How to Not Kill Your Orchid

Ah, Orchids. Wonderful gifts, lovely on your desk at home or work...until they die. Orchids are not like other plants. They need love. Specific types of care and feeding go a long way to help you NOT kill your lovely plant.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Water
• Misting Spray Bottle
• Window without too much sunlight

1. Don't Overwater. No matter what type of orchid you have, you will almost surely overwater it. Some orchids need to dry out completely between watering. Some need to be kept moist, but not wet. On average, only water your plant ONCE every 5-12 days. If you think it needs water, just mist it with a spray bottle.

2. Sunlight. Your orchid should have bright green leaves. If they're dark green, move it to a spot with more INDIRECT light. Putting it in bright sunlight could cause black "sunburn" spots to show up on your leaves. If the leaves take on a red tinge, they're getting too much light.

3. Fertilizer. Give your plant some yummy nutrients once a month. Use a fertilizer specifically for orchids and follow the directions. Don't think that using more will make it look better - it will just burn the roots and damage your plant.

4. Enjoy it. No matter how long it lasts, it will be there longer than cut flowers. Enjoy it no matter what and try your best to let it stay healthy and vibrant. When in doubt, orchids prefer abuse to careful attention. Leave it along if something starts to go wrong. Come back in a few weeks and try again.

[iamageniuster]

on 10/27/2008 Awesome stuff. Very nice article. Maybe I'll try it out.