Easy Orchid Care Secrets

Light Requirments

Whether outside in the tropics or inside in cooler climates, orchids love sunlight. The best place for an orchid is in a sunny window or on a porch where the flower will get as much light as possible. If it is rather cloudy where you live or if there are issues with getting sunlight, fluorescent lamps can be used to provide artificial light. Your plant will tell you if it is getting too little or even too much light; too much light may change the leaves' colors, while not enough will make the plant look scrawny and unhealthy.

Orchids, like all plants, need to be watered. The most common problem for people is watering too frequently. Most orchids need water every five to fourteen days, so work with a happy medium. Pick a day of the week that you are usually home, and make it a point to stick to the schedule. Use a pot with drainage holes so you don't have your orchid sitting in a bowl of water for a long period of time. If you do, it can contribute to a breakdown of the roots (often called "root rot") and could kill your plant. Your watering may need to be altered based on the season--summer months usually require watering every four to five days whereas during winter you might be able to go as long as two weeks without watering. Test your soil to see where you stand. If it is damp, don't add water. If it is bone dry, water it.

While heat isn't usually an issue for orchids, humidity is. It wouldn't be comfortable to live in a house that is as humid as an orchid would like, but there are some easy fixes to keep you both comfortable. Cheap humidifiers can make all of the difference, and can be found at most local retailers. Having a small humidifier going on low will give the orchid all the moist air it needs. You can also use a spray bottle to mist the leaves and petals of the orchid.

As with any plant, it is important to prune an orchid regularly. Simply remove the dead pieces of the plant and put them in the garbage. There may be a chance that part of the plant was infected with something, and it would damage the rest of your plant to leave it in the pot or on the stem. Be careful not to trim off anything healthy--every branch off or small bud could hold the flower you've been waiting for.