Five top tips - orchids

BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

Published: Wednesday, 17 November 2021 at 9:39 am

Plant guru Michael Perry shares his five top tips for growing orchids

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Despite their tropical presence, an orchid is as easy to grow as any houseplant. You just need to follow a few golden rules. The most important thing to understand is the growing cycle, and with the correct rest period, your plant will flower more than once.

Michael's five favourite orchids
Video: How to look after orchids like an expert

Listen to Michael Perry talk about orchids on the BBC Gardeners' World Podcast

Watering

Watering an orchid

The dunking method

Every so often, you’ll be told to water your orchid with an ice cube. This advice got lost in translation a few years back, and means the equivalent of an ice cube of water per week, not a chilly slab of ice. I find a shot glass measurement works better. Or you might choose the dunking method, where you submerge the plant in water once a week. A happy orchid will always have reddish green tips to the roots, so look out for that.

Feeding

Feeding an orchid

When in full bloom, your orchids will be fairly hungry! Water your orchid weekly, adding orchid fertiliser for 3 of those weeks each month. During the winter, when you reduce watering, don’t feed the plants at all. You may also see reference to a few natural fertilisers online, it might be worth testing some out and seeing if they work for you.

Re-flowering

Cutting back orchid flowers

The most commonly asked question is how can I get my orchid to re-flower? Well, look closely, and it could be sooner than you think. Only ever cut back faded flowers to a node on the stem, as there’s a chance side branches can also produce flowers. If your orchid really has exhausted itself, allow it some rest, with reduced watering. Orchid experts Double H Nurseries tell me that re-flowering can also be initiated by placing the plant at 5°C for four weeks.

How to get an orchid to flower again

The location

Orchids sitting on a shelf

Pick the perfect location for your orchids

A much discussed topic when growing orchids is the ideal environment for growing your plant. Strive for ‘bright indirect light’, a position where it’s light, but not directly in front of a window. If you do want a windowsill spectacle, then east or west facing will be suitable. Always avoid draughts from doorways and radiators.

Maintenance

Cleaning orchid leaves

It’s always worth giving your orchid leaves a dust as you do your housework, they need to let light in for photosynthesis. Use a soft damp cloth or leaf shine product. You may also see some yellow leaves from time to time, there's no need to panic, just pull them off lightly. It’s perfectly normal from time to time.

How to care for orchids

Portrait of Michael Perry

Michael Perry

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