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The popularity of moth orchids has led to other types of orchids becoming more readily available to grow as house plants. These include Dendrobium orchids, Paphiopedilum orchids, Oncidium orchids, Vanda orchids and Cambria hybrid orchids. These are all easy to grow in most homes, producing dramatic displays of exotic blooms.
How to care for orchids
Most orchids need bright but indirect light – an east or west-facing windowsill is often perfect. Too much light can scorch the leaves, so don't stand in direct sunshine. Most indoor orchids come from humid, tropical regions, so need a humid atmosphere. In most centrally heated homes the air is dry, so mist the foliage every two to three days using tepid water (avoid spraying the flowers), or stand the pot on a tray of damp gravel.
Different types of orchid need slightly different care, so it can be useful to keep the plant label after purchase. But, broadly speaking, grow orchids in specialist orchid compost, avoid watering them too much, and feed with orchid fertiliser from spring until autumn.
Follow our essential orchid care tips, to ensure your orchids flower and thrive for many years.
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Where to grow orchids
Most orchids require bright light but indirect sunlight. However some orchids, such as Vanda orchids, require full sun. For moth orchids and others that need bright but indirect light, an east- or west-facing windowsill is perfect. Too much light can scorch the leaves.
Moth orchids do best with a constant temperature of around 18°C, so are best grown indoors all year round.
Other orchids, like Dendrobium, Cymbidium and Oncidium orchids need a minimum evening temperature of 10°C, so can be moved outside in summer to a bright spot out of direct sunlight.
How to plant orchids
If you're growing moth orchids (Phalaenopsis) you need to grow them in clear containers to allow their green roots to photosynthesise. Dendrobium and Cymbidium orchids don't have photosynthetic roots, so can be grown in opaque pots. Vanda orchids don't need any pot at all, and can be grown in empty vases or suspended from wires.
Use specialist orchid compost and don't over-pot them, as too much compost will take a long time to dry out and can therefore cause root rot.
Caring for orchids
Most orchid house plants come from humid, tropical regions, so do best in a humid atmosphere. In most centrally heated homes the air is dry, so mist the foliage every two to three days using tepid water, but avoid spraying the flowers, as the petals can be marked by water.
Overwatering is the most common way to kill orchids. To avoid giving your plant too much water, always lift the pot first to check if it feels heavy – water only when it feels light. Showy Vanda orchids, which are often grown in glass vases without compost, require a specific watering regime: fill the vase with water daily in summer, then empty it after half an hour.
To water moth orchids correctly, look at its roots. Don’t water if these are green but wait until they look silvery, instead. Feed with orchid fertiliser from spring until autumn.
Orchids roots are very susceptible to root rot, so it's important that they're never sitting in water. Water orchids by dunking the whole container in water, then draining, or from above and again allow to drain. Tepid water is ideal, tepid rainwater even better.
How to repot an orchid
Unlike most other pot plants, orchids don’t need regular re-potting and often thrive when root-bound. However, after two or three years it’s worth taking them out of their pots and removing as much of the compost as possible. Replant in the same pot with fresh orchid compost or choose a slightly larger pot if the plant won’t fit.
When potting and repotting orchids, it's best to steer clear of terracotta pots – the orchid’s roots will fasten themselves to the surface, making it difficult to repot in future.
How to encourage moth orchids to flower again
With moth orchids, once all the flowers have fallen, cut off the stem just above a visible joint (node). This may stimulate the production of another flower stem, which you should clip to a support. If no shoot appears and original stem turns straw-coloured, then remove it at the base. Most other orchids won't flower twice on the same stem, so cut off spent stems immediately.
Orchids are grown for their flowers, so it's essential that they're deadheaded correctly to encourage more flowers. Moth orchids flower multiple times on one stem, so cut off faded flowers just above the next flower bud. On other orchids you can cut the old flower stem right to the base.
Growing orchids: pests and diseases
The most common orchid pests are scale insects and mealybugs. Signs of infestation include stickiness on the leaves or nearby surfaces, or black sooty mould. Scale insects can be found on the leaf surfaces (above and below) and flower stalks, while mealybugs prefer new leaves. It's easy to remove pests by hand, using a soapy sponge to clean the leaves. Alternatively, spray with an insecticide.
If your orchid gets scorched, don’t detach the damaged leaves unless the plant has several additional healthy leaves.
Advice on buying orchids
- Always read the growing advice before buying – most orchids need a warm, humid environment, but some do best in cooler and drier conditions
- Choose the right orchid for the growing conditions you have
- Always check orchids for signs of disease or damage before purchasing
Where to buy orchids
Orchid varieties to grow
Miltonia orchid
Miltonia are also known as 'pansy orchids' as their flowers have 'faces', just like pansies do. They do best in cooler temperatures from 12-15°C (55-60°F) but are forgiving of temperature fluctuations. Keep them somewhere bright, but not in full sunshine.
Cymbidium orchid
Cymbidium orchids need cool conditions – a minimum 10°C (50°F). To flower they need a distinct drop in temperature between day and night from mid- to late summer – you achieve this by putting the plants outside from June to September. In the house, they need bright but indirect light. Watch our video guide to caring for cymbidiums.
Odontoglossum orchid
Unlike most orchids, Odontoglossum orchids do well in low light levels - a north-facing windowsill is ideal. They hail from the Andes, so need cool, fresh, airy conditions and a minimum temperature of 10°C (50°F). High levels of humidity are required so place on a tray of damp pebbles.
