Winter Orchid Care Tips for Beginners and Pros

Whether you’re nurturing your first orchid or are a longtime orchid lover, the winter months can be a bit concerning. You might not know how to help your tropical-temperature-loving plant through the driest, coldest time of year. No worries: you can help your orchid thrive until spring and beyond just by following these simple steps.

Here are five winter orchid care tips that will help both beginners and pros navigate the next few months.

1. Adjust your Watering Routine

Depending on the climate where you live and the dryness of your home, it’s possible that you’ll need to make adjustments to your orchid watering routine. While three ice cubes per week is the standard, dry heat can make your orchid dry out faster and require a little extra moisture.

However, the dangers of overwatering should not be taken lightly, so be mindful of how you approach this challenge. The best clue is to look at your plant’s roots. A well-watered orchid has plump and green roots. If you notice your orchid’s roots start to dry out, you may want to adjust the water routine slightly to give your plant the added moisture it needs.

2. Pay Attention to Your Home’s Humidity

As long as you’re keeping your orchid inside, the temperature shouldn’t be a problem during the winter months. However, since orchids love humidity and winter is a dry time of year, you may need to pay close attention to your home’s humidity levels. There are a few options for increasing the humidity for your plant:

• Make a humidity tray by placing your plant on a shallow tray filled with pebbles and water
• Run a humidifier for a few hours each day in the same room as your orchid
• Keep your orchid in the bathroom during the winter months. Just make sure it gets enough natural light!

And speaking of light…

3. Make Sure Your Orchid is in a Sunny Room

Winter days are shorter and generally less sunny, so you may need to rethink the location of your orchid for a few months. Make sure you find a spot that receives lots of indirect natural light for the happiest, healthiest plant.

4. Watch for Drafts

The warm, dry air coming out of your vents to heat your home can pose a danger to your orchid. If your plant is in the path of a vent, consider relocating it. Similarly, you don’t want to put your orchid near a doorway that will be frequently opened and could bring in outside drafts.

5. Don’t Panic if You See Yellow Leaves

While yellowed leaves are a sign your orchid needs you to take action, they aren’t anything to panic about. Generally, yellowed leaves mean your plant hasn’t received enough indirect natural light. By moving your plant to a brighter spot, you should be able to reverse the effects of the yellowed leaves. If you don’t think sunlight is the problem, your orchid may need to be fertilized.

Above all, remember: there’s no reason your orchid shouldn’t be able to weather the winter months. With the proper orchid care, you’ll still have a thriving plant come spring.

For more tips, check out our free guide to caring for your orchid in the colder months.