- 1). Water your orchid every five to 12 days. Water it in the morning, to ensure total water evaporation on the foliage before nightfall. Water more frequently during warm summer months than in winter.
- 2). Place your orchid in the kitchen sink and water it with lukewarm water for about 15 seconds. Make sure you have wet the entire plant. Leave it to drain for about 15 minutes. Place the pot on a humidity tray (a tray or saucer of gravel or pebbles and water) above the water line. This keeps the bottom of the pot out of the water, increases humidity and lets air circulate underneath the pot.
- 3). Follow the watering instructions for your particular orchid variety. Keep Paphiopedilum, Miltonia, Cymbidium and Odontoglossum orchids evenly moist at all times. Keep Cattleya, Oncidium, Brassia and Dendrobium orchids evenly moist during periods of active growth, letting them dry out between waterings when they are not in active growth. Keep Phalaenopsis, Vanda and Ascocenda orchids nearly dry between waterings.
- 4). Fertilize your orchid once per month with an orchid food to encourage growth and flowering. Use a formulation that contains nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and trace elements, such as iron. Follow the feeding instructions for your particular orchid variety. If your orchid is growing in bark, feed it a formula with a higher proportion of nitrogen than either phosphorus or potassium (30-10-10).
Subscribe to our newsletter
Sign up here to get the latest news, updates and special offers delivered directly to your inbox.
You can unsubscribe at any time
Next Post