Orchid Flower Caretaking Tips

Create Humidity

• Orchids are tropical flowers that need a moist, humid environment to thrive, and many need a relative humidity level of about 50 percent or higher to mimic conditions in a rain forest. There are several ways to create the optimal level of humidity for your orchids: invest in a humidifier, mist them throughout the morning and afternoon, or place your plants in a humidity tray. Make your own humidity tray by putting potted orchids in bins that have about a half inch of gravel and water in the bottom.

Keep it Breezy

• Orchids and other houseplants benefit greatly from air circulation from while on display indoors, as they can easily adapt to changing atmospheres. A small oscillating fan or the breeze from an open window will help trick your orchids into thinking they are in their natural, outdoor environment. In the wild, many orchids need to experience a difference in temperature of at least 15 degrees between day and night to thrive. This tip will help stimulate root growth and the opening of flower buds, as well as ensure that your orchid will strengthen itself to adapt to a more breezy environment.

Re-Pot & Groom

• Most orchids should be re-potted when they outgrow their containers or after the potting fiber, typically moss or fern fiber, breaks down and dies after about two years. The best time to re-pot orchids is after they have flowered. When you transplant them you should take the opportunity to groom them. Use sterilized scissors to prune off dead leaves and roots, which look soft, small and brown, and divide overgrown orchids so that each plant has some new growth and at least three swollen stems, known as pseudobulbs.

Don't Overwater

• Orchids thrive in a humid environment, but this doesn't mean that you should water these flowers every day. Many amateur caretakers overwater their orchids, which results in rotted roots and wilted, dead flowers. You should typically water orchids every five to 12 days, always in the morning and more frequently during the long, hot days of summer. Different orchid species have varying requirements; keep in mind that your flower's watering needs may change with the temperature, its flowering cycle or the time of year.