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Orchid: Ultimate Flower Guide
Facts, Types, Meaning and Care Tips
Distinctive, bright and beautiful – there are a lot of reasons orchids are so popular. But they do have a bit of reputation for being tricky to care for, a reputation that really isn’t deserved. All an orchid needs is the right TLC and it can last years and years. Stick with us and we’ll fill you in on how, with this guide to all things orchid, from how to keep them thriving to the different types.
Did you know?
- There are around 28,000 species in the orchid family, or Orchidaceae to give it the proper scientific name!
- There’s an orchid that looks exactly like a bee (called the bee orchid, of course)
- Orchids are usually tropical plants, but there are at least four species living north of the Arctic Circle
Orchid meaning: what do orchids symbolise?
Like many blooms the meaning of an orchid might change according to its colour, so a white orchid might signify innocence, while red can indicate passion. What all orchid’s symbolise though is a refined beauty. This idea emerged during the Victorian period when these expensive flowers were worn by those dressing to impress. A favourite for gent’s buttonholes the orchid combined was striking but simple: a guaranteed eyecatcher.
Thanks to Mandy Kirkby’s The Language of Flowers for this handy bit of floral history.
Orchid Types
Here's some of the most popular varieties available to buy:
Vanda Orchid
Usually a bold purple, Vanda orchids are just gorgeous but they’re very thirsty. If you’ve got a Vanda keep it moist at all times.
Phalaenopsis Orchid
Also known as the moth orchid (because their patterned petals can resemble a moth’s wings) the Phalaenopsis Orchid likes a little dry period between watering.
Cymbidium Orchid
It’s common name might be boat orchid (because parts of some Cymbidium Orchids look like a boat) but that doesn’t mean it likes loads of water! Keep the soil damp but not wet.
Dendrobium Orchid
A huge section (or if we’re being technical: genus) of orchids, Dendrobium orchids come in all sorts of lovely colours. Just remember to keep their soil moist while they grow. between watering when it is not growing.
How to water
There are three key ways to water orchids indoors, but it’s worth remembering orchids hate being overwatered. They might be tropical, but they shouldn’t ever be left sitting in water else their roots will rot.
Our other top tip is to use water that’s been boiled and cooled, or that’s been distilled. It might be fussy but tap water includes a lot of impurities that might be fine for us but aren’t so good for orchids (especially when you mist them, we’ll come to that later).
Option 1: Submerge your orchid once a week
Most orchids come in a clear container full of potting material (like soil and bark) which then sits in a holding pot. This is handy for submerging your orchid. Using distilled or recently boiled and cooled tap water, fill the clear orchid pot and holding pot so that the orchid roots are fully submerged.
Fill the pot until just under the crown (the part where the stem meets the roots) of the orchid and leave it to soak for 10-15 minutes. After that take the clear pot out and allow it to drain for 5 minutes. Pour the remaining water out of your holding pot.
Once the orchid has drained away any excess water, pop it back inside the holding pot and return it to its home. Voila, your orchid’s thirst is on its way to being quenched.
Option 2: Use an ice cube to water your orchid
Yes, that's right. Ice cubes straight from a small/medium sized ice cube tray are a great way to water orchids. 'Why would you use ice cubes?' we hear you ask. Well using ice cubes...
- Improve absorption
- Prevent root rot
- Avoid overwatering
- Make life easier!
All you need to do is pop one cube twice a week on top of the potting material but under the leaves (if it’s in an especially hot spot it might need more, if cool a little less). Just be careful there’s no water left in the holding pot. If you spot water pooling on the orchid or feel the pot getting heavier (or hear it sloshing) empty out that excess water, it’s no friend to your plant.
Option 3: Just pour water on your orchid!
Remember what we said about orchids not being as tricky as some say? Well, it’s true – you can just stick with the traditional method of watering and use a watering can or glass of water! We’d recommend about a quarter of a glass of boiled then cool or distilled water a week, with the useful rule of a bit more if it’s hot and a bit less if it’s cool. Top watering tips:
Water at the base, don’t get water on the leaves. Don’t overwater, especially if you can’t take your orchid out of the pot to drain.
Wipe off any water that gets onto the leaves else they might rot. Use a towel and gently dab away.
When to water orchids
Watering can be a little bit of trial and error. Long summer days might mean your plant is thirstier and needs more water, while in winter your orchid will need less.
A good way to judge if you’re watering the right amount is to keep an eye on the plants root.
- Roots are green = the plant is getting just the right amount of water
- Roots are soggy and brown = ease up, it’s getting too much water
- Roots are grey or white = your plant is thirsty and needs more water
Another easy way to tell is just by poking a finger into the soil or pottering material, if it’s wet or damp don’t water it, if it’s dry add some water.
