Orchid Care & Watering

Use rain water to water orchids.

Caring for orchids can be challenging, but these tropical beauties can be grown at home as long as you choose a variety that fits the environment. For beginners, start with low-maintenance orchids, such as the "house plant" orchids Phalaenopsis and Dendrobium. Watering, temperature and humidity, light and air, food and fertilizer and pest treatment are key care factors in producing healthy orchids.

Watering

Water your orchid early in the day, once a week in winter and twice a week in warmer weather. Watering needs vary according to climate, as well as the size of the pot and the orchid medium or soil.
If your orchid is planted in bark, it will dry out more quickly than those planted in sphagnum moss. Determine if your orchid needs water by sticking a wooden pencil point 1 inch into the soil. If it feels or looks moist, do not water. Keep the potting medium damp but not wet. Rain water is best for watering orchids. Filtered water is also fine, as long as the water's temperature matches air temperature.

Temperature & Humidity

To bloom, orchids need temperature fluctuations of 10 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit from day to night. A night temperature of 60 to 62 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal. Daytime temperature should be 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. As long as your orchid has proper humidity, light and air circulation, it can tolerate temperatures of up to 95 degrees Fahrenheit.
A good daytime humidity level for orchids is 50 to 70 percent. Increase this level during the summer by setting your plant in a tray of pebbles and water. Keep the water below the tops of the pebbles. Every three months, remove and wash the pebbles in a light bleach solution to eliminate accumulated salts and algae.

Light & Air

For the best light, place your orchid behind window shades or sheer curtains to avoid burning from direct sunlight. Too little light will prevent blooming.
Monitor the color of your orchid's leaves to determine if the light level is right. The leaves should be bright green. If they are dark green, there is not enough light. Yellowish leaves mean too much light.
Low-light, warm-growing orchids, such as Phalaenopsis, Oncidium and Paphiopedilum, like a north or east window, or shaded south window for light. Orchids classified as moderate to high-light lovers, such as Dendrobium, Vanda and Cattleya, prefer west or south windows. If light becomes too intense, move the plant back from the window.
Orchids also like air movement, which helps evaporate excess water and prevents fungi or bacteria from developing. Provide good ventilation with open windows for fresh air. In the winter, use an oscillating fan to simulate breezes.

Food & Fertilizer

Giving your orchid the right nutrition promotes faster growth and blooming. Orchids need nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. How much you feed your orchid depends on time of year, overall health and the type of orchid. When new growth appears, use a fertilizer higher in nitrogen. Your orchid will need more potassium and phosphorus later in the season. Orchids grown in bark will need more nitrogen.
Several types of orchid foods are available. Choose fertilizer that best suits your orchid, and read directions carefully.

Pests

Common pests that attack orchids include slugs and snails, scale insects, mealybugs and aphids.
Once you identify the pest, you can choose from several home remedies such as using natural predators, cleaning the plant with a light soapy water mix and re-potting or an appropriate pesticide.

References

• Beautiful Orchids: Orchid Care Tips

Resources

• Clemson University Extension: Orchid Care Tips