How to Take Care of Potted Orchids

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Your complete guide for growing beautiful orchid blooms at home

Co-authored by Matt Bowman and Hunter Rising

Last Updated: December 4, 2023 Fact Checked

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Do you love the look of big and bright orchids in your home? If you want to grow these fresh flowers, orchids are really easy to keep as houseplants under the right conditions. Orchids have a few different requirements than other flowers you might grow at home, but we’ve got everything you need to know right here. Keep reading, and we’ll cover all of the basic plant care for your orchids so they continue to grow and bloom for years to come!

Things You Should Know

Keep your orchid in bright, indirect sunlight.
Water your orchid when the soil has almost dried out completely.
Fertilize your orchid once a week during the spring and summer with a balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer diluted to quarter-strength.
Grow your orchids in a pot with drainage holes filled with bark-based potting mix or moss-based medium.

1

Place orchids in bright, indirect light.

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Indirect light prevents orchids from getting sun-damaged. As a good rule of thumb, your orchids should be in light that’s bright enough to easily read a small-print book. If you have one available, set your pot of orchids on the sill of a north- or east-facing window so it gets some light throughout the day without being directly in the sun. If you only have a west- or south-facing window, cover it with a sheer curtain to keep the orchids from getting burned.^{[1]
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- If you don’t have any space around your windows, put your orchids underneath grow lights instead. Keep the lights 6–8 inches (15–20 cm) above your orchids and leave them on for 12–16 hours each day.

2

Water your orchids just before the potting mix dries out.

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Deep, infrequent waterings prevent your orchid’s roots from rotting. Gently stick 1 or 2 fingers into the potting medium to test if it feels moist. If you don’t feel any moisture on your fingers, pour lukewarm water into the potting medium until it runs out from the bottom of the pot. Let the pot drain completely.
- Avoid using water that’s colder than 50 °F (10 °C) since it can damage the roots.
- If the inner leaves of your orchid start yellowing or wilting, it may be a sign that you’re overwatering it.^{[2]
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- Clear pots can help you determine when it’s time to water your orchids—if there’s no condensation on the inside of the pots, then it’s time to water.

3

Fertilize orchids weekly in the spring and summer.

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Fertilizing your orchids helps them produce healthy blooms. Use a balanced liquid fertilizer, such as 10-10-10 or 20-20-20, to give your orchids an equal mix of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Mix the fertilizer to quarter-strength and apply it directly to the potting medium. When the plant stops producing flowers, then stop applying fertilizer.
- If you planted your orchids in bark, use a 20-10-10 or 30-10-10 fertilizer mix to give your flowers more nitrogen and help them grow.

4

Maintain a temperature between 60–85 °F (16–29 °C).

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Orchids do best when they’re kept between 65–75 °F (18–24 °C), but they can handle temps a little cooler or warmer. Keep your thermostat set above 60 °F (16 °C) at night so your orchids don’t get too cold. During the day, make sure the temperature doesn’t go above 85 °C (185 °F) since it could cause your orchids to dry out and wilt.^{[3]
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5

Provide gentle air circulation.

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Air circulation keeps orchids cool on hot days and dries out moisture. During the cooler spring and autumn months, open your windows to let in a gentle breeze. Otherwise, just turn on an overhead fan on a low setting or an oscillating fan directed away from the orchids to keep the air from getting stale or stagnant.^{[4]
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- If your orchids don’t get good air circulation, they may have too much moisture and could develop fungal or bacterial problems.

6

Maintain a humidity between 40–60%.

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Orchids grow best in moderately humid conditions. Place a hygrometer near your pot of orchids to measure the humidity in your home. If the humidity is less than 40%, put a tray or saucer filled with pebbles and water underneath your plant so the water evaporates and increases the moisture in the air.^{[5]
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- If the humidity in your home is higher than 60%, run a dehumidifier in the room with your orchids to prevent bacterial and fungal growth.

7

Prune orchid stems once they finish flowering.

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Trimming off the old stems can help make your orchids rebloom. Use a clean pair of pruners or razor blade to trim your orchids. If you’re growing moth orchid (Phalaenopsis), cut the stem just above the bottom 2 nodes, or the small brown lines circling the stem. For any other orchid varieties, cut the stem off as close to the potting media as possible.^{[6]
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- Always disinfect your gardening tools before and after you prune so you don’t spread any bacterial or fungal infections between plants.

8

Get rid of pests with rubbing alcohol or insecticides.

