How to Grow Lady's Slipper Houseplants

Growing a Lady's Slipper houseplant isn't an easy task, but it's one that gives a beautiful blossom reward. Caring for your Lady's Slipper takes patience and commitment. Keep temperature, water and light at the right levels, and once a year you'll view the pretty Lady's Slipper flower.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Pot your Lady's Slipper orchid in a container filled with a special orchid mix or make your own. Mix bark, stone, charcoal or broken bricks to put in the container.

2. Water the plant about once a week. The materials used for potting allow the water to filter through the roots slowly without over saturating them.

3. Put the container in a brightly lit window during the winter. Move to a medium light for the summer.

4. Care for the Lady's Slipper properly and it will bloom a large slipper-shaped flower once or twice a year. The flower will last as long as 3 months if the plant is well fed and kept in the proper light.

5. Turn your Lady's Slipper once a week. Turning allows the plant to grow more evenly.

Tips & Warnings

• Lower the temperature of the room your plant is in at night.
• Keep your Lady's Slipper on a dish of pebbles with water to add moisture to the roots. The plant prefers humid conditions.
• Don't let your Lady's Slipper dry out completely between watering.
• Don't allow the temperatures in the room to get above 90 degrees F.
• Don't turn the plant when it is in bloom. Turning will cause the flower to twist.

Resources

• Find tips on growing Lady's Slipper houseplants at Better Homes and Gardens.com.