Simple Orchid Care Advice

Whether buying it as a gift for yourself or receiving it from a loved one, it is important to take special care of your orchid, enabling it to flourish no matter the season.

The orchidaceae, but more commonly referred to as the orchid, is a popular plant often kept in people’s homes. Despite this, many people still make simple mistakes when nurturing the orchid and are often left with a lifeless plant that would tarnish any household room. 

One of the most common mistakes made in orchid care is overwatering the plant. Even though they are native to tropical rainforests the orchid only needs watering every 5-12 days as too much water can kill the roots. If you are a little worried about giving your orchid too much water then before watering just lift the pot and check if it feels heavy and only water when the pot feels light. But there are many different varieties of the orchid so it is important to check watering instructions beforehand.

Orchids need the right amount of light to really thrive. It is best suited for the orchid family to receive bright but indirect light with an east or west facing windowsill the perfect solution. You will be able to tell if the orchid is blooming because the leaves will be a light green colour, whereas a dark or reddish green colour will highlight that the plant is receiving either too little or too much light. Too much light can actually scorch the leaves causing long-lasting damage, so it is very important that your orchid is homed in the right area.

Although light is paramount in growing an orchid effectively, temperature also plays an important role in order for your orchid to blossom. Orchids like humidity, which is no surprise since they originate from the tropic regions of Asia and Australia. Around 50-70% humidity is an ideal temperature for the orchids and you can increase this around your home with a water-filled saucer or a tray of pebbles beneath the plants or you can mist the foliage every two to three days using lukewarm water.

Like all plants, orchids need nutrients to help growth, but there is no need to fertilize your orchid more than once a week when they are producing new growth and decrease to once monthly when mature if you want best results. Too much or too little fertilizer can hinder the flowers development and damage roots and leaves. But it isn’t just your own errors that can inhibit orchid growth; it’s those pesky pests that could ruin an otherwise perfect looking orchid. But do not despair, because there are plenty of insecticides available that will vanquish any signs of infestation. Stickiness on the leaves or black sooty mould are just some of the signs to look out for.

The orchid is a fairly simple plant to take care after and with this advice there is no reason why your orchid will not blossom in all its glory this season.