How to care for orchid plants indoors

Introduction

Orchid plants are some of the most wonderful and mysterious plants on earth. With proper care—especially choosing the right ones for your light, humidity, and space—they make wonderful houseplants.
For a beginner, select easy-care, low-maintenance types, such as moth orchids (phalaenopsis), or enjoy the sweet perfume of fragrant species, such as cattleya.
Give them the bright, indirect light they thrive on. Maintain humidities of 40 to 70 percent and daytime temperatures of 70° to 80°F.
Choose well-draining pots and potting media, such as bark-based mixes. Give your orchids a good drink, but keep them out of standing water to avoid root rot.
Orchids can be lightly fertilized throughout the growing season. Repot them every 1 to 2 years, pruning dead roots and leaves as needed to stay healthy and promote reblooming.

In This Article

Introduction
Key Takeaways
Understanding Orchids
Our Top Picks from Floraqueen
Our Top Picks from Flowersandplantsco
Our Top Picks from Amazon
Choosing indoor orchids
- - - i. Best orchid varieties for indoors
    - ii. Factors to consider when choosing
Preparing Orchid Growing Supplies
Setting Up the Ideal Environment
Watering and Feeding Orchids
Repotting and Pruning Orchids
Caring for Orchids After Flowering
Managing Orchid Pests and Diseases
Conclusion
Your Questions, Answered

Key Takeaways

Orchid plants care indoors starts with the right light, humidity, and watering. These beauties brighten up any space and make an excellent addition to bright, indirect light locations like spots near east- or south-facing windows.

To care for orchids indoors, maintain orchid humidity levels between 50% and 70%. You can do this pretty easily by running a humidifier or keeping a tray of water close by.

Watering them about once a week based on the season will ensure your orchids do not become overwatered but their roots remain healthy and aerated. You can keep proper airflow and moisture balance by using a well-draining orchid mix.

By regularly wiping your orchid’s leaves you’ll remove any dust and your orchid will be able to absorb more light. When you follow these best practices, orchids thrive and can bring beauty and grace to your home.

Our Top Picks from Floraqueen

Understanding Orchids

Orchids are one of the most diverse and fascinating families of flowering plants, known for their ornate blooms and ability to thrive in nearly every environment on the planet. With more than 25,000 species and innumerably more hybrids, they hold the fascination of green thumbs both novice and expert.

These plants are not just beautiful; they play a significant role in horticulture, symbolizing elegance and care in indoor gardening. They are beloved far and wide for the way they bloom abundantly under just about any conditions. With the right care, they will bloom 12 months a year.

i. What Are Orchid Plants?

Orchids can be found either as epiphytes, growing on the surface of trees, or as terrestrial plants, rooted in the ground. Pollination is essential for their reproduction. This imperative has led to a breathtaking diversity of floral forms, each one tailored to lure a particular pollinator.

Common features of these plants are thick, fleshy roots that store water. Depending on their habitat, the leaves can be very different. Some are thin and strap-shaped, while others can be thick and leathery.

Our Top Picks from Flowersandplantsco

ii. Types of Orchids

Popular orchid varieties like Phalaenopsis (moth orchids), Dendrobium, and Cymbidium are mainstays in indoor gardening. Monopodial orchids grow up from a central vertical stem. Sympodial orchids grow sideways and have several growth points.

Care requirements are different, too. Tropical orchids like Phalaenopsis enjoy higher humidity and warmth, whereas temperate varieties like Cymbidiums do best in cooler, more controlled conditions.

iii. How do orchid plants grow indoors?

With south- or east-facing windows offering the most beneficial conditions, indoor orchids bloom best in bright, indirect light. Beginners often gravitate towards Phalaenopsis for their low maintenance, while experienced growers may explore intricate species like Cattleya or Oncidium.

Equally, a well-balanced indoor collection can bring a continuous supply of blooms in every color and pattern imaginable to brighten any living space. Seasonal temperature modification and weekly applications of a diluted light fertilizer help them flourish.

