Orchids are pretty cool.

They’re beautiful, symmetrical, and come in over 30,000 varieties which grow naturally around the world. Talk about a big family!

Orchids outsell every other house plant. It’s good to know how to keep them healthy after you introduce them to your home.

Here are general tips on how to care for your orchid. There are many types of orchids, however, and it’s best to be aware of the needs of your individual type.

Lighting & Temperature

Most varieties of orchids require indirect, bright light to survive. Too much sun will produce black spots on leaves; too little sun will produce dark leaves and your orchid will probably not produce flowers. Keep your orchid in a clear grower pot to allow light to filter through.

Most varieties thrive in 65 to 85 F, with the optimum temperature being 70 F. Avoid extremes, as your orchid is tropical and does not like freezing temperatures.

Water & Air Circulation

The water needs of an orchid vary by variety, pot size, and potting medium. As a general rule, allow them to dry thoroughly between watering – this usually takes 5 to 12 days.

When you do water your orchid, avoid well water, distilled or softened water. These can damage your plant. Use rain, deionized, or reverse osmosis water. Chlorinated tap water can be used if you fill a container and let it sit overnight so the chlorine can dissipate.

Ideally, the water should be room temperature or tepid. Don’t use cold water or ice!

Pro tip: Place your orchid in the sink and allow the water to run through the drain holes for an even and thorough watering.

As far as air goes, all varieties need good circulation. Orchids are air plants, which means they are not planted in soil.

Fertilizing & Repotting

If they are correctly cared for, orchids will grow and flower for long periods of time without fertilizing. It’s one of the many reasons they’re so popular! If you do fertilize, however, you’ll get better results.

Fertilize your orchid once a week during the summer and twice a week during the fall and winter seasons. Use a special orchid fertilizer instead of house plant fertilizer.

Pro tip: Many experienced orchid growers will fertilize at half the strength of the label recommendations. They also wet their orchid’s potting medium before fertilizing for even distribution.

It’s time to repot when your orchid medium has broken down or the plant has outgrown its container. Most varieties need repotting every one to two years. Repotting should be considered when the potting media stays wet for more than seven days, the foliage starts yellowing, or the roots appear rotten.

Pro tip: It’s best to repot all orchids at the same time in like potting material. If all your orchids are in fresh new potting media they should require watering about the same time, making watering easier and more consistent.

We’re Here to Help!

English Gardens work doesn’t end when you walk out the door with your new orchids. We’re here to share our knowledge and help you care for your plants.

Each of our retail locations is staffed with many friendly experts to answer your questions in person or over the phone. You can also ask us for advice online.

We also create videos with tips and information, such as this Orchid Care video with Rick Vespa.

Thanks for reading and best of luck with your new, beautiful orchids!