Orchid House Plants Will Enhance The Beauty of Your Home

Unlike some old myths that orchid house plants are difficult to grow, the truth is they are relatively easy to care for and grow. These will brighten your home and most will be very fragrant as well. Like any other plants in the house they need water, humidity, light and fertilizer.

The most popular orchids for the home include Cattleya, and Paphiopedilum  and Phalaenopsis orchids. Orchid plants are often air plants or epiphytes and have a very efficient water storage system.

Watering

In general Cattleyas and need water once a week as they should be allowed to dry between watering. Whereas Phals. need to almost dry out. One way to determine this is to stick your finger into the media about 1 inch or 2 centimeters. The mediums should feel spongy and not bone dry.

These may need watering twice a week. Paphs. should not dry out and should be moist. These also will do well with more frequent watering.

Lighting

Lighting is next in importance for orchids in the house.  All of these types need medium light and will do well. In medium light they need about 4 hours of sun a day, so sitting on a window sill or the corner of a desk would be great. Cattleya can take sun up to 6 ours and Phals need only a few hours and it should be indirect sunlight, but all do very well in medium light.

Humidity

Humidity is important for these air plants. Humidity should higher than 50% and this can be easily taken care of with humidity trays. These trays are metal or plastic and filled with small pebbles. The tray is then filled 1/2 with water and the house plant sits on it. It is important not to let the orchid plant sit in the water.

Fertilizer

Orchid house plants will need an standard fertilizer about once per week during growing and blooming times otherwise every other week. The solution should be diluted about one quarter strength. The adage is "weakly, weekly". The fertilizer needs to be specific for orchids. Don't over-fertilize because it can actually harm the plant.

This has been a general quick overview of growing orchds in the home. If you have any questions you have pertaining to growing your orchids all you need to do is contact me. I am more than happy to try to help.