How to Care for Black Orchids

Select an appropriate spot to hang the orchid. Orchids need 12 to 16 hours daily of bright sun or artificial light, but no direct sunlight, which harms leaves. To mimic a tropical environment, the flowers require temperatures above 60 degrees Fahrenheit at night and between 70 and 82 degrees in the day, as well as moving air with relative humidity between 50 and 80 percent. An east-facing window of a greenhouse is ideal. If a greenhouse isn't available, choose a sunny window in the home.

Test the relative humidity of the orchard hanging location, using a hygrometer. If the humidity is below 40 percent, set up a humidifier to add necessary water vapor.

Soak an orchid mount and a sphagnum moss pad in water for at least 12 hours.

Secure a hook screw into the top edge of the orchid mount. Spread the sphagnum moss over the mount. Spread the orchid's roots over the moss.

Secure plant ties around the plant's roots to anchor them to the moss and mount. Make the ties tight enough to firmly hold the roots without cutting into them or restricting water flow.

Hang the orchid in the location you chose earlier.

Saturate the orchid mount with water, and wait for the growing medium to nearly dry out before watering it again. Add 20-20-20 fertilizer at a rate of 1 tsp. per 1 gallon water each time the orchids are watered in warm weather. Use fertilizer with every third watering in cool weather. During the warmer months, orchids may need water every other day. In winter weather, orchids may only need a weekly watering.

Remove plant ties once the roots are established on the mount. This should take about one week.