Dendrobium orchid
Dendrobium orchids do best with a temperature of at least 16-18°C (61-65°F) and less humid environment than many other orchids. Reduce watering in autumn, and move plants to a bright windowsill or porch, where they can remain cool and dry until spring. Then, when temperatures start to increase again, increase watering and bring indoors.
Phalaeonopsis orchid
Moth orchids, or Phalaenopsis, are widely available and easy to grow. They do well in centrally heated homes (they need a minimum temperature of 16°C (61°F), in a spot with bright, filtered light, such as close to an east-facing window. They need humidity, so do well in kitchens and bathrooms.
Paphiopedilum orchid
Paphiopedilum, or slipper orchids, like humidity and moderate temperatures - at least 13°C (56°F). Types with spotted leaves like it warmer. They grow on the floor of rainforests so are adapted to low light but need high humidity. Move to a cool, bright spot in winter.
Oncidium orchid
Oncidium orchids, or dancing ladies usually flower in summer and may go dormant for a while. They will appreciate a spell outside in summer. They like bright light - close to an east window is ideal and a moderate temperature of around 12-15°C (55-60°F).
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Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
The popularity of orchids as house plants has increased, with a variety of orchid types now readily available for cultivation. These include Dendrobium orchids, Paphiopedilum orchids, Oncidium orchids, Vanda orchids, and Cambria hybrid orchids. These orchids are known for their ease of growth and their ability to produce stunning displays of exotic blooms [[1]].
How to care for orchids
Orchids require bright but indirect light. Placing them on an east or west-facing windowsill is often ideal. It's important to avoid exposing orchids to direct sunlight, as this can scorch their leaves [[1]].
Most indoor orchids originate from humid tropical regions, so they thrive in a humid atmosphere. However, the air in centrally heated homes tends to be dry. To compensate for this, mist the foliage of orchids every two to three days using tepid water. It's important to avoid spraying the flowers themselves. Another option is to place the orchid pot on a tray of damp gravel [[1]].
Different types of orchids have slightly different care requirements, so it can be helpful to keep the plant label after purchase. In general, orchids should be grown in specialist orchid compost, watered appropriately (avoiding overwatering), and fed with orchid fertilizer from spring until autumn [[1]].
Where to grow orchids
Most orchids require bright light but indirect sunlight. However, some orchids, such as Vanda orchids, require full sun. Moth orchids, on the other hand, do best with a constant temperature of around 18°C and are therefore best grown indoors throughout the year. Other orchids like Dendrobium, Cymbidium, and Oncidium orchids can tolerate lower temperatures and can be moved outside in the summer to a bright spot out of direct sunlight [[1]].
How to plant orchids
When planting moth orchids (Phalaenopsis), it is important to use clear containers to allow their green roots to photosynthesize. Dendrobium and Cymbidium orchids, on the other hand, do not have photosynthetic roots and can be grown in opaque pots. Vanda orchids do not require any pot at all and can be grown in empty vases or suspended from wires. It is recommended to use specialist orchid compost and avoid over-potting, as excessive compost can take a long time to dry out and may lead to root rot [[1]].
Caring for orchids
As mentioned earlier, most orchids come from humid tropical regions and thrive in a humid atmosphere. Mist the foliage of orchids every two to three days using tepid water to provide the necessary humidity. However, it is important to avoid spraying the flowers, as water can mark the petals [[1]].
Overwatering is a common cause of orchid death. To avoid overwatering, it is recommended to lift the pot and check if it feels heavy before watering. Water the orchid only when the pot feels light. Vanda orchids, which are often grown in glass vases without compost, have a specific watering regime. They should be filled with water daily in summer and then emptied after half an hour [[1]].
Orchid roots are susceptible to root rot, so it is crucial to ensure they are never sitting in water. There are two common methods for watering orchids: dunking the whole container in water and allowing it to drain, or watering from above and allowing the excess water to drain. Tepid water is ideal, and tepid rainwater is even better [[1]].
How to repot an orchid
Unlike most other potted plants, orchids do not require regular repotting and often thrive when root-bound. However, after two or three years, it may be beneficial to remove them from their pots and replace as much of the compost as possible. When repotting, it is best to avoid terracotta pots, as the orchid's roots tend to attach themselves to the surface, making repotting difficult in the future [[1]].
How to encourage moth orchids to flower again
For moth orchids, once all the flowers have fallen, it is recommended to cut off the stem just above a visible joint (node). This may stimulate the production of another flower stem, which should be clipped to a support. If no new shoot appears and the original stem turns straw-colored, it should be removed at the base. Most other orchids do not flower twice on the same stem, so it is advised to cut off spent stems immediately. Deadheading orchids correctly is essential to encourage more flowers. For moth orchids, faded flowers should be cut off just above the next flower bud. On other orchids, the old flower stem can be cut right to the base [[1]].
Growing orchids: pests and diseases
The most common pests affecting orchids are scale insects and mealybugs. Signs of infestation include stickiness on the leaves or nearby surfaces, or the presence of black sooty mold. Scale insects can be found on the leaf surfaces (above and below) and flower stalks, while mealybugs prefer new leaves. Pests can be removed by hand using a soapy sponge or by spraying with an insecticide [[1]].
If orchids get scorched, it is not necessary to detach the damaged leaves unless the plant has several additional healthy leaves [[1]].
Advice on buying orchids
Before purchasing orchids, it is important to read the growing advice provided. Different orchids have different temperature and humidity requirements, so it is essential to choose the right orchid for the growing conditions you can provide. Additionally, it is recommended to check orchids for signs of disease or damage before making a purchase [[1]].
I hope this information helps you care for and enjoy your orchids! Let me know if you have any further questions.
