How to Grow Orchids Indoors

Blooming orchids look so ethereal that it’s hard to believe you can grow them inside your home. For success, choose the right one for your conditions, then watch them flourish.

Selecting

Look beyond the pretty face when deciding which orchid to grow indoors. First, assess the growing conditions you can offer an orchid, and make your choice from there. Light, temperature, humidity, your watering tendencies, and fertilizing all play a role in growing orchids.

Light Requirements

The single most important variable when growing orchids indoors is light. Orchids that prefer high light — unobstructed sunlight, streaming through a clear, south-facing window or into a greenhouse for 6 to 8 hours — include Vandas and Angraecums.

Medium-high light orchids, such as Phragmipediums, Oncidiums, and Dendrobiums, grow in locations that are bright but not directly sunny. Eastern and western exposures are often medium-high light locations, although a western exposure may be warmer. The light intensity is the same, but the air temperature has increased.

Medium-low light is appropriate for Phalaenopsis (Moth Orchids) and Paphiopedilums. It may be an east- or west-facing window with no direct sun. It may also be an open northern exposure with no obstructions and some additional reflected light.

Low light is usually a limited northern exposure or any exposure where the light is blocked by an overhang, trees, or neighboring buildings. Jewel Orchids grow in low light.

Temperature

Generally, orchids can be grouped into three temperature categories: cool, warm, and intermediate. Buy a high-low thermometer to measure the temperature range in your orchid location. After that, choosing a suitable orchid is simple. As with light, some orchids easily adapt to more than one temperature range.

Humidity

Most orchids we grow indoors come from the tropics, and most parts of the tropics are much more humid than the average living room. Orchids grow better if you can boost the humidity in their immediate growing area by grouping your plants together, or placing them on a dry well. Create a dry well by placing plastic lattice or pebbles on a tray, then adding water to just below the lattice or top of the pebbles. Place your potted plants on top of the lattice or pebbles.

Watering

Anyone who has ever watered an orchid knows that most of what you pour in runs out almost immediately through the bottom of the pot. Because orchids are potted in bark mix rather than potting soil, they need to be watered differently.

The goal is to get each mix particle to absorb as much water as possible. To give the potting mix enough time to absorb water, place the entire pot in a bowl of water for 10 to 15 minutes, then lift it out and let the excess water drain before putting the pot back in place. This technique works well for orchids potted in clay. Since clay is porous, water penetrates the walls of the pot and is absorbed by the bark.

If your orchid is potted in plastic, place it in an empty bowl, then add water. If you place the plastic pot in an already full bowl of water, the water will push the bark up and out, floating it away from the orchid roots. In this case, add water to just below the lip of the pot and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes, then drain and return the orchid pot to its place.

If an orchid is potted in long-grain sphagnum moss or soilless mix, you can water until water runs out into the saucer below. However, sphagnum moss may feel dry on its surface while the interior may still be moist. Stick your finger an inch or two down into the moss to feel whether it’s truly dry.

How frequently you water your orchid depends on:

• The kind of orchid: Is it drought-resistant or not?
• The kind of pot: Porous pots dry out faster than nonporous pots.
• The kind of potting mix: Sphagnum moss needs water less frequently than bark mix.
• The air temperature: Plants dry out faster in warmer temperatures.
• The humidity: Plants dry out faster in drier air.
• The light: Plants growing in higher light need more water.

In general, water drought-tolerant orchids, such as Cattleyas, Oncidiums, and Dendrobiums once a week.

Water most others, such as Miltonias, Paphiopedilums, and Phragmipediums every 4 to 5 days. Start there, and adjust up or down according to the conditions in your home.

Water orchids thoroughly each time, then let them dry out before watering again.

Fertilizing

Most orchids are not heavy feeders. Many orchids bloom year after year with no fertilizer at all. During active growth, when new leaves are being produced, you may fertilize every other time you water at half the strength recommended on the fertilizer package. However, it’s important to deliver water without fertilizer at least once a month to flush excess fertilizer salts from the bark mix and avoid fertilizer burn to the roots.

Source: bhg.com

Ophrys scolopax – Woodcock Bee-orchid

Ophrys scolopax grows from underground tubers. Leaves typically start to appear above ground in late autumn and are often beginning to yellow by the time the flowers appear, between March and June in their native habitats. 

The flower spike is very variable in height, usually up to 20 inches (50 cm) tall, but occasionally up to 3 feet (90 cm). 


