Orchid Care: 10 Easy Tips

If you are new to the world of orchids, don't be afraid of them. Many orchids can be easy to grow if you take some time to learn what they need. They are not like traditional potted plants. They are epiphytes which means that they do not grow in dirt but rather by hanging on to the bark of trees. There are some orchids, most notably lady slippers, that are semi-terrestrial and grow in the loamy soil of the jungle floor.

We often get asked, "how do I care for orchids"? The truth is, orchid care is not difficult; it is just different. Orchids have a reputation for being difficult to grow when in fact many varieties make excellent house plants. With proper care an orchid can be in bloom for months each year and can live indefinitely. In this respect orchids are an excellent value as far as blooming plants go. A well cared for and varied orchid collection can provide continuous bloom every day of the year. Good orchid care requires just some basic knowledge about orchids and how they grow.

Orchids have diverse care needs

The orchid family has over 880 different types (called genera) and over 22,000 species. These numbers are growing every year making orchids the largest and most diverse of the flowering plant families. Most orchids are tropical plants which live as epiphytes or "air plants" hanging on to trees for support. Some orchids are lithophytes or "rock plants" growing on or among rocks. The remaining orchids are terrestrials which grow in the loamy detritus of the jungle floor. With a plant family this diverse it is challenging to give general guidelines on orchid care. Yet, there are only several dozen species widely produced and even fewer that are available at a local nursery. Our Orchid Identification page provides a basic introduction to many of the popular types of orchids. The plants sold at nurseries, florists, hardware chain stores and groceries are likely to be hybrids. These hybrids have been created by crossing different species, and sometimes different genera to breed in desirable characteristics such as color, fragrance, flower size and ease of care and breed out many of the challenging care aspects of pure orchid species. Today's orchid hybrids are very rewarding house plants to grow and are relatively easy to care for if you take a little time to understand their basic needs.

Orchid growth environments as they relate to orchid care

Imagine standing in a jungle and looking up at an orchid that is clinging to a tree. Its roots have grasped the tree bark and are using the tree for support. The orchid gets no nutrients from the tree itself, it is not a parasite, it gets only support and a bit of food from the organic matter decaying in the crooks of branches or from animal droppings that wash down the tree in the rain. It is humid in the jungle and these orchid roots have adapted to absorb water from the humid air, hence the term "epiphyte". Many orchids have to deal with times of abundant water and times of dryness and so they have thick stems called "pseudobulbs" that allow them to store and hold water for the dry periods to come. Imagine now, this same plant in a pot in a typical home environment. How strange this must be for the plant and how different it is from the conditions to which the orchid has adapted. Understanding the natural conditions in which the orchid grows, is critical to understanding what the orchid needs for its care. Our Orchid Starter Kits offer the essentials for growing a happy healthy orchid.