Indoor Orchid Care

Comments () | | Text size: a A | Report Abuse | Print

Share: | Email |

Overview

The orchid is a highly coveted flower that includes more than 300,000 cultivars. Due to the popularity of orchids in greenhouses, nurseries and other stores that carry plants many houseplant enthusiasts are cultivating orchids indoors. However, to grow orchids indoors and ensure future blooms it is important to provide the correct humidity, lighting and conditions.

Step 1

Find the right light. According to the University of Georgia College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences Cooperative Extension Service, orchids prefer a bright window, free from drafts, where your plants receive indirect sunlight both morning and afternoon.

Step 2

Provide humidity. Orchids are notorious lovers of humidity. You can increase humidity around your orchid by placing decorative stones around the plant. This provides drainage and as water in and around the stones evaporates humidity is generated. Other ways to create humidity is to mist the plant regularly.

Step 3

Get the temperature right. According to University of Vermont Extension Department of Plant and Soil Science, orchids vary in their temperature requirements. Check your orchid cultivar requirements and make sure that evening and night temperatures remain within acceptable range.

Step 4

Water only when the orchid's growing medium is dry. Orchids are susceptible to over watering protect your plant against this by checking the growing medium regularly before watering.

Step 5

Fertilize your orchid with soluble plant food. When your orchid is actively growing and producing new growth it will need fertilizer.

Tips and Warnings

Standing water or excess misting can cause various bacterial infections as well as fungus growth. To avoid this water your plant just until excess water begins to drain from the bottom of the plant and discard the extra water. Never allow excess water to sit in a saucer or under the plant. Also mist your plant lightly. You will want the water to evaporate within an hour. If your misting does not evaporate in an hour you have misted too much. Try holding the mister farther away from the plant.

Things You'll Need

Decorative stones
Misting bottle
Distilled water
Soluble plant food

References

University of Georgia College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences Cooperative Extension Service
University of Vermont Extension

Keywords: keeping orchids as houseplants, what to do with orchids after they bloom, orchid care

About this Author

Leah Deitz has been writing alternative health and environmental-related articles for five years. She began her writing career at a small newspaper covering city politics but turned to environmental concerns after beginning her freelance career. When she is not exploring the trails and outdoors of the East Coast, Deitz writes for a number of websites including eHow.com, Trails.com and Associated Content.