Maintaining Your Orchid Gift: A Guide for Orchid Survival
Revamped Guide to Orchid Care
Orchids, often considered the show-offs of the houseplant world, are surprisingly popular gifts, thanks to their captivating flowers that resemble enchanting butterflies. And unlike most houseplants, these beauties can keep their blooms for months! But to keep them living and blooming, there are some essential care tips to follow.
The secret to nurturing an orchid lies in understanding its unique cultural needs, separate from those of common plants. Thanks to their numerous species (30,000 in nature and countless hybrids), the care can vary drastically from one to another. However, we're focusing on the popular houseplant varieties – Phalaenopsis, Cattleya, Dendrobium, and Oncidium – which require similar basic care.
Getting Acquainted with Orchids
Chances are, you've seen a potted orchid before. They're the top gifting option, particularly for Valentine's Day. Moth orchids, like you'd find in grocery stores or hardware stores, are the most common. But there are also cane and corsage orchids out there. Any orchid makes for a thoughtful gift.
Unfortunately, many people treat freshly gifted orchids like cut flowers, admiring them until the flowers die before throwing them out. However, with proper care, you could keep them blooming for years!
Fun Fact: Did you know there's a difference between Cattleya, the queen of the orchids, and the corsage orchids? The latter are actually a specific type of Cattleya, known for their vibrant, fragrant blossoms.
Caring for Orchids
Since moth orchids are the most popular gifted orchid, let's start with their care requirements. We'll explain any differences for cane or corsage orchids where necessary.
Temperature and Humidity
Orchids hail from hot, humid tropical rainforests. Therefore, orchids thrive best when kept at home temperatures between 60 and 80°F (15-27°C) during the day and 50 to 70°F (10-21°C) at night. Cane orchids prefer temperatures of at least 65°F (18°C) during the day.
Humidity is vital for orchids; however, most homes have lower humidity levels. To boost the humidity levels, use a pebble tray with water, a humidifier, or keep your orchids near other houseplants. Corsage orchids require a higher humidity level of up to 70%.
Light, Water, and Soil
Orchids need bright, indirect sunlight – think dappled sunlight in a rainforest. East- or south-facing windows should provide enough light. Direct sunlight could cause leaf burn, so avoid placing orchids directly in the path of strong, midday sun.
It's crucial to let the growing medium dry out before watering again. During the growing season, this usually means watering once a week or every ten days. Corsage orchids prefer a more frequent watering schedule, as long as the soil is damp but not wet.
Forget about using regular potting soil for orchids. These air-loving plants often grow on trees or rocks in their natural habitat, surviving on air and rain. Heavy soil can lead to root rot. Instead, use a light, airy orchid-specific growing medium made from shredded bark.
Fertilizer and Pruning
Spring for an orchid-specific fertilizer and follow the manufacturer's guidelines. Reduce or stop use during the orchid's dormant period after blooming. Prune faded flowers and dead leaves and stems regularly to help the plant focus its energy on growth.
Invigorating Blooms
Orchids should bloom every year. Different types of orchids have varying flowering cycles, with some blooming within six to nine months after the first bloom. If the plant has stopped blooming, check your cultural care. Ensuring the right temperature, humidity, light, water, soil, and pruning will help your orchid blossom again!
For moth orchids, try lowering the night temperatures by a few degrees for a few nights to encourage blooming.
Helpful Tip: If you notice wrinkled foliage, yellowing leaves, discolored flowering stems, wilting leaves, or buds that drop before blooming, inspect your orchid's environment and care routine. These issues could be caused by incorrect watering, insufficient or excessive light, lack of humidity, or incorrect fertilizing.
Orchids, typically found in home-and-garden settings, are not just eye-catching additions to your home but also can flourish for a long time if cared for properly. To create the ideal lifestyle for your orchid, it's essential to understand the unique cultural needs of these plants, such as providing a humid environment, adequate light, appropriate watering, and the correct soil.
