A Beginner’s Guide To Indoor Orchids
Of all the flower varieties to nurture indoors, orchids are amongst the most beautiful and delicate. Considering their high-maintenance reputation, many shy away from these exotic epiphytes in favour of plants that are easier to care for, such as monsteras or spider plants. This needn’t be the case - by taking the time to learn basic orchid requirements, you too can enjoy vibrant, ornamental blooms and sweet, musky fragrances.
Natural Habitat
Currently, there are around 28,000 identified species of orchid, most of which grow in the tropical forests of countries like Colombia, Ecuador and New Guinea, as well as in warmer areas of China and India. Although, thousands of orchid species can be found on every continent apart from Antarctica.
The key to growing any plant variety indoors is to replicate its natural habitat as closely as possible. Some varieties are more tolerant than others regarding climate. Low-water houseplants such as snake plants can survive for weeks without a drop of water and fluctuating temperatures. Most orchids, unfortunately, are not so tolerant, preferring consistent warm temperatures of at least 10°-15° C to thrive when blooming. Nevertheless, it is worth noting that each orchid variety has a different set of preferences.
Light Exposure
Orchids favour bright, indirect light - overexposure to direct sunlight can cause them to become dehydrated and sunburnt, damaging their delicate leaves. Around six to eight hours of indirect sunlight per day is ideal, which is why many choose to place them near a south or east-facing window.
If you don’t have a suitably well-lit area for your orchid, you may want to consider keeping it under an LED grow lamp to ensure it receives a full spectrum of light wavelengths.
Watering
Orchids may favour humidity, but they don’t enjoy soggy roots. Twice weekly watering in the summer and once a week in the winter is sufficient. Overwatered orchids may display limp, sometimes leathery leaves, whereas the roots of underwatered orchids may appear grey and shrivelled. Both over and underwatering can be detrimental to the health of your plant, causing root damage - asalvageable issue if noticed quickly.
Water your orchid in the kitchen sink, completely saturating the growing medium for around 15 seconds. Once drained completely, your orchid can return to its spot and will be ready for its next watering in another week or two once the moss is dry to the touch.
Growing Medium
This is where orchid care becomes somewhat fastidious. Clear plastic orchid pots may not tie in with the aesthetic of your home, but your orchids will thank you. Designed to provide ample drainage, air circulation and light exposure for root photosynthesis, orchid pots allow you to replicate the right conditions your orchids require to thrive. A clear pot also enables you to easily ascertain root heath and moisture levels.
Most commercial orchid potting mixes contain a combination of ingredients to mimic the organic growing matter of wild orchids. Often a specialised blend of long-lasting, porous, and free-draining materials such as perlite, vermiculite, sphagnum moss, shredded bark and more. Most orchids fare well in standard potting mix available online or from garden centres; however, the ideal potting mix will depend on your chosen orchid variety, as well as its size and age.
To optimise the health of your orchid, it is advisable to repot it once a year, just after flowering or noticeable regrowth has occurred. To help your orchid tolerate the stress of repotting, water it thoroughly before gently loosening it from its medium, trimming any dead roots and transferring it into fresh potting mix.
Fertilisation
Orchids should be fertilised at least once a month to provide them with vital nutrients needed for optimal health. Insufficient fertilisation may stunt growth and inhibit blooming. Experts advise purchasing a robust, high-quality fertiliser containing a balanced 20-20-20- mix of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.
For the best results, many growers favour the “weakly weekly” approach. Dilute your fertiliser to a quarter of its strength and apply once per week while the moss is still damp - fertiliser applied to dry roots may cause burning. You could even help to strengthen your orchid’s cell wall by adding extra calcium and potassium in the form of crushed or powdered eggshells.