Most people come to own an orchid in one of two ways; either you got one given to you as a gift, or you passed by one in a store and made an impulse buy because it looked pretty. What you may not have known is that all those flowers would be gone after several weeks, and you’d be left with a planter full of wood, some thick leaves, and a vine. With this beginner orchid guide we can overcome a lot of challenges!
Hopefully, you didn’t give up on your orchid and toss it in the bin. Instead, maybe you searched for a guide on how to care for your orchid.
And, the good news is… you’ve found it!
The following orchid guide explains:
- What Orchids Are
- The Benefits of Having Orchids In Your Home
- Common Orchid Types and How to Care for Them
- General Care Notes for Maintaining Orchids in a Small Apartment
- and, The Top 3 Challenges of Maintaining Orchids
By the end, we promise you’ll be an orchid master and ready to add even more beautiful orchids to your home.
An Introduction to Orchids
What’s commonly called an orchid is actually Orchidaceae and refers to a family of flowering plants known for their diverse colors and fragrance. Orchids currently have about 28,000 accepted species and encompass about 6-11% of all seed plants worldwide. They are one of the two largest families of flowering plants worldwide. The other is the Asteraceae family, commonly known as asters, daisy, composite, or sunflower.
The Benefits of Having Orchids In Your Home
Orchids provide beautiful colors and fragrances to your home while improving your air quality and aiding in stress relief. Some regions of the world also use orchid flowers in their foods to help aid digestion, improve skin, provide relief from ulcers, sustain eye health, and maintain strong bones and teeth.
Some orchids are not digestible, however, so if you’d like to receive the benefits from eating orchids or drinking orchid tea, choose your varieties wisely.
Common Orchid Types and How to Care for Them
All orchids are perennials that grow their flowers back every year, and certain types can live more than 15 to 20 years if cared for correctly. There are typically two patterns that orchids grow in: monopodial and sympodial.
Monopodial orchids grow from a single bud, and leaves grow along the stem. The stem of the monopodial can extend to several meters in length.
Sympodial orchids develop new growth from their front, and their back maintains old growth. The plant will produce shoots that grow, bloom, stop growing, then get replaced. Sympodial also grow horizontally, based on their support.
Popular Orchid Types & Care Needs
The most common orchid types (called genera) are Phalaenopsis, Cattleya, Dendrobium, Cymbidium, and Vanda. Knowing which type you have can help you determine what temperature and conditions it prefers and when you should expect to see flowering.
Phalaenopsis
Phalaenopsis are the most common orchids found for sale. They are also known as “moth orchids” because of their broad, flat petals and leaves. Phalaenopsis have long stems, and their flowers can last over three months.
Care Needs
Light: Provide good lighting, but never direct sunlight or risk scorching the leaves. It will do well under grow lights if positioned one foot from the plant. They can tolerate low lighting, even shady windows.
Water & Feeding: Because it is monopodial, it requires more frequent watering and has a lower drought tolerance. Water weekly during the growing season. During the flowering season, you can water every other week. Do not let the water rest at the bottom of the stem. During the growing season, use a weak orchid fertilizer weekly (“weak, weekly”). Feed once a month during winter and flowering season.
Temperature & Humidity: They prefer temperatures between 75 to 85 degrees F but can adapt to 65 to 70-degree temperatures. To induce flowers, provide a few cooler nights (down to 55 degrees F). Like other orchids, allow good air circulation when humidity is high to prevent fungus, rot, and diseases.
Bloom: Long blooms during warmer months.
Other Notes: Absolutely avoid direct sunlight. A well-grown Phalaenopsis will have dark green leaves on top and red- or burgundy-streaked leaves underneath. Trim off dead spikes once a year during dormancy. These orchids need a lot of air circulation for their roots.
Cattleya
Cattleya orchids aren’t so common anymore but were once favorites for corsages. They are known for being very fragrant and for their symmetrical flowers. Cattleya and its hybrids come in many shapes and sizes.
Care Needs
Light: Cattleya needs partial to bright sun. But, the light should be indirect and filtered. A bright room is better than placing directly in a window.
Water & Feeding: Because they are sympodial orchids, and their pseudobulbs can store water and nutrients for extended periods, they don’t need a lot of water. You should water just as they start to get dry, but not wait until totally dry.
Temperature & Humidity: Prefer warmer temps during the day (70 to 85 degrees F) and night (55 to 60 degrees F). Humidity needs to be between 40% to 70%. Frost can kill this orchid.
Bloom: Varies by species, but some bloom more than once per year.
Other Notes: Typically, its hybrids are easier to start with since Cattleya can be challenging orchids to grow. Only repot when their root tips are green; otherwise, repotting can kill Cattleya.
Dendrobium
Dendrobium is one of the more popular types of orchids. They are distinguishable by their fuzzy, flat, round, and colorful flowers. They require a cool winter period to induce flowering and prefer temperatures in the 40s and 50s.
Care Needs
Light: Dendrobium grows in all climates. Inside they prefer being in the brightest window to bloom well. If leaves turn yellow, provide less direct sunlight.
Water & Feeding: Keep potting medium moist and well-drained. Only water when the medium has slightly dried out. Feed with a balanced orchid fertilizer during the growing season but not during winter.
Temperature & Humidity: Dendrobium prefers temperatures over 60 degrees F. Keep humidity around 50% to 70%. Brown leaf tips mean the air is too dry.
