A plant that everyone is bound to be gifted at least once in their lives, for many, orchids are essentially a guilt-ridden, potted version of a bouquet.
You enjoy it for the first week, and then realise you have no idea how to care for it and spend the next month flitting between the desire to keep it alive and the urge to throw it in the bin. That’s not just me, right?
Orchids are stunning plants, their tropical flowers come in a range of colours from milk-white to the more intriguing sapphire blue, and even their leaves and stems add to their beauty. It’s no wonder that they’re a favourite panic-buy for those popping into the supermarket on their way to a housewarming party. But if you’ve ever been given one of these beauties, or bought one on a whim, you’ll know that their reputation as a temperamental beast has substance.
The good news is, keeping an orchid alive and thriving isn’t as complicated as many make out. The secret comes from understanding how an orchid survives in the wild and caring for it with this in mind.
Orchids in the Wild
One of the two largest families of flowering plants, there are approximately 28,000 species that fall within the Orchidaceae family. Amazingly, that means that there are more than twice as many species of orchid on our planet as there are of birds.
Orchids grow in practically all areas of the globe except for glacial areas, with species adapting to fit their habitat. However, the majority of species prefer a tropical climate and the largest concentrations of orchid genera are therefore found in tropical areas of Asia and Africa. It’s no surprise then that in many parts of the world, orchids are seen as an ‘exotic’ plant.
While orchids grow in a variety of settings, the majority are perennial epiphytes, meaning that they grow anchored to another plant, usually a tree. This, along with the preference for tropical climates, are key points to keep in mind when it comes to orchid care.
Orchids in Culture
Thanks to their beauty, orchids have been adopted as symbolic representations of many cities and countries around the world. Costa Rica, Venezuela, Colombia, Belize, Guatemala, Panama and Honduras all boast varieties of orchid as their national flower, while Papilionanthe ‘Miss Joaquim’, with its two-tone petals in shades of pink is the national flower of Singapore.
Caring for Your Orchid
The myth that orchids are difficult to grow comes from a lack of understanding about their care, as opposed to any specific trait of the plant itself. Many new (and experienced) gardeners make the mistake of treating their orchid in the same way as other plants, which can lead to a very overwatered and unhappy flower.
The Best Location for Your Orchid
All orchids are not created equally, and the best thing you can do to ensure the success of your plant is to determine what variety it is. While some orchids are cool-growing, others prefer the warmth; this will play a large role in deciding on the best location for your plant.
In general, orchids prefer bright, filtered light, so an East or West facing window is a great choice for light levels. If you have a bathroom window that faces either of these directions, even better. Orchids generally enjoy 50% humidity, so either place one in a humid room of your home, use a humidifier, or mist lightly with water.
How To Water and Feed Your Orchid
In the wild, orchids tend to grow attached to trees in tropical areas. If you think about the logistics of this, it becomes clear that they would be frequently exposed to water as it runs off the tree, but they would never be sat in water for any period of time.
Overwatering is one of the biggest mistakes made by owners of orchids. Instead, the general rule is to let your orchid completely dry out between waterings, and if you’re not sure whether it needs to be watered, wait an extra day to be on the safe side. There are a few methods for watering, but the one which has worked best for me is to place the pot into a sink or bathtub, then gently run water over the bark until it is completely saturated. Once it has stopped dripping, I pop the orchid back on its windowsill and repeat as needed.
During the growing/flowering season, you may find that you need to water your orchid twice a week, outside of growing season it maybe once every 7-10 days, this will depend entirely on your plant and its location. It can also be helpful to fertilise your orchid twice a month during the growing season with diluted fertiliser. There are many products available specifically for this purpose.
Easiest Indoor Orchid to Grow
Phalaenopsis, or moth orchids, are the easiest species to grow and are more forgiving than many of their counterparts. This is the variety you’re most likely to find in your local supermarket or garden centre.
The flowering period of the moth orchid is one of the longest, with flowers lasting for as long as six months. They are also found in a range of colours, from white, pink and lavender to the more striking deep rose or orange.
Moth orchids tend to flower once per year, but can sometimes be encouraged to undergo further blooming by cutting the stem above the second or third nodule. While this doesn’t always work, it can often trigger the shoot to regrow, creating a second bloom.
Choosing the Right Orchid for your Home
If you’ve been inspired to bring a new orchid into your home, I suggest starting by deciding where you’d like it to be placed and then choosing a variety based on that. With over 28,000 orchids there’s going to be one that works for you!
Orchids that love light
If you have a greenhouse, conservatory or south-facing window just waiting to be home to an orchid, opt for an Angraecum or Vanda.
Orchids for medium-high light
For a location that is bright, but not necessarily directly sunny, such as an East or West facing window that gets a lot of light, try a Phragmipedium, Dendrobium or Oncidium.
Orchids for medium-low light
For locations which don’t get a great deal of light or where the brightness can be weather dependent, a Phalaenopsis or Paphiopedilums is the ideal choice.
Orchids for low light
Even in areas with very low levels of light, such as a south-facing room or one which has obstructed light levels, there is an orchid which will thrive. For low light level, try a Ludisia, or jewel orchid.
There we have it, everything you need to start your journey into the world of orchid care. We’d love to hear how you get on and see pictures of your orchid success stories!