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When I learned that my mother has recently taken up orchid care I was curious. I wanted to learn what makes them ’special’. What makes them a plant so different from the normal houseplants grown at home and why are they such a challenge to the keen gardener?

Mum has always been good with plants, both the indoor and outdoor type and it was no surprise when, having been given her first orchid as a present, she was ‘hooked’ on how to care for them. I have ‘brown fingers’ not green ones, so I’m full of admiration for anybody that can keep any houseplant alive for more than one season.

I consulted with mum, did my own research on how orchids should be cared for and came up with the tips below for orchid care:

Orchids How To 1: Natural conditions

When you buy an orchid, make sure you can recreate the conditions the plant requires in its natural environment. There are all sorts of varieties of orchids, some are hardier than others so make sure that you look at the label to check.

Orchids How To 2: Watering

To check if the plant needs water, push a wooden stick or pencil into the medium, if it comes out darker, there is enough there. Orchids can require different amounts of water at different times of the year, so keep checking! Watering them about every 4 - 7 days seems to be enough, but it does depend on the season.

Orchids How To 3: Feeding

You will find that most orchids benefit from a specialist orchid fertilizer that is fed to the orchid as a weak solution and applied every week. To do this, use only half the dosage mentioned on the packet. The type of fertilizer will depend on what your orchid is growing in, so make sure that you check that first.

Orchids How To 4: Repotting an orchid.

The orchid will need repotting at some point. Remove the old mix from the pot, being careful not to damage the roots. Rinse the roots and trim off any hollow or mushy ones because they are not going to do the plant any good. Put the plant into a new pot. Orchids apparently like being root-bound, so there should only be about 1″ between the roots and the edge of the pot. Add the new mix/medium to the pot and tap the sides to make sure it settles properly. Press gently to settle the plant but don’t use too much force or the roots may break. Use a stick to support the plant in the pot so it is secure. If your plant is growing in sphagnum moss, make sure it is damp before wrapping it round the roots and repotting, that way you don’t have to worry about pockets of air. After repotting the plant should not be watered for 3 - 5 days to allow it to recover.

Orchids How To 5: After the orchid has flowered.

Check whether your orchid flowers only once from the flower spike or will flower repeatedly from the same spike. Once the plant has finished flowering the spike needs to be removed at the base with a sharp instrument to lessen damage to the plant itself. If you aren’t certain, don’t cut it off!

Orchids How To 6: Nursing it.

An important part of orchid care is looking out for various fungi or parasites. Isolate any plant that has a problem, check it out, find the remedy and start treating as soon as possible.

About the Author

Steve is a software engineer and owner of http://www.orchids-how-to.thememoryfoammattress.com

Growing Orchids: Expanding Your Orchid Collection