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Raising beautiful orchids in your home is not only possible, it can be easy. The most important step is selecting the right orchid to grow indoors. Recommended orchid plants include Cattleya, the Moth orchid (Phalaenopsis), the Slipper orchid (Paphiopedilum), Oncidium, Dendrobium and the Vanda orchid. The most popular orchid in recent years and the most widely available has been the Phalaenopsis.
Factors to consider in determining where to place the orchid include temperature, humidity, shade and light. Orchids do not require constant temperatures, but they should not be kept in rooms where the temperature may fluctuate rapidly, such as a bathroom. Some orchids prefer consistently warm temperatures between 68-75 degrees, and do not do well if the temperature drops lower at night. Other types will do well when the temperature drops at night to between 60 and 65 degrees. For example, Cattleya orchids can tolerate temperatures as low as 55 degrees at night. Phalaenopsis orchids do not flourish when temperatures fall to the low sixties or below.
The amount of humidity orchids prefer also varies depending upon the type. Phalaenopsis orchids prefer humidity between 50% and 80%. Spraying a Phalaenopsis orchid with water on a daily basis will help maintain the humidity it requires. Cattleyas require humidity of at least 50%, particularly during the winter when the air in homes tends to be drier. Humidity can be increased through the use of a humidity tray. The tray should be larger than the pot(s) to be put in it. One inch of horticultural material or gravel should be placed in the tray. Water should be added to wet approximately half the material. The orchids should then be placed on the base material. It is important to ensure the orchids are not in contact with the wet base.
Orchids thrive in indirect light. During the summer months it is important that orchids not be in the direct noonday sun. Early morning and late afternoon summer sun is safe. In the winter months most orchids benefit from being placed closer to a window where they can receive the winter sun. If the house does not receive much sun, orchids such as Phalaenopsis or Paphiopedilum may grow best. These orchids can flourish with more shade and less sun.
Efforts should be made to keep orchids moist. They should not be allowed to dry out, nor should they be overly wet. Excessive watering is the most common cause of orchid failure. It is advisable to water orchids in the sink, allowing the water to flow though the potting medium, with excess water flowing out of the pot. Tap water may be used to water orchids, provided it has not been softened and is not overly chlorinated. Some growers recommend the use of distilled spring water or collected rain water.
The fertilization needs of orchids depend upon the type of orchid, the potting medium and whether the orchid is in an active or dormant phase. Advice as to the fertilization needs of the orchid you choose should be obtained when it is purchased. Some orchids benefit from feeding every second or third watering, whereas an inactive plant will not need fertilizer at all. Excessive use of fertilizer can burn the plant's roots.
Orchids may occasionally need to repotted, particularly if they are kept for several years. A Phalaenopsis orchid should not need to be repotted for several years after purchase. It is time to repot the plant when several dead roots can be seen on the surface and the condition of the potting material is poor. Orchids should be potted in soil free orchid compost. In contrast, Vanda orchids normally grow in wooden baskets, and never need to be repotted.
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