The number of flowers is equally variable, with as few as two or as many as 15 or even more. Each flower has the standard structure for the genus. The flowers usually have pink sepals and petals but occasionally specimens with green or white sepals and petals are found.

 The flower lip is deeply lobed and dark brown. The shape of the speculum is variable but it is generally dark blue bordered with white.

Hardiness

USDA hardiness zone 8a to 10b: from 10 °F (−12.2 °C) to 40 °F (+4.4 °C).

How to Grow and Care

Generally, orchids can be grouped into three temperature categories: cool, warm, and intermediate. Buy a high-low thermometer to measure the temperature range in your orchid location. After that, choosing a suitable orchid is simple. As with light, some orchids easily adapt to more than one temperature range.

Most orchids we grow indoors come from the tropics, and most parts of the tropics are much more humid than the average living room. Orchids grow better if you can boost the humidity in their immediate growing area by grouping your plants together, or placing them on a dry well.

 Create a dry well by placing plastic lattice or pebbles on a tray, then adding water to just below the lattice or top of the pebbles. Place your potted plants on top of the lattice or pebbles.

Anyone who has ever watered an orchid knows that most of what you pour in runs out almost immediately through the bottom of the pot. Because orchids are potted in bark mix rather than potting soil, they need to be watered differently….

How to Grow and Care for Phalaenopsis Orchids

Most people are introduced to Orchids through Phalaenopsis Orchids. These are the thick-leaved plants with elegant, arching sprays of blooms that can be seen in so many design magazines and sitting on coffee tables across America.

 There are about 60 true species of Phalaenopsis; they are native to tropical Asian countries including the Philippines, Borneo, Java and elsewhere. These plants have been extensively hybridized, and there are thousands of Phalaenopsis hybrids, ranging from the stark, classic white hybrid (often called a Moth Orchid) to jewel-like miniatures with clouds of yellow and candy pink blooms.

Growing Conditions and General Care


Light: Phalaenopsis are low-light Orchids and will thrive in a east window, or a shaded southerly or westerly exposure. They do not like direct sunlight and will scorch. They also will do well under common grow lights, positioned about a foot off the plant. A well-grown phal will have darker green leaves on top and streaks of red or burgundy on the undersides.

Water: The Phalaenopsis is a Monopodial Orchid that grows from a single stem. It does not have the large water-storing pseudobulbs found on Sympodial Orchids, although its leaves can store some water. Thus, the plant has a lower tolerance for drought. During the growth season, water the plant whenever its exposed roots turn silvery white, usually weekly.

 Try to keep the potting media slightly damp. During the flowering season, you can cut the water back to every other week. The higher the humidity, the more important it is to maintain a good air flow around the roots and leaves.

Fertilizer: During the growing season, fertilize with a weak Orchid fertilizer weekly (weakly weekly, as the growers say). Cut fertilizer back to once a month during the winter and flowering season. Some growers like to give the plant a boost of blooming fertilizer in September or October to provoke a flower spike.

Temperature: Generally, Phalaenopsis are considered a warm-house plant. During active growth, they like temperatures between about 75°F and 85°F (24°C and 30°C), but they can adapt to a normal house temperature of 65°F to 70°F (18°C to 21°C). 

The higher the temperature, the greater the plant’s need for humidity. However, they also like a nice contrast between night and day temperatures.

Blooming

Phalaenopsis typically bloom in the late winter or early spring. Their long-lasting flowers are held on arching branches and open successively. A single multi-branching flower spike can have more than 20 flowers. Individual Phalaenopsis flowers can last for weeks. 

To induce a flower spike, the plant needs a few cooler nights, down to 55°F (13°C). The plants will not bloom well without this temperature contrast.

Potting and Media

Phalaenopsis can be grown in most Orchid potting media, including chunks of pine bark, clay aggregate pellets, charcoal, perlite, sphagnum moss, and styrofoam. They can also be grown in hanging baskets or mounted on slabs in a greenhouse-type environment.

 As with all Epiphytic Orchids, they should be planted in free-draining containers. Repot Phalaenopsis in spring, after the bloom is done. Adult Phalaenopsis can often go for two years or more before they need to be repotted.

Grower’s Tips

Phalaenopsis are generally very rewarding plants. They are not demanding and, in the right conditions, they will reward the grower with months of showy blooms. It is vitally important, however, that water never be allowed to rest in the growing tip of the plant. This will cause the new leaves to rot, and the plant will die. 

