elise's Blog

Taking care of orchids
Apr 4, 2007 | 3:51 PM PST
Tags: orchid , plant , grow , water , fertilizer , feed , indoor

Here's how I water and feed my indoor orchids:

1. Let the growing medium dry out between watering to discourage mold.

2. Water once about every 7-10 days, depending on the humidity level of the air. During the winter and summer when the indoor air is dry from sun or the heater, I water more often. In the fall and spring when everything is more damp and mildly warm I water less frequently.

3. When watering, I spray the growing medium  and roots with a spray bottle until the water starts coming out the bottom of the pot.

4. I use orchid fertilizer every time I water, but diluted to 1/4 of the strength recommended on the fertilizer bottle.

Tips: If the leaves get limp or wrinkly, water more often. If the leaves look brown and dried at the tips, use less fertilizer. If you see flower buds but they dry up and fall off before blooming, give the plant more water.