Bloom: During warmer months.
Other Notes: During winter months, water less often, but don’t allow it to dry out entirely. Some hold leaves all year long, but most drop their leaves in the fall.
Cymbidium
In California, Cymbidiums are among favorite house and garden plants. They can be identified by their grassy leaves. They have long stems with many flowers. One small pot can produce up to three stems containing 15 or more flowers per stem. They prefer a cool environment, and once open, their flowers can last for two months or more.
Care Needs
Light: Cymbidium prefers partial sun. Dark green leaves mean it’s not getting enough sunlight.
Water & Feeding: Water frequently during the growing season. But do not keep water in the bottom of the container, or it could cause rot. Choose filtered water over tap water for best results. Reduce watering during winter, but don’t let it completely dry out. Feed with a weak orchid fertilizer bimonthly during the growing season.
Temperature & Humidity: Cymbidiums are more tolerant to cold weather than others. Larger varieties need cold to promote blooming. It can withstand freezing, but enough frost will eventually kill them. Keep temperatures above 40 degrees F and humidity between 40% to 60%.
Bloom: During winter.
Other Notes: Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers. It is resistant to most pests but treat plant immediately with insecticide if present.
Vanda
Vanda flowers are large and vibrant. These orchids do well in warm climates and are beloved for their many colors and frequent flowering. They are popular in places like Florida or Southeast Asia. However, Vanda can be challenging to maintain, even for seasoned orchid growers.
Care Needs
Light: Provide partial shade to bright light. They do not like full sunlight. However, some species require more, so read your care directions.
Water & Feeding: Vandas need to be watered every day. You may need to water them twice per day during high temperatures. During the winter, water once a week. Keep growing medium moist but not soggy. Fertilize weekly with a balanced 20-20-20 fertilizer through the growing season. Cut back during cold months to every two to four weeks.
Temperature & Humidity: They prefer temperatures above 65 degrees F. Exposure to long periods of cold can stunt Vandas. Never put in temperatures below 50 degrees F. Vandas prefer high humidity of at least 60% and up to 80%.
Bloom: Every couple of months.
Other Notes: Vandas are a challenging orchid to grow and probably not the best for beginners. Vanda orchids have large roots that may pop out of your planter. They can grow 5 to 6 feet from root to tip if not split.
General Care Notes for Maintaining Orchids in a Small Apartment
Regardless of the orchid type(s) you have or plan to have, there are a few best practices to keep in mind for greater success outlined in this beginner orchid guide.
Light
Most orchids prefer bright but not direct sunlight. If trying to maintain an orchid in an unlit or dimly lit area, provide glow lights for support. If your orchid starts to do poorly, move to a more lit area or provide more grow light coverage.
Humidity
Most orchids are sensitive to high humidity and dry air. A great way to combat this during especially hot or cold days is to put your orchid plant on a small saucer of water filled with rocks. The roots should not be in the water but instead above it. The water will add moisture to the air and help with humidity issues. Due to the extra moisture, some orchids do great in a well-lit bathroom.
Container Size & Orchid Mix
Orchid containers should stay around 4 to 6 inches in diameter, depending on the size of the orchid. The containers should be free-draining and shallow. They can also grow well in hanging baskets.
Orchids do not grow in regular soil. Instead, they typically grow in some mix of fir bark, sphagnum moss, rock wool, stones, perlite, lava rocks, coconut fiber, and others. Orchid roots cling to these materials, and they also provide quick water drainage. Many orchids in the wild grow on other plants or trees instead of from the soil.
Repotting Orchids
Store-bought orchids (unless from a trusted nursery) should be repotted as soon as flowering ends. Remove dead roots as you repot, but be careful not to cut away healthy ones. When orchids are purchased from the store, they often come in cheap containers that don’t provide enough air circulation to orchid roots.
Rotation & Support
It’s okay to rotate your orchids around their space or even your apartment. This will allow them to grow in different directions and create a more balanced orchid. Likewise, most orchids will grow along with their support. If you’d like your vines going in a specific direction, use a stake or trellis going that way.
The Top 3 Challenges of Maintaining Orchids
At this point, orchids may seem fairly high-maintenance, and many are. But, maintaining your orchids and watching them regrow year after year can be very rewarding.
Besides the care tips listed above, consider these challenges:
Challenge #1 – Root Rot
The biggest problem with orchids is letting the roots stay too wet for too long. This causes root rot and disease to the orchid. This is why a well-draining pot and medium is essential.
Challenge #2 – Neglect During Non-Flowering Stages
Whether your orchid is a winter or summer bloomer, it’s easy to forget about your orchids when they are not flowering. Some still need weekly watering, while others may only need it monthly. Either way, don’t neglect caring for your orchids during their “off” months. You also need to provide adequate light (grab some grow lights to help if you need to supplement sunlight) and the right amount of humidity.
Challenge #3 – Finding More Space to Buy More Orchids
Once you start growing orchids successfully, you might just catch the bug and want to continue adding orchids to your home. They make excellent houseplants and can be real show stoppers, especially those that flower during the winter when everything else looks drab. Ensure that you have plenty of sun and room before bringing another orphan orchid home.
Orchid growers are a unique group of people. Sticking to this guide will ensure that you are a successful member of that group for a very long time, and your home will be more beautiful for it after following this beginner orchid guide.