Choosing Indoor Orchids

Choosing the best orchid for your indoor environment is a crucial first step. With more than 250 species of native orchids in North America, you won’t run out of variety anytime soon. That said, some species are more adaptable for the indoor setting, providing beauty with an added touch of practicality.

i. Best Orchid plants Varieties for Indoors

Moth orchids (phalaenopsis) are one of the best orchids for beginners because they’re easy-care and bloom all year long. For an extra sensory bonus, look for fragrant varieties such as cattleya orchids that can perfume a room with their delightful scent.

If you’re short on room, miniature orchids are the ideal answer. They do well in smaller, tighter pots and spaces, which makes them perfect for the apartment or smaller home dweller.

When selecting, consider the light conditions in your space. Bright, indirect light is preferable for most orchids, though some such as dendrobiums can survive in a little less. Temperature is important as well—orchids love climates with large day-to-night temperature variances.

Warm growers, such as vandas, prefer 70–85°F, while cool growers like cymbidiums do better in 50–70°F ranges. Humidity, preferably 40–70%, plays a significant role in healthy growth as well.

Space planning is one of the most important factors. Orchids require adequate space for air circulation, so do not overcrowd them.

PICK POTS WITH PROPER DRAINAGE. Avoid root rot and give your plant room to thrive by selecting containers with sufficient drainage. If repotting is necessary and the roots have filled the container, go up one pot size.

ii. Factors to Consider When Choosing

Choosing the right tools and materials will help you succeed with your indoor orchids. Start with pots with drainage holes. Collect potting media such as bark or sphagnum moss, and have your watering methods — like a spray bottle — on hand.

Be sure to check and never water until the potting medium is dry to the touch to prevent overwatering, which can be particularly damaging to orchids. Orchids love a weekly watering schedule when they are actively growing. They like to dry out once in a while, rather than stay wet all the time.

Use materials that allow for good drainage, such as gravel or mesh, to make sure water doesn’t pool. Orchids can be sensitive to root rot, so make sure pots have plenty of drainage to let excess water out.

Repot any new orchids as soon as you get them. Repotting new orchids as soon as they arrive is a crucial step. Reuse of containers is fine, but if the root mass doesn’t fit it anymore, move up to a pot one or two sizes bigger.

Preparing Orchid Growing Supplies

Providing the best possible environment for your orchids starts with using the right orchid growing supplies. Pots and potting media, tools, fertilizers—each item contributes to overall healthy growth, and they are all vital to the process. Spending extra time to select these pieces thoughtfully will keep your orchids happy and healthy indoors.

Our Top Picks from Amazon

i. Selecting the Right Pots

So, orchids require pots that allow for good drainage, so they don’t develop root rot. Choose pots with several drainage holes to allow the roots to dry out between waterings. This is especially true with clear plastic pots, which let you monitor both moisture levels and root health.

Orchids look stunning filling exotic ceramic pots that should be the envy of any container garden. Just remember that they require special care with ample drainage. The pot size should be appropriate to the orchid’s stage of growth, as excess room can result in overwatering.

ii. Choosing Suitable Potting Media

The potting mix has a direct impact on how your orchid’s roots get air and moisture. Bark-based potting mixes work well for orchids that require high drainage and airflow, such as Phalaenopsis orchids.

Higher moisture retention orchids that tend to like a bit more moisture, like Paphiopedilum, do well in moss-based media. Many experienced growers try their hand at soilless mixes developed for particular species. Select the correct media to suit your orchid’s specific requirements for the best results.

iii. Tools and Accessories for Orchid Care

Trustworthy resources help demystify orchid care. Pruning shears can cut dead roots or leaves, and moisture meters will let you know exactly when to water. A watering can with a long, narrow spout provides good control.

Invest in a humidity tray or misting system to keep humidity levels high for your orchids. Most tall orchids will need some kind of stake/clip system to hold up the stems during flowering.

iv. Importance of Grow Lights and Fertilizers

Since grow lights can create controlled light in darker areas, they help achieve robust and healthy photosynthesis.

Fertilizers are needed to provide balanced nutrition, like the MSU orchid fertilizers. They all have different schedules, but many growers recommend weak, weekly feedings during the active growth period.

