October 1, 2023

How to Properly Care for Orchids

About Nicole Pajer

Nicole Pajer is a Los Angeles-based freelance published in The New York Times, Woman's Day, AARP, Parade, Wired, Glamour, People and more.

Orchids are beautiful plants with flowers that cascade up and down their long stems. But anyone who has ever brought an orchid home knows that after a while, these flowers will eventually fall off, leaving orchid owners with green leaves and roots. As a plant owner, this can be disheartening. The good news is that with proper care, your orchids can rebloom over and over again, helping them to serve as the beautiful accent feature in any room that you dreamed they would be. Here are some steps to take for helping your orchids to be their healthiest.

Buying a healthy orchid

When shopping for an orchid, choosing a plant that is healthy will set you up for your best orchid success. Choose a plant that is in proportion to its container – not in a pot that seems too small or too large. You want to look for an orchid that has sufficient media (soil) in the pot, and has flowers that are open and appear to be thriving and free of fungal spotting. As orchids come in many different varieties, you will have your pick of colors to choose from. Select a color that speaks to you or one that adds a nice pop of color to the room you want to house it in.

Give your plant a nice humid home

Orchids are tropical plants that like to live in more tropical environments. “Keeping your orchids in a humid environment will help keep them healthy and primed for new growth,” explains Kaylyn Hewitt, Head of Floral Design with floral shop The Bouqs Company. “A bathroom is an excellent place to have an orchid accent.” You can also keep your orchids near a kitchen window, as using the sink can increase the humidity.

Expose your plants to sun

Different species of orchids require different levels of sun exposure. As a general rule, make sure to give your orchids enough bright light. “Orchids do not need bright direct sunlight as they can tolerate a little bit of shade but do be sure to provide them with filtered or indirect light,” says Hewitt.

Properly water them

“Overwatering or incorrectly watering orchids are common issues preventing orchids from reblooming,” says Hewitt. She recommends soaking orchids in water in their grow pots for a few minutes so that the roots can take in enough water. “Before you place them back in your pot, be sure to let the excess water drain for another few minutes,” Hewitt adds.

When do you know when it’s time to water? The American Orchid Society says to try to water the orchid the day before the plant dries out. They describe a pencil trick you can also use: when you insert a sharpened pencil into your orchid’s soil, if it becomes dark with moisture from the soil, the plant generally has enough water. You can also put your finger into the soil. If it’s wet, it’s not time to water. If you aren’t sure if the plant is wet, wait one more day before you water.

Repot when needed

If an orchid appears to outgrow its container – you’ll know this when the roots start to climb out of the pot – it is time to give your orchid a new home. When repotting, trim off old roots (generally anything that looks brown, not green), place the orchid into its new bigger pot and surround it with potting media, up to the level of the leaves.

Give your orchid some extra TLC

“Use an orchid fertilizer regularly to encourage new blooms,” says Hewitt. You can ask your local garden shop for a fertilizer that is specifically designated for orchids. Orchids should typically be fertilized once a week in the summer and every few weeks in the fall and winter. You should also make sure that the orchid has ample soil in its pot. Unlike most houseplants, orchids do best with special orchid soil. This is generally a mix of rocks and wood chips which support the plant roots, but also allow proper drainage when watered. You can usually purchase this at a local gardening shop.

Orchids also prefer ample airflow and like to be housed in areas with ceiling fans or near open windows where there is a breeze. If you’re placing it near a portable fan, make sure that the blades are facing away from the orchid.

Troubleshooting orchids that don’t rebloom

Have an orchid that seems to not want to rebloom anytime soon? It’s probably the lighting. Orchids that don’t have enough light will often hold off on blooming until they get proper nourishment. Check your plant’s leaves, which can help indicate whether your plant is getting enough sun. The American Orchid Society recommends that leaves that are a grassy green color ranging from light to medium green with yellow tones, generally indicate that the plant is getting enough light to bloom. Make sure your orchid’s pot provides opportunity for ample drainage, that your orchid has enough media surrounding its roots and leaves and that you are not overwatering your plant.