Light, location and humidity for orchids
Like most plants the right level of light is vital for orchids. You want to avoid direct sunlight as orchids can get sunburnt (yes really!) so if you’re worried your plant is in too sunny a spot, keep a close eye on them as their leaves can scorch in a matter of hours.
The ideal location for an orchid is:
- A room that’s a constant temperature through the day
- Somewhere away from fruit
- Somewhere away from drafts
- Somewhere in indirect sunlight
Finding the right light
Orchids, like a lot of plants, love indirect sun – sunlight that’s been bounced off a wall or filtered through another object. There’s a simple way to check if the level of indirect sun is right, we call it the shadow test.
Head to your plant on a sunny day when the sun is at its highest point (usually around midday), hold your hand over it, a few inches from the leaves and check the shadow it casts.
Little to no shadow = not enough light
Soft grey shadow = perfect light
Dark grey shadow = too much light
Should I mist my orchid?
Short answer? Yes! Orchids generally love humid conditions because they’re a tropical plant. The easiest way to recreate their humid home is by misting them with a spray bottle. But remember what we said earlier about not using standard tap water? Well when it comes to misting, that’s especially important. Minerals in tap water can leave white stains on orchid leaves which as well as looking a little unsightly, also stops them absorbing moisture.
When to mist
You can spray the leaves up to twice a day. It might seem like a lot but water evaporates quickly. If you’re worried you’re misting too much just check the soil with your finger before you mist – if it’s wet or damp, give the mist a miss.
Signs your orchid needs a mist
- Stunted or very slow growth
- Flower buds falling off
- Brown-tipped leaves
- Twister flowers
Pruning orchids
Taking a pair of secateurs or a knife to a beloved plant might be daunting, but it’s really important to encourage new blooms and growth. Just follow our guide and you’ll soon be pruning like a pro, and as long you’re giving your orchid all the other TLC it needs it should produce more gorgeous blooms in its next cycle.
When to prune
When your orchid blooms its flowers can last up to 12 weeks. After that the flowers will most likely fade or fall off – that’s your cue: it’s pruning time.
How to prune
- Before you start chopping away check the health of your stem(s).
Healthy stems are green and firm to the touch
Unhealthy stems are brown/yellow in colour and hard to the touch
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Then sterilise your shears/secateurs or a sharp knife. You can do this with sterilising fluid or boiling water. It’s all to make sure no bugs are getting onto your precious plant.
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Trim away any dead leaves, tissue or roots being sure to cut diagonally. Remember pruning an orchid is not like pruning a shrub – if you accidentally nick a healthy leaf the rest of the leaf will probably die, so go carefully and be really gentle.
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Trim your stem, how you do this depends on how healthy it is or whether it’s been pruned before.
If your stem is healthy and this is the first prune. Trim the stem just above the stem notch/node where the first flower had bloomed. This will allow a new shoot to emerge.
If your stem is unhealthy or you have already rebloomed your orchid pruning once already, it is best to cut an inch above the base of the stem. This allows the orchid to focus its energy into producing new strong leaves and roots.
Common orchid problems & FAQs
My orchid isn’t flowering, is it a lost cause?
No! Sometimes people thing no flowers means an orchid is past its best but if the leaves look healthy hold on, it may bloom yet. Sometimes a lack of light can mean the orchid sends their energy elsewhere so you could try relocating it to a sunnier spot (read the section on light for tips on that). If you’re orchid has bloomed before, it might need pruning, jump to the section on pruning for help.
My orchid is losing lots of leaves, is this right?
Losing a few leaves is normal, as long as they don’t all fall off at once. If that have or your orchid is losing lots of leaves usually means the plant is too cold or it’s too wet. Allow the orchid to dry out and carefully remove any dead leaves.
There’s sticky stuff on the leaves below the orchid flower, is that okay?
Don’t panic, that’s completely normal. That’s orchid nectar, the plant makes it to attract insects to pollinate it. If it bothers you wipe it away gentle with a damp cloth.
Are crinkly orchid leaves normal?
When new leaves grow from an orchid, they tend to stick to one another if the atmosphere is too dry which causes them to crinkle. All you need to do is grab your mister and give them a spray.
Lots of my orchid’s root are above the soil, should I be worried?
Absolutely not, these are called ‘aerial roots’ and they’re totally normal. In the wild you might find an orchid growing off a tree in a steamy rainforest with lots of root exposed, so seeing the roots is a good thing. Just be sure to mist the roots regularly to keep them green and healthy and not grey and dry.
My orchid leaves are turning yellow, what’s happening?
Yellow leaves are either a sign of too much water or too little light. Check that your roots are not brown and waterlogged. If they are, hold off the water and allow the plant to dry. If your roots are healthy then try the plant in another spot to get more light. Remember to use the shadow test!