If you are using a bark media, choose a fertilizer with a higher first number, such as 30-10-10, to facilitate nitrogen absorption. Once your orchids are fully grown, you can decrease feeding frequency to once a month.

v. Creating the Perfect Environment

Orchids do best in environments with consistent humidity and filtered light. Don’t leave them in the draft or set them next to heating vents. Keeping a close eye on temperature and humidity will help you maintain the right environment, particularly during seasonal transitions.

Orchids can withstand short-term heatwaves, but continued extended heat would likely start to stress the plant.

Setting Up the Ideal Environment

Setting up the ideal environment is key to growing orchids successfully inside. These plants are very particular to their environment, and even minor changes can really impact the welfare of these plants and their ability to bloom. The sections below outline some of the most important considerations to set you up to deliver the highest standard of care.

i. Light Requirements for Orchids

Orchids require strong, indirect light to encourage flower production without burning the foliage. The best windows for this are south- and east-facing windows, since these provide even, bright light all day long. To diffuse glaring sunlight coming from south- or west-facing windows, sheer or light-filtering curtains are a great option.

Indoor light is just one-third as intense as outdoor shade on a bright sunny day. Which is why it’s so important to bring in as much indirect light inside as possible! Placing orchids by north- or east-facing windows will also offer consistent light, without the chance of overexposure.

ii. Maintaining Proper Temperature

Temperature is one of the most important caring factors for orchids. Most orchids, like Phalaenopsis and Vanda, prefer warm daytime temperatures around 70°F to 80°F—cooler-growing types such as Cattleya and Oncidium like it a little more moderate at 65°F to 75°F.

At night, temperatures ideally need to be 60°F for warm-growing orchids or around 55°F for the intermediate varieties, reenacting the conditions they’d experience in the wild. Seasonal variation is key too—warmer summers and cooler winters go a long way to reproducing the conditions of their native habitat.

Fluctuations in temperature must be kept to a minimum too since this will shock the plant and prevent it from thriving.

iii. Ensuring Adequate Humidity Levels

Your orchids need humidity levels of 40% to 70%, so keeping that humidity range stable indoors is very important. Using a humidifier or placing trays filled with water around the plants can help boost the humidity around them.

For an easy fix, cluster orchids to form a microclimate with increased humidity. Keeping a close eye on humidity levels is key during dry seasons. It’s even more essential in houses that use central heat, which can really dry the air out.

iv. Watering Orchids Effectively

A regular watering schedule is essential for thriving orchids. Monitor the potting medium to know when to add more moisture. If it’s dry when you touch it, it’s time to drink.

In cooler months, water your orchids weekly. During warmer growing seasons, water more frequently, up to twice a week. Water well until some drains out the bottom, making sure the roots are well-watered but not waterlogged.

By increasing or decreasing how often you water depending on the season, you can avoid overwatering or drying the plant out, both of which severely affect the plant’s health.

Watering and Feeding Orchids

Watering and feeding orchids indoors is key to providing proper care. These practices are essential to keeping the plants healthy and encouraging them to thrive. Read on for our complete watering and feeding guide to keep your orchids happy and healthy.

i. Common Watering Mistakes to Avoid

Overwatering is perhaps the most typical mistake made when growing orchids. It usually results in yellow leaves and/or root rot. The second most common error is having standing water in the pot, which causes rot.

Instead, make sure that the pot you use drains well. Orchids love to be well-aerated, so you’ll want to ensure that your plant’s roots dry out completely in between waterings.

Don’t water as often in the cooler months, since orchids require less water when they are not in an active growth cycle.

ii. Fertilizing Orchids for Healthy Growth

Fertilizing orchids requires using a balanced fertilizer, e.g., 20-20-20 during the growing season, at a quarter-strength formula every week. Orchids grown in bark will respond well to a nitrogen-rich fertilizer such as 30-10-10.

As a general rule, you should always fertilize after watering to avoid orchids being harmed by concentrated nutrients. During periods orchids are not in bloom or actively growing, cut down feedings to once a month or every other month.

