How to Grow Stelis Orchids

Stelis orchids are not your typical orchids. They are small plants with tiny flowers that grow in clusters along erect flower stalks that are only about 6 to 10 inches tall. Approximately 270 species are members of the Stelis orchid family and according to "The New York Botanical Garden Illustrated Encyclopedia of Horticulture," you should grow them in a similar manner as you would Pleurothallis orchids, another, but more popular, family of small orchids.

Tray
Rocks
Orchid fertilizer

Instructions

- 1
  Maintain moist soil conditions at all times. A Stelis orchid does not grow well if you allow the soil to dry out between waterings.
- 2
  Grow a Stelis orchid near a window so it receives indirect sunlight. Keep Stelis orchids away from heat sources such as a stove or a radiator. Ideally, temperatures should average between 55 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit at night and 75 to 80 degrees during the day.
- 3
  Set the Stelis orchid on a tray filled with rocks and water. This increases the humidity around the orchid. If your house is especially dry -- as it may be during the winter -- consider using a humidifier in the same room as the Stelis orchid.
- 4
  Fertilize it with an orchid fertilizer, using 1/2 the strength recommended on the label. Fertilize every three waterings in the spring and summer, and then every four to five waterings in the fall and winter.

Long Vs. Extra Long Stems in Mokara Orchids

What Do You Do With Moth Orchid Plants After the Flowers Fall Off?

Orchids