What Environment Do Orchids Like?

Temperature

• The type of orchid you are growing determines the temperature range it prefers. Orchids perform best when the nighttime temperatures are 10 to 15 degrees cooler than the daytime temperatures. In the home, temperatures generally range between 70 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit during the day, and for most orchids this is fine, especially if you turn your thermostat back at night so the air temperature drops. For those who wish to fine tune the temperature range of some of orchids commonly sold in garden centers, Phalaenopsis prefer daytime temperatures of 75 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit and a nighttime temperature of 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Cattleyas prefer daytime temperatures of 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit and a nighttime temperature of 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Dendrobiums prefer daytime temperatures of 62 to 67 degrees Fahrenheit and a nighttime temperature of 52 degrees Fahrenheit.

Light

• A common misconception is that an orchid must have dark green leaves to be healthy. In fact, dark green leaves are an indication that the plant is not getting enough light. The ideal color for the leaves is a light green with a slight yellow cast. Too much yellow on the leaves is a sign of a problem. Orchids prefer bright filtered light. Brown spots on the leaves that look like burn spots indicate the plant is getting too much sun. Grow lights are ideal for orchids grown indoors if you cannot place the orchid near a window. In the winter, a southern facing window is ideal. Instead of placing the orchid in the window itself, cover the window with a light-colored sheer curtain and sit the orchid on a table in front of the curtain. In the summer, place indoor-grown orchids in windows that face either east or west.

Humidity and Water

• Orchids that live in the wild get the benefit of absorbing moisture from the air and continual air flow. Both of these elements are essential to create an ideal environment for orchids. In the home, this takes a bit of ingenuity. Sit orchids on trays filled with pebbles and keep the pebbles covered with water. Leave the very top of the pebbles dry so the orchid pot can sit on them and not be submerged in water. Regular misting is also essential. Use room-temperature water and mist your orchids several times a day to increase the humidity level around them. Position a humidity meter close to your orchids and make sure it does not fall below 50 percent humidity. Water orchids when the potting medium is dry to the touch. It is best to water orchids with rainwater or distilled water instead of tap water. Make sure the water is room temperature, then move the orchid to a sink and pour enough water into the top of the pot to completely drench the growing medium. The best way to know the orchid has received enough water is the excess will freely flow from the bottom of the pot.

Adequate Air Flow

• Orchid roots require good air flow to thrive. This is why orchids grown in the home are either mounted or grown in bark. Sphagnum moss is used as an alternative to bark. A ceiling fan or an oscillating fan set so it does not blow directly on the plants are ideal ways to circulate air in the room the orchids are grown in and prevent stale, stagnant air from developing around the orchids.