Thus, they should only be watered in the morning. As with all Orchids, the higher the humidity and temperature, the greater the need for turbulent air flow to prevent rot, fungus and diseases. Successful growth means finding the right balance between humidity, temperature, light and air flow.

Source: about.com

Phalaenopsis bellina

Phalaenopsis bellina is a monopodial orchid. The leaves are a light green and appear to be very glossy and slightly wavy. With age they can grow up to 12 inches (30 cm) long and have a downward growth. 

Each year the orchid will produce 1 or 2 new leaves and the bottom leaves will dry and fall regularly. The flowers are displayed on a short and compact flower spike which emerges from between the leaves are elongates forward. 

They are waxy, green and purple, up to 2 inches (5 cm) in diameter and are usually produced above the leaves.

Hardiness

USDA hardiness zone 11a to 12b: from 40 °F (+4.4 °C) to 60 °F (15.6 °C).

How to Grow and Care

Phalaenopsis are generally very rewarding plants. They are not demanding and, in the right conditions, they will reward the grower with months of showy blooms.

 It is vitally important, however, that water never be allowed to rest in the growing tip of the plant. This will cause the new leaves to rot, and the plant will die.

 Thus, they should only be watered in the morning. As with all Orchids, the higher the humidity and temperature, the greater the need for turbulent air flow to prevent rot, fungus and diseases. Successful growth means finding the right balance between humidity, temperature, light and air flow.

Phalaenopsis can be grown in most Orchid potting media, including chunks of pine bark, clay aggregate pellets, charcoal, perlite, sphagnum moss, and styrofoam. They can also be grown in hanging baskets or mounted on slabs in a greenhouse-type environment.

 As with all Epiphytic Orchids, they should be planted in free-draining containers. Repot Phalaenopsis in spring, after the bloom is done. Adult Phalaenopsis can often go for two years or more before they need to be repotted…

The beauty and exoticism Orchid

Exotic and refined orchid flower since ancient times symbolizes love and romance. Her roots are attributed to the aphrodisiac properties. For orchid say that the flower of successful people, and how to successfully grow, learn below.

With its beauty and diversity that owes number of species, orchids delight for centuries. To date about 30 thousand species of orchids, and yet so many of them yet to discover or to be incurred by crossing the so far known species. 


The rich are different colors from snow white, bright yellow, purple to blood red and the color of mud, orchids bloom in all shades. Particularly appreciated for their beauty and fragility, these beautiful plants are threatened by deforestation and cultivation of land Colombia and Brazil, where their natural habitat.


Orchids have a reputation of being very sensitive and difficult to grow. Require high humidity and plenty of light. Best to place them on the window to get enough light, but avoid direct sunlight. If the room air is dry, the plant should be placed on the tray filled with moist glinoporom, but certainly not all the time to stand in water. 

Orchids are very specific in terms of watering, which is made by steeping. The jar was dipped in a container with water and left for 4 to 8 hours to soak up the water substrate. After this orchid is not necessary to water the ten days, although that depends on the particular type and conditions in the apartment.

Enchanted by the beauty of a flower, many will buy them in full bloom, but after losing the flowers will devote little attention to them. Good to know that even neglected orchids, with proper care in a few months can blossom again. 

For those who do not yet have enough experience with orchids, one of the most rewarding and the easiest types to maintain the Phalaenopsis. Long booming and does not require too much watering, and of those is that you will be very alert when it needs to be done.

Once the plant absorb enough moisture, it should be back to dry the jar. If the plant has too much water, watering should be reduced, and the substrate dry to a new watering. During each watering, especially in winter when the air is drained for heating both sides of sheets it is advisable to spray irrigate with water. 


After flowering, the flower stem will dry and we should cut. It is cut below the first flower, ie. The place where he was the lowest flower on a stalk.


Air roots, which orchids as epiphyte take moisture from the air and food, should not be cut, but it should be left to protrude out of the jar. Shorten it only in the case when it loses its green color and begins to wither or rot. 

When buying orchids need to pay attention to the leaves and roots, which must be healthy and green. If you want your orchid bloom as long as possible, choose a plant that has a couple of open flowers and several buds.


Orchids are transplanted approximately every three years, a period of inactivity. The substrate is replaced if it began to break up, or if it is covered with fungus. The roots should be well moistened to soften, so as not to break during transplantation, and sick and dry roots are removed.


If you do not have the time or space for pots, let the pleasure of choice, and the area in which you are staying decorate cut orchids. A glass of wine and a couple of orchids with a favorite book, the special moments unforgettable.