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Full disclosure: I was on my 7th orchid before I figured it out! But you can learn from my mistakes – and my tenacity! – if you adopt some simple steps. Orchids can be kept for years and will continuously re-bloom with the correct care. I have had orchids that reliably bloom for six months: more than any other houseplant in my experience.
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In tropical locations where orchids grow naturally, they attach themselves to larger trees with their stabilizing roots and take in moisture from the air around them or during the deluge of rainfall. Therefore, our indoor treatment should replicate that as closely as possible.
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This was the biggest thing I needed to learn: several of my orchids died just because I couldn’t offer them a consistent routine. Fast forward a few years, and now I have that routine on lock: in my house, Mondays are orchid watering day. That way, I can see my orchids – I currently have four! – and I can just ask, “Is it Monday?” and if the answer is no, then I move on. If the answer is yes, then I water them!
My orchids are in plastic pots within a cover pot, so I can water mine right in the cover pot. I set a timer for an hour and then drain the cover pot – usually into my other plants – and then the orchid is good to go for another week. Easy!
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Fertilizer is developed to meet the exact needs of a specific plant; be sure to find a fertilizer that is specific to orchids for the best results. Mine is a spray fertilizer that I apply every time I water to the leaves and roots. Whatever you get, make sure you follow the instructions on the packaging. We have a few options to choose from at Dutch Growers that will work for you!
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Orchids do not like direct light, but they love a bright location! Mine have been really happy facing southeast or east, but a west-facing or fully south-facing location would be fine if you could put them across the room from the window. I put mine in brighter sun when they aren’t blooming; when my orchids are in full bloom, I put them on my dining room table, which gets filtered light from the northwest, where I get to enjoy them more! So far, this has worked out great: just keep in mind that a dark location will not be adequate, and scorching sun will cause them to be very unhappy.
.png)
The short answer is that an orchid will happily rebloom as long as you are watering and fertilizing consistently. My longest-lived orchid (clocking in at four years!) has re-bloomed on its own three times.
There is disagreement on the internet about how to get your orchids to rebloom (the internet is a tricky source sometimes!), and this specifically has to do with whether you should cut back the stem of an orchid when it is done blooming. This should come as some relief because you can just let the orchid decide! Seriously: leave the stems alone. If they die back completely, the orchid will send up new shoots which will form buds. If the stem looks a little brown but doesn’t die back all the way, it will form new buds on the existing stem. Blooms on old stems will come back more quickly, so it is in your interest to just wait and see if it blooms again on the same stems.
If a stem dies back, you can cut it after it has turned brown and withered. Support new stems with stakes and orchids clips so they grow in the direction you wish. You can even put them on a trellis as they are growing to make them grow in circles or spirals!
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Ok, but what if it’s not reblooming on its own?
Orchids may not rebloom if they need to be re-potted, but once again, you have to be patient. It might be a few months before they bloom again. If you have waited for 6 to 8 months and there are no new shoots, that is a great sign that your orchid needs to be re-potted.
Remove the orchid from the put, remove the media, and rinse completely. Any old moss or other media should be removed and placed in the compost. Use clean scissors and remove any roots that are black or brown. More long healthy roots, give them a light trim on the ends. The white-ish roots above the soil line should stay there. They are for stabilizing the orchid, and should not go into the new pot. Stabilizer roots are also not a sign that the orchid should be re-potted: they are a sign that the orchid is healthy, so you can leave them be.
Orchid media are different from brand to brand and grower to grower, but the important part is that the media must have some material that holds onto moisture, and some material that allows for excellent drainage and airflow. To that end, you can use a combination of bark, moss, perlite, and charcoal – for anti-fungal properties – for a great mixture. If your media is mostly bark, soak it for 24 hours before using it, since dry bark will leech the moisture out of the orchid. You should not use a potting mix or anything that holds onto too much moisture – especially without air flow – as this can cause the roots to rot.
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We do not recommend transplanting orchids when they are blooming, because that can cause the flowers to die off much more quickly.
Orchid pots are nice to have! Clear plastic pots let you see the health of the roots at a glance. Clay pots with large holes on the side are meant to add airflow – the best media for planting in these is bark. Those are both containers that create ideal conditions, but any pot that allows you to drain the orchid adequately is great!
We do not recommend watering with ice cubes. We know why this advice gets passed around, however: it is convenient, because it provides a small amount of water over a short period of time, allowing the plant to soak up that water without sitting in excess moisture. However, ice can irreparably damage roots and leaves. If you’ve ever accidentally put your lettuce in the freezer – this is obviously not from personal experience – then you might know that plants that freeze end up with damaged cell walls. The plant material thaws and turns into mushy sludge. Your orchid’s cells are not meant to withstand that temperature, so avoid the risk and water by bottom-soaking!
Orchids are one of the most elegant tropical flowers. They are all about that luxury aesthetic! But did you know that they are really simple to take care of?! You, too, can have that little bit of luxury in your own home with a gorgeous orchid. Come along and find out!
.png)
Orchids are one of the most elegant tropical flowers. They are all about that luxury aesthetic! But did you know that they are really simple to take care of?! You, too, can have that little bit of luxury in your own home with a gorgeous orchid. Come along and find out!