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Pests damage leaves and flowers if you don’t quickly remove them. Look for signs of scale insects and mealybugs, such as sticky leaves and black, sooty mold near the flowers. Dip a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol and apply it directly to stray insects to control them. If the bugs come back or if you have a larger infestation, apply a horticultural soap to the leaves to get rid of them.^{[7]
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- Try to avoid using strong, toxic insecticides so you don’t harm your orchids.

9

Trim leaves with signs of fungus or disease.

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Removing infected foliage keeps the rest of your plant healthy. Check your orchid for signs of infection, like yellow, brown, or black spots of discoloration on the leaves. Use a sterile blade or pair of pruners to cut away all of the diseased leaves, stems, and flowers. Be sure to disinfect your gardening tools before and after removing the affected leaves.^{[8]
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- Try applying a fungicide to your orchids to help prevent the spread of infections.
- If you aren’t able to get a handle on a fungal or bacterial infection, it may be best to dispose of the entire plant.

10

Keep orchids in pots with drainage holes.

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Orchids need good drainage so they don’t develop root rot. Check that your orchid pot has slits along the sides or holes on the bottom so excess water can run out. If you got your orchids in pots without drainage holes, then just repot them into new ones.
- Put a saucer or drip tray underneath the pots to prevent excess water from spilling on your floor.
- If you notice your orchid is wilting or yellowing, it may already have root rot. Repot your orchid and avoid watering it for a few days to save the plant.

11

Use a bark- or moss-based potting mix.

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Bark and moss are fast-draining so your orchid doesn’t get waterlogged. Orchids normally grow on the bark of trees, so fill your pot with bark-based mix or moss-based medium. Avoid using regular potting mix since your orchids might not produce as many blooms. If your orchids are planted in any other medium, transplant them to a pot with the correct mix.^{[9]
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- Bark-based medium drains well and helps prevent overwatering, but can break down quickly and needs to be replaced as it disappears.
- Moss-based media retain moisture better and are usually cheaper than bark, so you don’t have to water it as frequently.

12

Repot orchids every 1–2 years.

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Repotting your orchids helps them produce healthy blooms each year. Wait until the later winter or early spring to repot your plants so they still bloom in the late summer or fall. Carefully take the orchids out of the old pot and cut away any dead roots or yellowed leaves. Plant your orchid in a larger pot so the base of the stem is at the same level as it was in the old pot.^{[10]
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- Check if any of the roots are growing out from the drainage holes to determine if you need to repot your orchids.

Expert Q&A

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Question

How often should you water an orchid?

Matt Bowman
Gardener & Owner, Tradition Market & Garden
Matt Bowman is a Gardener, Landscaper, the Owner of Georgia Farm to Table, and the Owner of Tradition Property Services in Atlanta, Georgia. With over 20 years experience, he specializes in organic gardening, landscape maintenance, handyman services, homecare services, and supplying Christmas trees. Matt earned a BA in Journalism from the University of Georgia.

Matt Bowman

Gardener & Owner, Tradition Market & Garden

Expert Answer

Over watering is a very common problem with orchids. They don't require as much water as a lot of people give them. We recommend a small glass of water per week.

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Question

After flowering, should I cut off any brown or dead looking stalks?

Lauren Kurtz
Professional Gardener
Lauren Kurtz is a Naturalist and Horticultural Specialist. Lauren has worked for Aurora, Colorado managing the Water-Wise Garden at Aurora Municipal Center for the Water Conservation Department. She earned a BA in Environmental and Sustainability Studies from Western Michigan University in 2014.

Lauren Kurtz

Professional Gardener

Expert Answer

Yes. Leave about 2 inches (5 cm) of the stem until the next flowering season. If it doesn’t regrow from there, you can remove the rest of last season's stem.

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Question

New leaves are growing at the end of two separate flower spikes and air roots. Should I just leave them on the parent plant?

Lauren Kurtz
Professional Gardener
Lauren Kurtz is a Naturalist and Horticultural Specialist. Lauren has worked for Aurora, Colorado managing the Water-Wise Garden at Aurora Municipal Center for the Water Conservation Department. She earned a BA in Environmental and Sustainability Studies from Western Michigan University in 2014.

Lauren Kurtz

Professional Gardener

Expert Answer

Leaving it could cause the orchid to outgrow the pot. They might be able to be separated into two different plants if the roots are able to easily be separated. Replant the orchid into a bigger pot about every 2 years.

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Tips

Clean your orchid’s leaves twice a year by putting the pots in your tub and running warm water over them for 3–4 minutes.

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