By Jane Ying, Master Gardener In-Training, SCMG
Why grow orchids?
- Stunning flowers lasting for months
- Very affordable price and widely available
- With a little care, it will re-flower many times and live for many years (unlike a bunch of cut flowers)
Phalaenopsis, or Moth Orchid, is the most common type of orchid available in stores.
I have grown Phalaenopsis orchids for many years and almost all of them rebloom year after year. And I have figured out a few lazy tricks in caring for my orchids.
Follow these simple steps and you too can develop a green thumb on your orchids:
Location, location, location…
Place your orchid any place in your home with bright indirect light; avoid putting it by a south facing window in summer.
Watering … take the short cut
Water once every two weeks – try to do it on the same day of the week so it’s easier to remember (e.g. every second Sunday).
Don’t even bother to take the orchid out of its decorative pot. That’s right – just pour water directly into the soil (not the leaves or flowers) while it is sitting in its decorative pot (which is without any drainage holes). Water until the outer pot is partially filled, and let it sit there for 15 minutes or up to several hours.
When it’s time to put the orchid back, drain off all the water in the decorative pot. This is a very important step to avoid rotten roots – Orchids do not like “wet feet”.
While some people recommend the ice cube watering method (i.e. placing several ice cubes around the plant once a week), I find the above pot method easier and more fool-proof.
Fertilizing …do this together with watering to save time
Every time you water, dissolve a small amount of all purpose fertilizer (e.g. 20-20-20 at a quarter of the recommended rate) into the watering can.
Let it rest …
After the flowers have wilted, cut off the dead stem. Sometime there can be secondary flowers from the old stem but the flowers are usually smaller. Don’t’ throw your orchid out. Just let it rest, and with a little care (proper watering and fertilizing), your orchid will rebloom in a few months.
And that’s it – Growing Orchids is rewarding and easy!!!
