and humidity to thrive. These plants require special attention and a different care routine than most other houseplants. They thrive in humid environments and prefer indirect sunlight, which makes it tricky to keep flourishing at home. We’ll cover everything you need to know about caring for an orchid, from repotting to watering correctly!
How to Care for Orchids
The majority of orchids need a light that is bright but indirect, like on a windowsill facing east or west. They should not be placed in direct sunlight because too much light can burn the leaves. Maintaining a constant temperature of 18°C in the room will yield the best results. Consider misting the foliage every two to three days and placing the pot on a tray of damp gravel to provide the necessary humidity for these, which can be difficult to achieve in a home. Orchids should be grown in clear pots that let the roots photosynthesise. Orchids do best when grown in orchid-specific compost and fertilised in the spring and fall.
How to Repot an Orchid
Orchids don’t need to be re-potted often and do well when they are root bound. However, you may want to remove them from the pot and as much of the compost as possible after two to three years. If the plant has grown too much, you can either re-pot it in the same pot with new orchid compost or select a slightly larger pot. Terracotta pots should not be used for orchid repotting because the orchid’s roots will stick to the surface.
5 Top Tips for Caring for Orchids
- Flower buds drop when they are exposed to cold temperatures, so try keeping orchids in a warm, humid location
- If the roots become grey and shrivelled, they’re too dry. Give them a mist to increase humidity
- Make sure water is at room temperature. Orchids don’t like fresh tap water due to chlorine. We suggest using rainwater or boiled water for watering
- Don’t mist the flowers: this often leads to spots on the petals
- Once flowering has stopped – cut the flower spike back to the highest node, and they may well re-flower