Mature orchids need to be fed less often, too.

iii. Best Practices for Feeding Orchids

Liquid fertilizers are best for orchids because they provide even distribution of nutrients. Seasonal adjustments matter too. Cut back on feeding in the winter, when growth has slowed down, and up the dosage in the spring and summer when orchids are most vigorous.

Repotting orchids is necessary when roots grow too large for the container or the potting medium starts to break down. Cutting off dead leaves and stems is just as essential to keeping your plants in peak condition, allowing for improved airflow and new growth.

Repotting and Pruning Orchids

Orchid care inside is more than frequent watering and offering bright, indirect light. You need to repot and prune them in order to maintain their health and encourage blooming. These repotting and pruning techniques will keep your orchids healthy and beautiful while correcting poor root conditions, overcrowding, and general plant upkeep.

i. When to Repot Orchids

Repotting should be done every 1-2 years. In addition to the above reasons, you should repot when the potting medium breaks down and is no longer able to hold moisture. Signs of overcrowding, roots visibly growing out of the bottom drainage holes, or a medium’s breakdown are all good signs.

The best time to repot is soon after flowering, this reduces the stress on the plant. Carefully take the orchid out of its old pot, being careful not to break the roots. Always use sterilized equipment to trim any dead or decayed roots, because this helps prevent spreading disease.

Choose a pot that is a little bigger than the pot you used previously. Next, add a well-draining repotting medium like bark or sphagnum moss. Provide a way for the plant to be stabilized while it establishes new roots.

ii. Steps to Repot Orchids Safely

Begin the process by using clean, sterilized tools to prevent the spreading of diseases to your orchid. Prune dead roots, rotting root systems and cut back spent flower spikes to encourage new growth.

To start, orchids love when you prune away any yellowing or damaged leaves—this helps create a beautiful plant and protects your orchid from disease. To propagate your orchid, in early spring you can divide the pseudobulbs before new growth begins.

In the meantime, you can raise these keikis, the little plantlets, to mature into brand new orchids. Though only 1 in 10 orchids may bloom in the first year after repotting, consistent care significantly improves the chances of flowering over time.

iii. Pruning Techniques for Healthy Orchids

Pruning aids in the upkeep of the orchid’s structure, and it promotes growth of new blooms. After blooming has finished, water a little less as the orchid goes into a rest period. This change helps the plant recuperate and brings the plant into a healthy state to rebloom.

Cut back dead or faded flower spikes, for if you do not, they may impede new growth. When new shoots start to display, follow them through and respond to their development, for example, by increasing watering or a light feed.

Timely pruning prevents orchids from growing leggy and improves their aesthetic quality. It clears away dead flowers and foliage which further helps prevent disease. Over time, careful pruning practices will result in reliable, profuse blooms season after season.

Caring for Orchids After Flowering

Once an orchid has finished blooming, it’s time to change its care routine. Instead, concentrate on maintaining overall plant health and preparing your orchid for a productive upcoming flowering cycle. Although the colorful flowers will eventually drop, the orchid’s shiny green leaves continue to make the plant beautiful long after the flowers have passed.

With the right treatment after flowering as well as a little patience, orchids can live long, healthy lives, producing beautiful blooms year after year.

i. Fertilize Lightly to Support New Growth

After flowering, orchids need nutrients to help them rebuild their energy stores. When using orchid fertilizer, dilute it to 25 to 50 percent strength. Apply it once a month, and you’ll boost the overall health of your orchid’s leaves and roots while avoiding overstimulating the plant.

This step is important when it comes to making sure new growth is triggered, but over-fertilizing can actually impede development. For instance, selecting a liquid fertilizer that is specifically labeled for use on orchids will provide the right nutrition in the proper balance.

ii. Maintain Consistent Humidity and Temperature

Orchids do very well in more normal indoor climates of about 40-60% humidity. A small humidifier or a tray of water placed near the plant should be enough to keep the air humidity at the proper level.

