You might have heard that caring for orchidea is a tricky job, but, we’re happy to let you know that this is more myth than truth. In fact, with a little know how, you will find that orchids are surprisingly easy to care for and it is entirely possible to keep an orchid living for years. Orchids symbolize fertility, elegance, and love. For this reason, they make the best gifts.
Watering Orchids
Orchids are naturally found in tropical habitats, but water is one thing these beauties can get enough of. How often you water your orchid will depend on your climate, humidity levels and potting medium. Orchids usually need to be watered every few days. When it comes to watering orchids, the most common mistake is overwatering them. If you think it’s time to water your plant, it might be a good idea to wait it out for an extra day. Root rot is a disease that is a commonly found in this variety of plant.
So how should you water orchids?
Submerge the roots in distilled or recently boiled and cooled tap water. Lower the plant until the orchid roots are fully submerged, leaving the top of the bark and moss (if any) above the water. After 10-15 minutes remove the orchid from the water and allow it to drain for 5 minutes. Make sure to remove any excess water in the cover pot if you use one.
How to tell when to water orchids
Watering can be a little bit of trial and error. Keep in mind that long summer days may require you to water the orchid more and short winter days will require less watering.
Here’s how to tell if the orchid needs water:
– Green roots are getting just the right amount of water
– Soggy and brown roots are getting too much water
– Grey or white roots are not getting enough water
Another way to judge if the orchid needs watering is to use your finger to poke deep into the pot:
– If the mix is wet or damp – don’t water it
– If the mix is dry – water it
Ideal light for Orchids
Like most plants, having the best suited light is the absolute key to keeping orchids happy.
Avoid Direct Sunlight
Under no circumstances, place the orchid in direct sunlight, as they will get sunburnt. Sunburn can happen in a matter of hours, so keep your eyes on the light the orchid is receiving.
An ideal place for the orchid to live is in a room that stays at a consistent temperature through the day, away from drafts, and where it can receive indirect sunlight.
What’s indirect sunlight?
Indirect sunlight is simply sunlight that has been filtered by bouncing off a wall or through an object before hitting the orchid. Your orchid should be in a room that you can easily read a book in without staining your eyes.
Potting and Soil
Your orchid should be planted in a pot that has plenty of drainage. There should be drainage holes in the bottom of your pot to ensure any excess water drains completely. If your orchid comes in a pot that does not have this feature, you’ll need to repot it into one that does.
Choosing the right soil
Using moss-based or bark-based potting mix is suggested. Depending on which you choose, the orchid care will vary. The bark-based mix allows the water to drain quickly, so you will need to water your orchid more frequently. The moss mix retains more water, so you need to go longer between watering.
Feeding Orchids
You can aid your orchid by making use of some fertilizer. Orchids need to be fed regularly. Growers suggest using a “balanced” fertilizer such as 20-20-20 that includes all “necessary trace elements.” Regardless of the fertilizer formulation you choose to use, it should contain little or no urea.
Orchids will do far better with too little fertilizer than with too much. Many growers recommend the “weakly, weekly” approach, applying a dilute (1/4 strength) fertilizer each time they water, rather than applying a full dose once a month. Also, it is best not to fertilize a completely dry plant as the fertilizer can burn the dry roots. Water first, and then follow with fertilizer solution.
How to Prune Orchids
When the orchid peaks its blooming period, its new flowers will last up to 12 weeks. After this time, they may fade, droop or fall off their stems (spikes) when they are spent. Once they do this, you will need to determine how to prune the orchid.
First, check if the stem is healthy or in poor condition:
Healthy stems are green and firm to the touch.
Unhealthy stems are brown/yellow in colour and hard to the touch.
Cutting back an orchid for the first time can seem daunting. Nevertheless, by following the next few tips, you should expect the orchid to produce their beautiful flowers for its next blooming cycle.
With sterilised and sharp shears or a knife, trim away any dead leaves, tissue or roots as well as your stem. As a rule, if something is still green, it is living. When you make the cut, be sure to cut diagonally.
If your stem is healthy and this is the first prune. Trim the stem just above the stem notch/node where the first flower had bloomed. This will allow a new shoot to emerge.
