Orchids are a diverse and popular group of houseplants, known for their unique and beautiful blooms. Successfully growing these plants requires specific care techniques. While often perceived as difficult, orchids are adaptable and rewarding for home growers once their needs are met.
Essential Cultivation Methods
Orchids thrive with specific cultivation methods that mimic their natural tropical habitats. Proper watering is important; most orchids, being epiphytes, prefer a “soak and dry” technique where the potting medium dries out almost completely between waterings. Avoid leaving roots in standing water, which causes rot, and prevent water from collecting between leaves to prevent crown rot. Use room-temperature water, as cold water can shock the roots.
Light exposure is another factor, with most orchids preferring bright, indirect light to avoid scorching their sensitive leaves. East or west-facing windows often provide ideal conditions, but supplemental grow lights can be used if natural light is limited. Temperature management is important; most orchids benefit from a diurnal temperature drop of about 10°C (18°F) between day and night to encourage flowering. Humidity levels between 50% and 70% are favored, which can be achieved through humidity trays or misting. Adequate air circulation is beneficial to prevent stagnant conditions that can lead to fungal issues and root rot.
Repotting Techniques
Repotting is a distinct method for maintaining orchid health, performed every one to two years or when the potting medium begins to decompose. The ideal time to repot is after the orchid has finished flowering and new root growth is emerging, often in spring. Repotting is necessary if the orchid’s roots become overly crowded, growing out of the pot, or if the potting mix develops an unpleasant odor.
Appropriate potting media is important, as orchids require a loose, chunky mix that provides both nutrients and air circulation. Common components include fir bark, sphagnum moss, and horticultural charcoal. When repotting, carefully remove the orchid from its old pot, and pick or wash away as much old, degraded medium as possible from the roots. Trim any dead, black, or mushy roots with sterilized tools, leaving only firm, healthy roots. Place the orchid into a new pot, often of a similar size, and carefully work fresh potting mix around the roots, ensuring good contact without over-compacting.
Propagation Approaches
Propagating orchids creates new plants using distinct methods based on the orchid’s growth habit. One common approach for sympodial orchids, which grow horizontally and produce pseudobulbs, is division. This involves separating the rhizome into sections, each with a minimum of three to six pseudobulbs, to ensure enough stored energy for the new plant to establish. Division is done when the plant has outgrown its pot and new pseudobulbs are developing roots.
For monopodial orchids, which grow vertically from a single stem, propagation involves removing keikis. A keiki, meaning “baby” in Hawaiian, is a plantlet that forms on the flower spike or stem of the parent plant. Keikis can be removed when they have developed at least two to three mature leaves and roots that are two to three inches long. Carefully cut the keiki from the parent plant using a sterile tool, and then pot it in a small container with a fine orchid growing medium. While more complex methods like seed propagation or tissue culture exist, division and keiki removal are more accessible for the average home grower.