Orchid Care: Tips for Beginners

Orchids are endlessly varied in the forms, colors, textures, shapes and scents of their flowers, and have a long history of capturing the human imagination. Orchids make excellent houseplants or additions to office decor, with many species blooming for several months at a time with proper care. Here are a few quick tips to get started:

Water your orchid when the potting medium approaches dryness, every 5-7 days. Avoiding over-watering to prevent root rot.
Orchids grow best in bright shade, or dapple light, such as that provided by a bright, east or west-facing window.
Fertilize every week with Green Jungle Orchid Food.
Repot your orchids as needed with fresh potting medium, ideally during a period of new root growth.

The Orchid Family includes 800 genera, 26,000 described species, and more than 100,000 orchid hybrids. Most orchids grown by hobbyists are tropical epiphytes (plants that grow on other plants, typically trees), but orchids have adapted to nearly every environment on earth, on every continent except Antarctica. With such tremendous diversity, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to all aspects of orchid care, yet nearly all orchids have the same core needs. When it comes to the orchid species in your collection, we recommend learning about the growing conditions of their native habitats to deepen your understanding of their specific needs. In this article we will focus on the core needs of orchids, and offer basic tips for beginners. Here are five frequently asked questions.

How much light do orchids need?
Orchids require bright, indirect light. An unobscured east or west-facing windowsill provides adequate light. As a general rule, the following orchid genera can be said to prefer:

Brighter, more intense light: Cattleya, Neofinetia, and Vanda
Semi-shaded light: Angraecum, Cymbidium, Dendrobium, Oncidium, and Stanhopea.
Shaded light: Bulbophyllum, Lycaste, Miltoniopsis, Paphiopedilum, Phalaenopsis, Phragmipedium, and Pleurothallid.

How do I know when my orchid needs to be repotted?
If your orchid has outgrown its current pot, or if the potting medium is old, your orchid should be repotted. If your orchid has increased in size to the point that the pot easily tips, or if orchid growths or numerous roots extend beyond the edges of the pot, your orchid should be repotted. Bark and sphagnum moss are the most common potting mediums. Bark lasts up to two years (sometimes longer), and sphagnum moss lasts about one year.

If you pot your orchids in sphagnum moss, repot annually. If you’re not sure how old the moss is, or when your orchid was last repotted, there are several indicators to look for that signal the moss needs replacing. If the moss has a strong, sour odor, it needs replacing; fresh sphagnum moss has a light, haylike scent. If the moss has a murky color, or is heavily coated with algae, it should be replaced; fresh sphagnum moss is pale yellow or light tan when dry, and yellow or ochre when wet. Sphagnum moss darkens considerably as it ages. If the moss seems soggy, or doesn’t dry out between waterings, it should be replaced.

If your orchid is in bark, repot it every two years. If you’re not sure when your orchid was last repotted, check to see if the bark needs replacing. If there are salt deposits, mold, or algae growing on the top, or if the bark smells like rotting wood, or wet newspaper, your orchids should be repotted into fresh bark. You can examine the bark within the pot if you partially remove your orchid by grasping the base of the plant and pulling it part way out. If a considerable number of the roots in the bark have died, or the bark looks soggy, your orchid should be repotted with fresh bark. Bark that is too old becomes spongy, and dark or moldy, and often remains too wet long after watering.

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What is the best potting mix for orchids?
Orchids need a medium that is well-draining, and allows air to circulate at the roots. The best two potting mediums are high quality Sphagnum moss, and bark mixes. We recommend New Zealand Sphagnum Moss as a standalone potting medium for pots up to 7” in size. Moss dries more evenly, and retains nutrients from liquid fertilizer more effectively than bark. Moss doesn’t last as long as bark, however, and should be replaced annually. Our Traditional Orchid Bark Mix, consisting of pine bark, perlite, and charcoal, is a long-lasting, cost-effective potting medium offering excellent drainage. Bark is the preferred medium for orchids in large pots (7” or larger), as moss has a tendency to become waterlogged and anoxic in large pots.

How often should I water my orchid?
Water regularly, following a schedule, with intervals between waterings that allow the potting medium to approach dryness. In climate-controlled environments this often means watering every 5-7 days. When the potting medium is slightly moist to the touch (but not completely dry), or when the pot is noticeably lighter when lifted, it is safe to water. When you do, water deeply and thoroughly, until water runs out the bottom of the pot.

How do I fertilize my orchid?
We highly recommend our Green Jungle Orchid Food, specially formulated to provide orchids with the nutrients they would receive in their natural habitats. We developed Green Jungle Orchid for use on our own plants in production, with excellent results for decades! This formula works best with water low in alkalinity (such as rainwater, distilled water, or reverse osmosis water). However, you may use tap water, keeping in mind that mineral buildup will require more frequent repotting, on the order of every 1 to 2 years.

For orchids in bark, fertilize every time you water during the growing season. Flush the pot with non-softened water once a month to rinse the potting medium of salt and mineral buildup. During periods when orchid growth slows, fertilize every other watering. For orchids in sphagnum moss, fertilize every 3rd watering, year round.