The Orchid: a delicate impossibility or a manageable houseplant?

By Amy Lentz, Weld County Extension

Contrary to what you may have heard, orchids are not difficult to grow and in most cases, they will grow in the same conditions as your other houseplants and require a similar amount of care. With the proper amount of light, water, humidity, temperature and fertilizer, orchids can thrive! Some types of orchids such as Phalaenopsis or Cattleya types can be easier to care for than others and make great options for beginners. 

Healthy roots are essential to the growth and health of your orchid so the choice of growing medium plays an important role. Many orchids naturally grow in trees in the wild and these types of growing mixes mimic that natural setting.  These types of orchids prefer a very porous growing medium made of materials such as bark, husks, perlite, or clay pebbles, all of which are ideal for the roots to establish themselves and receive adequate air movement.  

Due to the very porous nature of orchid growing mixes, water will readily flow through. You will want to water your plants thoroughly to soak the roots and growing medium. Never let your orchids sit in standing water because their roots need oxygen, too. One way to accomplish a good watering is to place the plant in a sink or tub, water it,enough to wet the medium, wait a few minutes, water it again, and repeat this until the medium is well soaked. Make sure to drain off any excess. 

Orchids like to dry between watering so don’t water too frequently. If you are unsure whether you should water again, wait a day. You can also get a feel for how heavy the container is after watering and if it is lighter than usual then give it a good drink!  While your orchids are actively growing, fertilize them with a houseplant or orchid formulation at a diluted rate (50%) once a month.

Orchids prefer some humidity and one way to increase the humidity level is to grow your plants in groups or place a dish of water nearby to produce humidity as the water evaporates. You can also mist them but be careful not to keep them moist for prolonged periods of time. I’ve managed to cheat by growing mine near the kitchen sink and dishwasher.

Sunburn symptoms on orchid leaves can be light to dark brown and
will dry up the plant's leaf tissue. It will not spread once the plant is
removed from direct light. Avoid placing orchids in direct sunlight.

Colorado gets over 300 days of sunshine per year which is great for our window-bound houseplants and especially orchids. However, with the high intensity of the sun you will need to place your orchid in indirect sunlight to make sure they do not get sunburned. A south or west facing window may be too intense, so placing your orchid about 2 feet away from an east facing window is ideal. If your orchid is hesitating to flower, then you can encourage it by relocating it to an area with higher light levels. 

Room temperature is ideal so you won’t need to make any adjustments for your orchids. They prefer temperatures between 55 and 75 °F, so 65 to 70 °F is perfect. Phalaenopsis types can do well in temperatures up to 80 °F.

Orchid blooms are interesting, delicate and stunning! They can last for several weeks or even months if the plant is happy and are a great addition to you houseplant collection.

Learn more about Phalaenopsis and Cattleya orchids here:

Orchid: Phalaenopsis - PlantTalk Colorado - Colorado State University

Orchid: Cattleya - PlantTalk Colorado - Colorado State University

The Diamond of the Plant World

By Carrie Shimada, Weld County Extension

They come in white, yellow and pink.  They are beautiful, exotic, and sexy; and while they do not cost two month’s salary- they are often linked to status.  Yes. . . .Orchids, are the ultimate in plant couture.   With over 300,000 licensed cultivars, the orchid is to the plant enthusiast, as the diamond is to the gem-lover- rare, long-lasting, and a symbol of beauty.

Orchids typically carry the stigma of being a difficult plant to grow, but with a bit of care, anyone can be successful at growing an orchid, even though they could be considered the plant world’s diamond.

There are a few species of orchids that fare well as a houseplant:  phalaenopsis, cattleya, and dendrobium, and cymbidium– each with their own characteristics.

 

Phalaenopsis species, or the moth orchid, are the most elegant indoor orchids.  They have long arching sprays of flowers that bloom in winter and last for several months and they adapt well to the home setting. 
Cattleya species are commonly used in corsages.  They bloom once per year in the spring or fall and the flowers last anywhere from 2-6 weeks. 

Dendrobium species bloom during the fall or winter and they remain for 3-4 weeks. Their floral displays are showy, long sprays of white, lavender, or a combination of the two.

Cymbidium species have thick, waxy petals, with petals ranging from one inch to five inches in diameter and they can have up to 20 flowers on one stem.

Temperature:

 

Orchids prefer normal household temperatures of 65⁰F-70⁰F during the day.  But during the night, temperature requirements vary by species:  phalaenopsis like 65⁰F, cattleya, 60⁰F, dendrobium, 52⁰F, and cymbidium, 58⁰F.

 In short, they should be fine in your house during the normal night-time temperature.  Just don’t leave them in a window during a winter freeze.

  Light:

Phalaenopsis species thrive under low light levels.  They perform best in bright windows with little or no direct sun, such as an east-facing window.  They can also be grown in artificial light, such as in an office setting.

Cattleya and Dendrobium species grow best in bright light to some sun.  They do not like direct midday sun, but they do like a slightly shaded south or west-facing window.

Cymbidium species have very high light requirements- a south facing window is best.

Watering

If you want to kill your orchid- let it sit in a waterlogged pot, as overwatering will kill your plant.  To avoid this, follow a couple rules:

-When orchids are actively growing, water once a week and allow them to dry slightly before the next watering.  Unless it is of the phalaenopsis species- they do not like to dry out.
-When watering- apply enough water to get water to drain from the bottom of the pot.
-When the orchid is done flowering, reduce watering.
-Do not allow water to remain on the leaves of your orchid, as this may lead to disease.

Fertilization

When orchids are actively growing and flowering they need to be fertilized on a regular basis.  Be sure to follow the fertilizer label- over fertilization will quickly kill your orchid.

Fertilize once a month using a water-soluble fertilizer.  Select a 30-10-10 fertilizer if your orchid is grown in a bark media; select a 20-10-10 fertilizer if you orchid is growing in any other medium.
After flowering, reduce fertilization until new leaf growth appears.

Humidity

Orchids prefer an environment with 40-60% humidity; since that is too humid for your home ( we live in Colorado after all) it is important to supplement the humidity.

Placing the orchid pot in a tray of pebbles with a small amount of water, having a humidifier in the room, or occasionally misting the orchid with distilled water can supply your orchid with the needed supplemental moisture.

Planting Media

Do not plant your orchid in regular potting mix- this will kill the plant.  Since most orchids are epiphytes, they grow best in soilless mixtures with bark or cork. (Epiphytes are plants that grow by attaching themselves to tree bark in order to absorb water and nutrients.)  Orchid planting mixtures are commonly available on the market- it is best to use these, as they will provide the orchids with good aeration and drainage.

As with any brilliant diamond- beauty and grace require care, but the payoff is big.  The long-lasting, sometimes fragrant, and always elegant orchid may not fit in a small blue box, but they will add a bit of sexy to your home without the hefty price.