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With their vibrant blooms and striking variety of colours, orchids remain one of the most beloved house plants for indoor gardeners.
A key reason behind their popularity is the longevity of their flowers – lasting for several months, even throughout winter. With proper care, many orchids can bloom again and again, thriving for years on end.
But while they are stunning, orchids aren’t always the simplest plants to maintain. It’s easy to make common mistakes, from giving them too much water to placing them in unsuitable lighting, which can lead to drooping flowers and plant stress. To help you achieve lasting beauty from your orchid, we’ve gathered our essential orchid care tips below.
Watering orchids: how much is too much?
Orchids require consistent watering, but often far less than new plant parents assume. Overwatering is one of the most frequent issues and can cause root rot.
Since many orchids originate from tropical rainforests, they’re accustomed to humid conditions with intermittent rainfall. Watering frequency depends on both the season and your indoor temperature. During warmer months, you may need to water once or twice per week. In winter, watering every 10 to 14 days is usually sufficient. As a general rule, weekly watering is a solid baseline.
Before watering, always inspect the potting medium. Use your finger to feel the top inch – if it’s completely dry, it’s time to water. If your orchid is in a clear plastic pot (which is common), you can also check the roots. Healthy, hydrated roots appear green; if they have a silvery or grey tone, they’re thirsty.
When watering, use tepid water and pour until it runs freely through the drainage holes. Avoid letting the orchid sit in pooled water, as this can quickly lead to rot. Always empty the saucer beneath your pot if water collects there.
An alternative method is to soak your orchid: place it in a sink or bowl filled with lukewarm water (not exceeding the top of the pot) and leave it for 10-15 minutes. Smaller orchids may need to be weighed down to prevent them tipping over. Once soaked, allow them to drain completely before returning them to their spot.
During the growing season – typically spring and summer – add orchid-specific plant food as directed on the label. Misting during hot weather can also help maintain humidity and promote healthy growth.
Finding the right light for your orchid
Orchids need bright light, but direct sunlight can burn their delicate leaves and flowers. Ideally, place your orchid in a spot with filtered or indirect light. An east-facing windowsill works well, offering gentle morning sun.
To encourage upright flower spikes, support them using a stake and clips once they reach 6 inches tall. Insert the stake carefully between the roots, avoiding damage, and attach the spike at the nodes that appear every few inches. Stop staking once the flowers appear.
Avoid positioning orchids in areas where temperatures fluctuate – such as near heating vents, radiators or draughty windows. Consistent indoor conditions are best for orchid health.
Rotate your orchid regularly, too, as orchids tend to lean towards the light. Gently turning the pot every few days can help encourage even growth and prevent leaning stems.
Common orchid pests and how to deal with them
Orchids can carry pests or diseases that may spread to other house plants if not quarantined. We recommend isolating new orchids for at least a month before adding them to your main plant display.
One of the most common pests are fungus gnats, and they’re about as cute as they sound. The gnats hover around the potting medium and their larvae eat away at the roots. Use yellow sticky traps for adult gnats, and treat larvae with specific water treatments.
Mealybugs – white, soft-bodied insects – are another pest to watch out for. They tend to hide beneath leaves near the stem and leave behind a fluffy residue. You can remove them manually with soapy water or treat them with an organic spray such as KinderPet Natural Organic Plant Spray, which also works on spider mites and aphids.
Fungal infections are typically caused by overwatering. For affected plants, repotting with fresh potting mix is crucial. Remove all damaged roots using a sterilised blade and apply a fungicide, such as EcoValley Natural Plant Mould and Mildew Remover Spray. Always sterilise your cutting tool before using it on other plants to prevent spreading infection.
When and how to repot your orchid
Repotting orchids allows you to refresh the potting medium and gives the roots more space to grow. Ideally, repot every two years, or when roots start to outgrow the container. Never repot while the plant is blooming – wait until the flowers have naturally fallen. Spring, when new growth appears, is an ideal time.
Choose a suitable orchid mix, such as Westland Orchid Potting Compost Mix. If using a new pot, add the mix to the bottom (about a quarter full). Gently ease the orchid from its current container – soaking it for five minutes beforehand can help. If necessary, carefully cut the old pot away.
Shake off loose potting mix, trim any dead or damaged roots with sterilised scissors and rinse the healthy roots. Gently spread the roots into the new container and add fresh potting mix around them, tapping it into place. Your orchid may experience transplant shock afterward, so hold off on watering for a few days.
If reusing the same pot, be sure to clean and sterilise it thoroughly. Wash with soap and water, then soak in a 1:9 bleach-to-water solution for 10 minutes before rinsing.
Indoor plant delivery services
Score: 88/100
Our pick: Aloe Vera, £21
There’s a range of 21 plants to pick from at Appleyard, from easy-care options like aloe vera to more high maintenance picks such as orchids. Whatever you choose, our testers said the plants they received were a great match to the images online and came with detailed care instructions. While there are some delivery restrictions, especially around special dates, this service is hard to fault.
Score: 88/100
Our pick: Boston Fern, £12
Patch’s endearingly named plants stood out in our test, as did its delivery service, which received glowing reviews from our panellists. Everything from feeding to repotting was covered in the care instructions and we liked the detail provided online about pet toxicity, too. You may have to include a pot as an add-on, but otherwise, our joint winner is a reliable pick.
Score: 85/100
Our pick: Peace Lily, £26.50
Affordable next day delivery can be hard to come by, but Bunches offers tracked 24-hour delivery for just £3.49. In test, all the plants arrived on time, were well-protected, and arrived in lovely plant pots. The care instructions hit the nail on the head for our green-fingered panellists too, with all of them saying they’d recommend the service to others.
