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Spring is a pivotal time to add florals and color to your home. We’ve made it through winter, there’s more sunshine and it’s exciting to see some brightness around your space.
However, there are two important things to remember: care and plant placement. We will dive into both topics in this blog post, so follow along for some helpful tips to keep your orchids beautiful and blooming all through spring.
Finding the best places to keep your orchid isn’t as hard as you think. Although they're tropical plants, orchids grow in many different environments. They’re sophisticated and beautiful on the outside, but on the inside, they are strong adaptable plants. But although they’re tough, they’re not invincible.
Where you set your plant can mean the difference between it thriving and withering. Lighting changes from season to season, so the best places to keep your orchids when there's ample sunlight may be different compared to when there's less light outside. Here are the best places to keep your orchid this spring:
Orchids thrive in the sunshine, and the living room tends to get the most sunlight in your home. Indirect sunlight is best. So, one of the best places to keep your orchid is near a north- or east-facing window. If your living room has west-facing windows, it’s best to place it farther away from the window on a table or shelf.
If you prefer to place your plant closer to the window, make sure the window is draped with a sheer curtain to block out the direct rays of the sun.
Phalaenopsis orchids originated in the tropics, which means they love humidity. What room of your home tends to be the most humid? The bathroom. The steam and heat from your bathroom shower will keep your plant hydrated and warm.
If your bathroom doesn’t have any windows, you should take your plant out of the room for part of the day. Place it in another area of the home with indirect sunlight. Rotating your plant between the bathroom and another room of your house also discourages mold growth from too much moisture.
An orchid is a simple, yet stunning way to beautify your dining room. And since dining rooms tend to be connected to kitchens, your plant can benefit from your kitchen’s warmth. If your kitchen windows face south or west, the afternoon sun will provide warmth. Your orchid will benefit without being exposed to sudden warm blasts from opening and closing the oven door.
When deciding where to place your orchid in the dining room, be sure to keep it far from any fruit bowls you may also have in the room. The ethylene gas emitted by ripening fruit can cause premature dropping of buds.
Do you work from home? Adding a plant (or two) is a wonderful way to liven up your workspace. It may even increase your creativity and productivity.
Home offices are also one of the best places to keep your orchid because they tend to be well-lit with natural sunlight. This will help your orchids get all the light they need (just be sure to keep an eye on your plant’s leaves to ensure they’re not getting sunburned).
What’s better than waking up to a beautiful orchid flowering on your nightstand or gazing at an orchid resting near a window? In addition to the kitchen, your bedroom is another room that stays toasty, and like the living room, tends to get a lot of light. If you place your flower near a window, make sure it is insulated against drafts and faces north or east.
Now that you know where to keep your orchid in your home, let’s look at how you can best care for it. Orchids are relatively easy to care for, but you may need to adapt things a bit for spring and changing seasons.
Fertilizer is essential when it comes to orchid care. It helps your orchid rebloom due to the rich nutrients it has. A great fertilizing tip is to put your fertilizing solution in a watering can. This allows you to place the solution close to the base of the plant. After your orchid has flowered, make sure you fertilize it at least once a month. Just make sure not to water your orchid the week it's been fertilized. Your fertilizer solution is half water, so it’s already getting what it needs.
First-time orchid owners might not be used to trimming spikes, but it's incredibly easy to incorporate this into your orchid care routine. First, you’ll want to assess the status of your spikes. Healthy spikes are green and firm to the touch, while unhealthy spikes are brown or yellow in color.
With clean scissors, trim the spikes from the plant. For healthy, green spikes, you’ll want to trim one inch above the node. For unhealthy, brown spikes, cut back to the base of the plant.
For double-spike orchids, cut one spike at the base of the plant, and cut the other spike one inch above the node under the lowest flower bloom. Keeping your spikes neat and tidy will make your orchid care routine easier.
Besides being annoying, houseplant pests can harm your plant. An easy way to fix this is to create your own solution with water and a few drops of rubbing alcohol to keep the pests away for good.
For thrips or “sucking pests,” you’ll want to isolate your plant since they will travel from pot to pot. Next, spray with water, and use drops of rubbing alcohol to kill off the insects for good. Continue to inspect throughout your orchid care routine to see if any have returned.
Something else you’ll need to have on hand is a new, larger pot for repotting your orchid.
We recommend repotting every year or two to give your orchid more space to grow and keep the potting media fresh. The best time to repot is between blooming cycles, when your orchid is resting.
In addition to a larger pot, you’ll also need potting media. The potting media gives your orchid support, good drainage and air circulation while helping it store water and nutrients. We recommend soilless potting media to promote good drainage. A mix of peat moss, vermiculite or perlite, and compost or organic fertilizers can provide a good environment with sufficient nutrient content that will keep your orchid growing.
Keeping these items at hand will help you keep up your orchid care routine this spring and all year long.
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