For temperature, target 65°F to 75°F, particularly when they are in their resting period. Having that uniformity prevents the plant from going into stress mode and helps induce new spikes.

iii. Post-Bloom Care Tips

Provide less bright light. A little reduction in nighttime temp, ideally 60-65°F, will assist in signaling the plant to start its next bloom cycle. This recreates the orchid’s native environment, stimulating the development of a new flower spike.
Orchids do best in a well-lit area with plenty of indirect, bright sunlight. Keeping them close to an east-facing window provides the perfect solution—direct sunlight for part of the day, too much direct sunlight will burn the leaves.

For instance, installing sheer curtains will break up that light beautifully.

Water the orchid only after the top inch of potting mix is dry. Consistent over-watering can lead to root rot, while the opposite, under-watering, can stress the plant.

The same regular pattern of care, accompanied by a regular monthly feeding, helps to keep the plant’s energy stores replenished.

Managing Orchid Pests and Diseases

The best approach to pests and diseases is always preventative. While healthy plants will always do best in clean orchid environments, even with the best of care problems happen. Identifying their early symptoms and acting quickly can help you keep your orchid looking beautiful and healthy.

Conclusion

With a little understanding and care, growing orchids indoors can be an enjoyable, easy experience. Know what your orchids require and select the proper species to fit your environment. Create an ideal environment and you’ll provide them a much better chance to flourish! Routine watering, feeding, pruning, and re-potting of your plants will help them thrive. By being vigilant towards pests and other ailments you can prevent problems from arising. Once they are done flowering, a bit of patience and attentiveness get them ready to blossom once more.

Orchids are more than just wonderful houseplants, they bring warmth and sophistication to any environment. With a little regular attention, they’ll be a long-term feature of your home. Begin modestly, keep a watchful eye, and savor the journey. Orchids are worth the effort, and they reward with colorful blooms that make the effort all worthwhile. Happy growing—from all of us here at Orchid Advice!

Your Questions, Answered

What type of orchids are best for indoor care?

Phalaenopsis (moth orchids) are perfect for first timers. They make wonderful indoor plants because they are so low maintenance and bloom for several months at a time. Their adaptability to home environments is a big reason they are among the most commonly purchased houseplants.

How often should I water my indoor orchid?

Water it once a week, but make sure the potting mix dries out completely before watering it again. Excess water will drown roots which can lead to root rot. Water with room temperature water and don’t get water on the leaves.

What is the best light for orchids indoors?

Orchids prefer warm and humid conditions, with bright but indirect light. Keep them close to an east-facing window for the perfect balance. Do not place in direct sunlight, as this will burn the leaves.

When should I repot my orchid?

Repot every 1-2 years, or whenever roots become too large for the pot. Repotting gives you a chance to refresh the potting mix, so it’s a great way to encourage healthier growth.

How can I prevent orchid pests?

Be sure to inspect your plants often for pests, such as mealybugs or aphids. Pick them off with a cotton swab moistened with rubbing alcohol. By keeping your orchid clean and well-cared for, you can limit the risk of attracting pests.

Sign up for Newsletter

Kajari Kalam

Hi, my name is Kajari! Welcome to ObonAppetite.com, your ultimate destination for exploring the world of lifestyle, travel, health, food, stories, and sponsored content. The platform is designed to inspire and inform through engaging content curated by passionate writers and experts. Whether you’re a foodie seeking culinary adventures, a traveler looking for hidden gems, a health enthusiast aiming for wellness insights, or a brand seeking effective marketing solutions, ObonAppetite.com has something for everyone.

Lifestyle

Stories

Travel

Health

Sponsored Content

Baking

Cooking

Low-Calorie

Gluten-Free

Desserts

Vegan

Kitchen & Dinning

Appliances

Cookware

Bakeware

Dinning & Entertaining

Recipe Books

Beauty & Fashion

Skincare

Toning

Moisturizing

Sun Protection

Targeted Treatments

Eye Care

Lip Care

Body Care

Hand Care

Baby Care

Home & Garden

Personalized gifts

Garden Maintenance

Garden Tools and Equipment

Garden Decor and Accessories

Traveler

Health & Fitness

Lifestyle changes

Medication

Pets & Animals

Dog