How to Care for a Coerulea Orchid

Select a pot that is no more than 1 inch larger than the current pot your coerulea orchid is in. Clay, plastic, and metal pots are all suitable, as long as there are drainage holes in the bottom.

Spread a 1/2- to 1-inch layer of gravel over the bottom of the pot to aid in drainage and prevent the planting medium from running out the drainage holes at watering time.

Fill the pot halfway with a soilless planting medium. Garden centers sell premixed formulas for growing orchids. Alternatively, use one or a combination of pine bark, peat moss, volcanic stone, or osmunda fern fibers.

Place the coerulea orchid into the new pot so that the base area where the roots and the stem join is 1/4 inch below the lip of the pot. Fill in the soilless medium around the rootball up to 1/4 inch below the lip of the pot. Press down the medium gently with your fingertips.

Place the orchid in a sink or outside, and run water over the pot until it runs out the drainage holes in the bottom. Leave the potted orchid to drain completely.

Keep coerulea orchids 12 to 36 inches away from a bright window with filtered sunlight. Orchids thrive when the temperature is 60 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit at night, and 70 to 75 F during the day.

Fertilize the orchid once a month using a 30-10-10 orchid fertilizer. Check the fertilizer package for the right amount to use at each application.

Water the orchid once a week, or when the top of the soilless medium feels dry to the touch. Place the orchid in a sink, and soak the pot until water runs through.