How Often Should I Be Watering My Moth Orchids

Water

• Moth orchids should be watered once each week to ensure that their potting mix remains just slightly moist. The key to successfully watering moth orchids is to provide just the right amount of moisture, since both too much and too little moisture can lead to cultivation problems. An easy way to water moth orchids is to water them with ice cubes, recommends online orchid nursery Just Add Ice Orchids. Place three ice cubes on the top of the potting mix; the cubes will evenly moisten the potting mix as they melt.

Sunlight

• Moth orchids grow best in bright, indirect sunlight, which makes them well-suited for growing indoors near a sunny window. The Texas A&M University Department of Horticultural Sciences recommends placing moth orchids near a window with an east, south or west exposure. For best results, position moth orchids where they can receive at least four hours of bright sunlight per day. Providing too little sunlight can cause moth orchids to wilt, while providing too much, or direct, sunlight can burn their foliage.

Temperature and Humidity

• Maintain a consistent indoor climate for moth orchids to prevent wilting, leaf drop and other cultivation problems. Program your thermostat to keep the temperature of your home between 70 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit during the day. At night, provide moth orchids with temperatures that are 10 degrees cooler to encourage the production of healthy flower spikes and stimulate blooming. Moth orchids need relative humidity levels between 50 and 80 percent to thrive. Increase the humidity around your orchid by running a cool-mist humidifier in the same room.

Fertilize

• Moth orchids should be fertilized monthly from March through July, while the orchids are actively growing; use a water-soluble, all-purpose fertilizer with a 10-10-10 or 20-20-20 formula. The balanced, all-purpose fertilizer helps to stimulate healthy foliage and root development moth orchids. In November, apply a single application of a water-soluble, high-phosphorus fertilizer to help the orchids set their buds. For best results, mix and apply any and all fertilizer products according to package directions.