Observing blooming orchids look so surreal that it’s hard to believe that you can grow them inside your home. And you don’t even need to be a green thumb to make care for them. Are you set on bringing beautiful orchids to your home anytime soon? Here’s how you can grow orchids at home as well as places you can set them.
Places at home to set your orchid
The living room. Because orchids love sunlight, placing them in a living room tends to get them the most sunlight in the house. Indirect sunlight can make them thrive, so try placing them near a north or east-facing window. If your windows face west, you should place it farther away on a shelf or table. If you still want your orchid near the window, just put curtains or drapes to block out direct sun from hitting the plant.
The dining room. A blooming orchid can enhance any dining room in an instant. Because dining rooms are mostly adjacent to the kitchen, it can benefit from its warmth without being overexposed to heat. Take note not to place your orchids near the plants because the ethylene gas released by a ripening fruit may cause premature dropping of buds.
The bathroom. The Phalaenopsis orchid variety originated in the tropic, meaning they thrive better in humidity. Most orchids for homes are of this variety. Your bathroom tends to be the most humid area in your home. The heat and steam from the bathroom shower can keep your plant warm and hydrated. You may place it near the window as long as direct sunlight won’t hit it. If the bathroom doesn’t have a window, you need to take it out of the room for a part of the day. This also discourages mold growth from too much moisture.
The bedroom. There’s nothing like waking up to a blooming orchid next to you on the nightstand or looking at it resting near a window across the room. Like the dining room/kitchen your bedroom is another room that is mostly warm, plus it gets a lot of natural light! Keep in mind to insulate the window against drafts and that it is north or east facing before putting your orchids there.
Caring for your orchid at home
If only you can place your orchids wherever you want and leave it tend for itself, right? Apart from the tips above, here’s how to keep your plant alive and even keep it re-blooming.
Watering your orchid. The most critical step. Put your finger in the soil, if it’s still moist, don’t water it, if it’s dry, water it in the sink until the water runs through the pot. Never let it sit in water. When in doubt, skip watering.
Lighting consideration. Your orchids will want low light conditions and as stated above, do best away from direct sunlight.
Temperature. Orchids are most comfortable if the temperature is between 60 degrees F to 80 degrees F. You can enhance its chances of re-blooming if your house is cooler at night than it is during the day.
Fertilizing. There are fertilizers made especially for orchids. Use those. Simply follow package directions. Here’s a tip: Fertilize for three watering and flush with water at the sink on the fourth watering to remove the fertilizer salts.
Brought to you by our friends at freshflowers.com.au.