The short answer: give a potted orchid bright, indirect light, water it only when the potting mix has nearly dried out, and never let the roots sit in water. For cut orchids in a vase, keep the water fresh and trim the stems every few days. Most orchids that fail are overwatered, not neglected.
Orchids have a reputation for being difficult, but the moth orchids sold as gifts are some of the easiest flowering plants to keep indoors. Here is how to care for both potted orchids and cut orchid bouquets.
Which orchid do you have?
Most orchid gifts are one of two kinds:
- Phalaenopsis, or moth orchids, are the potted orchids with broad, flat leaves and long, arching stems of rounded flowers. Our White Orchid Planter and our orchid planter gardens use them. With care, a phalaenopsis can bloom for weeks at a time and flower again for years.
- Dendrobium orchids have smaller blooms along slim, arching sprays. They are often sold as cut flowers, as in our Blue Orchid Bouquet, and they are known for lasting well in a vase.
If you are not sure, look at the base. Leaves and roots in a pot mean a living plant. Stems in water mean cut flowers.
When your orchid arrives
- Bring it inside right away in cool weather. Orchids come from warm climates and a cold doorstep can damage the buds.
- Unwrap it gently and keep any stake and clips that support the flower stem. They stop the stem from bending under the weight of the blooms.
- Find its spot before you water. Most orchids arrive with enough moisture for the first several days.
- Expect a short settling period. A plant may drop an unopened bud after a move. That is normal and not a sign that anything is wrong.
Light
Phalaenopsis orchids like bright, indirect light. An east-facing window is ideal, or a south or west window with a sheer curtain. Direct afternoon sun through glass can scorch the leaves, leaving pale or brown patches. Healthy leaves are a medium, slightly olive green. Very dark green leaves usually mean the plant wants more light, and yellowish leaves can mean it is getting too much.
Watering
This is where most orchids go wrong. Orchid roots need air as well as water, so a pot that stays wet causes the roots to rot.
- Water about once a week, less in winter. Push a finger into the mix: if it still feels damp, wait.
- Water at the sink with room temperature water, let it run through the pot, then let it drain completely before you put the plant back in its decorative pot.
- Never let the pot stand in water. If your orchid sits in a ceramic or glass container, check the bottom after watering and pour off anything that collects.
- Keep water out of the centre of the leaves, where it can sit and cause rot. If it happens, blot it with a paper towel.
Healthy roots are firm and silvery green or green. Soft, brown or hollow roots are a sign of too much water.
Temperature and humidity
Orchids are comfortable in the same temperatures most people are, roughly 18 to 24 degrees Celsius during the day, a few degrees cooler at night. Keep them away from cold window glass in winter, heat registers, fireplaces and drafty doors. Canadian homes are dry in the heating season, so a room with a little more humidity, such as a bright kitchen or bathroom, can help. Setting the pot near, not in, a tray of pebbles and water also raises the humidity around the plant.
Feeding
A blooming orchid does not need much. Once the flowers have finished, a balanced orchid fertilizer diluted to about a quarter of the label strength, every second or third watering, supports new leaves and roots. Skip feeding in the darkest winter weeks.
Caring for cut orchids in a vase
Cut dendrobium orchids are among the longest lasting cut flowers. To get the most from a bouquet:
- Top up the vase with fresh water every day, and change it completely every two or three days.
- Trim a little off each stem at an angle when you change the water.
- Keep the vase out of direct sun and away from fruit bowls and heat.
- Remove any blooms that fade so the rest of the spray stays fresh.
Our guide to keeping a bouquet fresh longer has more tips that work for any cut flowers.
After the flowers fall
When a phalaenopsis drops its last flower, the plant is resting, not dying. Keep caring for it as usual. You can cut the old flower stem back to just above a node, the small bumps along the stem, and it may send out a side shoot with new buds. Or cut the stem near the base and let the plant put its energy into new leaves and roots. A new flower stem often appears after a few months, especially if the plant gets slightly cooler nights in the fall.
Orchids like to be a little snug in their pots. Repot only every year or two, in fresh orchid bark mix rather than ordinary potting soil, and ideally just after flowering.
Common problems
- Buds drop before opening: usually a sudden change in temperature, a cold draft or very dry air.
- Wrinkled, limp leaves: often a root problem. Check the roots for rot before adding more water.
- Yellow bottom leaf: one older leaf yellowing now and then is natural. Several at once usually means overwatering.
- No new flowers: most often too little light.
Orchids as a gift
A potted orchid is a gift that keeps going long after a bouquet would be finished, which makes it a thoughtful choice for a birthday, a thank you, a new home or someone recovering at home. Browse our orchids, including planter gardens that pair orchids with succulents, such as the Custom Design Planter Garden 5 (Triple Orchids), or see all of our potted plants and succulents. Every order includes a free handwritten card, delivery is free on orders of $50 or more, and you can call our studio at 905-677-9999 if you have questions.