Compared with every other indoor houseplant, orchids are notoriously hard to care for. Their stunning blooms and larger-than-life personality make them perfect impulse buys or gifts. But it takes some know-how to keep them happy. You can't just place an orchid on a windowsill and check in every few weeks, the way you can with a ZZ plant or succulent. You actually need to know how to care for an orchid to keep it from withering and encourage new blooms. Seriously, the speed at which they can go from a full blooming stem of flowers to a sad bare one is mind-blowing.
Luckily, caring for an orchid is actually pretty simple: You just have to pay attention to it. You may not be used to doing that if you're a new plant parent. Remember, orchids are living things. Their sun and watering needs can and do change with the season. If you're stuck on a watering or care schedule that's too rigid, it will only lead you astray. You need learn how to notice your orchid's changing needs. Don't worry, we're going to break down the cues you need to know. Ahead, we explain how to care for an orchid so its blooms thrive all year.
Orchid Basics
Blooming twice a year for 30 to 45 days on average, perennial orchid flowers are some of the most beautiful in the flowering world. Often seen in solid colors such as white, purple, and pink, there are actually more than 28,000 varieties and species of orchid—many enthusiasts even collect them. Orchids are epiphytes, which means that they do not grow in dirt but rather by hanging onto the bark of trees. Depending on the type of orchid, the plant can live for years, even decades, despite not flowering all the time.
More From House Beautiful
Sunlight
For maximum growth, place your orchid on a windowsill that faces south, east, or west to ensure it gets plenty of bright indirect sunlight for most of the day. Orchids love light, so don't worry about drooping due to too much sun exposure.
Water
Orchids should be watered once a week on average. These plants require very little water, which is why you'll often see orchid lovers using an ice cube rather than a watering can. Place a large ice cube at the plant's base and allow it to melt. That will provide the plant with a steady stream of water that won't overwhelm its delicate root system.
Pruning
Once the blooming cycle is complete, you'll want to prune the flowering spikes (the little stem the flower grew on) to set your orchid up for a successful next cycle. Using a pair of small, clean gardening shears, snip off the old flowering spike as close to the base as you can.
Roots
Unlike other plants, orchid roots don't branch out in traditional ways. They also aren't brown. Healthy orchid roots are a light green color (sometimes nearly white) and firm to the touch; they tend to coil around the perimeter of the pot they're planted in.
If your orchid's roots look green, take a break from watering.
Temperature and Humidity
As tropical plants, orchids thrive between 50 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. However, you want to avoid placing them directly next to or in line with an air vent because either warm or cold gusts can dry them out. These plants are also humidity lovers and do best with humidity levels above 50 percent. Opt for a weekly humidifier session or bring your orchid with you into the bathroom while you shower to give it the steam it needs. If you like to leave your plant where it is, Home Depot recommends placing the pot over a gravel tray filled with water for a similar effect.
Kate McGregor is House Beautiful’s SEO Editor. She has covered everything from curated decor round-ups and shopping guides, to glimpses into the home lives of inspiring creatives, for publications such as ELLE Decor, Domino, and Architectural Digest’s Clever.
