How to Care for Epidendrum Orchids

Keep your Epidendrum orchid in the right planting media for success. These orchids rot and die in standing water, so use tall pots with drainage holes and a porous, airy potting medium like peat moss, gravel or wood chips. Change organic potting mediums once a year to keep them fresh and nutritious.

Put Epidendrum orchids in north- or south-facing windows where they'll get soft, indirect light, or keep them in rooms with bright fluorescent or halogen lights. These plants will fail if they don't get enough light. They may sit in direct, bright light, but will do better with indirect light. Maintain temperatures between 60 and 80 degrees F for best growth.

Water Epidendrum orchids when they begin to dry, but not before. Check the potting media once a week and water the orchid with 1 to 2 inches of water only if the medium is dry. Don't get water on the orchid's leaves, as they will rot and fall off. These plants enjoy water more than many other orchids, but should never sit in standing water.

Feed Epidendrum orchids with water-soluble orchid-specific fertilizer, or 3-1-1 for bark potting mediums and 1-1-1 for gravel or perlite mediums. Feed the orchid once a month during the orchid's dormancy and once a week during periods of active growth. Always mix the fertilizer per manufacturer directions.