Orchid Growing in Your Home

I hear this alot, "I love orchids but I always kill mine.." or "How do you keep your orchids alive, I always kill mine?" Growing orchids in your home is easy if you follow the time tested techniques of experienced orchid growers.  First of all, I will assume that you received an orchid plant with flowers as a gift.  The first thing you want to do is find a place to put your new orchid plant.  I have been very successful growing my orchids in the bathroom.  I have collected so many plants, that I use my bathroom as a mini greenhouse since it is both humid and bright in that location. 

 

Look at the orchid plant and see if it has a lot of flower buds.  The more flower buds the orchid plant has, the brighter the location you want to put the orchid.  Now, you will need to monitor the orchid plant periodically to make sure orchid flowers are not falling off prematurely.  If the flowers fall off quickly, it means you have placed the orchid in a non opimal location and it will need to be moved to another location.  Try placing the orchid in a bright location where it is humid like the bathroom or next to the kitchen sink.  Orchid flowers are very long lasting so you shouldn't see flowers dropping right away.  Falling orchid flowers means the orchid is not in a good location or the orchid plant has bloomed out..

 

After the orchid flowers have fallen off the orchid plant, I suggest that you leave the orchid flower stem and don't cut it.  Some orchids are ever-blooming like phalaenopsis and the flower spike may produce another set of flower buds at the tip of the stem.  You will want to cut the flower stem if you notice the stem is dead and won't produce any more buds.  If the whole stem is dead, you can cut it off about 1/2 inch from the base of the foliage, otherwise if only a portion of the stem is dead, cut that portion off as you may get another shoot coming from the original stem.  If you were successful in getting the orchid plant to produce another flower spike, then the orchid is doing great and you found a location in your home where you can bring other orchids to enjoy.  As your collection grows, you may need to invest in a hobby greenhouse where you can place your orchids after they have finished blooming.  I like to bring in those orchids from the greenhouse into the home that have produced a flower spike so I can enjoy the flowers in the home.

 

Finally, do the following to keep your orchids healthy and flourishing wherever you have decided to place the orchid plants.  One, wash the dust off the foliage periodically.  Don't let dust accumulate on the foliage as this inhibits photosynthesis not to mention the orchids look prettier when they are clean.  Two, don't over water.  Orchids die because too much water.  Make sure the orchid is not sitting in water or smells of stagnant water.  Stagnant water means the orchid will die soon.  Finally, buy a good book on orchid growing to learn more of the basics of orchid care. 

 

With these helpful techniques, you are on your way to growing beautiful orchids like the experienced orchid growers.  Happy orchid growing!