Full disclosure: I was on my 7th orchid before I figured it out! But you can learn from my mistakes – and my tenacity! – if you adopt some simple steps. Orchids can be kept for years and will continuously re-bloom with the correct care. I have had orchids that reliably bloom for six months: more than any other houseplant in my experience.
In tropical locations where orchids grow naturally, they attach themselves to larger trees with their stabilizing roots and take in moisture from the air around them or during the deluge of rainfall. Therefore, our indoor treatment should replicate that as closely as possible.
This was the biggest thing I needed to learn: several of my orchids died just because I couldn’t offer them a consistent routine. Fast forward a few years, and now I have that routine on lock: in my house, Mondays are orchid watering day. That way, I can see my orchids – I currently have four! – and I can just ask, “Is it Monday?” and if the answer is no, then I move on. If the answer is yes, then I water them!
My orchids are in plastic pots within a cover pot, so I can water mine right in the cover pot. I set a timer for an hour and then drain the cover pot – usually into my other plants – and then the orchid is good to go for another week. Easy!
Fertilizer is developed to meet the exact needs of a specific plant; be sure to find a fertilizer that is specific to orchids for the best results. Mine is a spray fertilizer that I apply every time I water to the leaves and roots. Whatever you get, make sure you follow the instructions on the packaging. We have a few options to choose from at Dutch Growers that will work for you!
Orchids do not like direct light, but they love a bright location! Mine have been really happy facing southeast or east, but a west-facing or fully south-facing location would be fine if you could put them across the room from the window. I put mine in brighter sun when they aren’t blooming; when my orchids are in full bloom, I put them on my dining room table, which gets filtered light from the northwest, where I get to enjoy them more! So far, this has worked out great: just keep in mind that a dark location will not be adequate, and scorching sun will cause them to be very unhappy.
The short answer is that an orchid will happily rebloom as long as you are watering and fertilizing consistently. My longest-lived orchid (clocking in at four years!) has re-bloomed on its own three times.
There is disagreement on the internet about how to get your orchids to rebloom (the internet is a tricky source sometimes!), and this specifically has to do with whether you should cut back the stem of an orchid when it is done blooming. This should come as some relief because you can just let the orchid decide! Seriously: leave the stems alone. If they die back completely, the orchid will send up new shoots which will form buds. If the stem looks a little brown but doesn’t die back all the way, it will form new buds on the existing stem. Blooms on old stems will come back more quickly, so it is in your interest to just wait and see if it blooms again on the same stems.
If a stem dies back, you can cut it after it has turned brown and withered. Support new stems with stakes and orchids clips so they grow in the direction you wish. You can even put them on a trellis as they are growing to make them grow in circles or spirals!
Ok, but what if it’s not reblooming on its own?
Orchids may not rebloom if they need to be re-potted, but once again, you have to be patient. It might be a few months before they bloom again. If you have waited for 6 to 8 months and there are no new shoots, that is a great sign that your orchid needs to be re-potted.
Remove the orchid from the put, remove the media, and rinse completely. Any old moss or other media should be removed and placed in the compost. Use clean scissors and remove any roots that are black or brown. More long healthy roots, give them a light trim on the ends. The white-ish roots above the soil line should stay there. They are for stabilizing the orchid, and should not go into the new pot. Stabilizer roots are also not a sign that the orchid should be re-potted: they are a sign that the orchid is healthy, so you can leave them be.
Orchid media are different from brand to brand and grower to grower, but the important part is that the media must have some material that holds onto moisture, and some material that allows for excellent drainage and airflow. To that end, you can use a combination of bark, moss, perlite, and charcoal – for anti-fungal properties – for a great mixture. If your media is mostly bark, soak it for 24 hours before using it, since dry bark will leech the moisture out of the orchid. You should not use a potting mix or anything that holds onto too much moisture – especially without air flow – as this can cause the roots to rot.
We do not recommend transplanting orchids when they are blooming, because that can cause the flowers to die off much more quickly.
Orchid pots are nice to have! Clear plastic pots let you see the health of the roots at a glance. Clay pots with large holes on the side are meant to add airflow – the best media for planting in these is bark. Those are both containers that create ideal conditions, but any pot that allows you to drain the orchid adequately is great!
We do not recommend watering with ice cubes. We know why this advice gets passed around, however: it is convenient, because it provides a small amount of water over a short period of time, allowing the plant to soak up that water without sitting in excess moisture. However, ice can irreparably damage roots and leaves. If you’ve ever accidentally put your lettuce in the freezer – this is obviously not from personal experience – then you might know that plants that freeze end up with damaged cell walls. The plant material thaws and turns into mushy sludge. Your orchid’s cells are not meant to withstand that temperature, so avoid the risk and water by bottom-soaking!
Opulent Orchids
Orchids are one of the most elegant tropical flowers. They are all about that luxury aesthetic! But did you know that they are really simple to take care of?! You, too, can have that little bit of luxury in your own home with a gorgeous orchid. Come along and find out!
SOCIAL MEDIA
