🦋 Orchid - The complete guide to growing and caring for it
📋 Quick summary - everything you need to know at a glance
Bright and filtered
No direct sun!
Once a week or two
Only when the substrate is dry
Home / Office
Classic houseplant
Easy-medium
Suitable for beginners
Non-toxic
Safe for pets
18-28°C
Tropical, heat-loving
🌱 Getting to know the orchid
Naming and identification
- Hebrew name: Orchid
- Scientific name: Phalaenopsis
- Common names: Butterfly orchid, moth orchid, butterfly orchid
- Family: Orchidaceae
Origin and history
The orchid comes from the tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia, India, China and northern Australia. In nature, it grows as an epiphyte plant - clinging to tree trunks and rocks, receiving moisture and food from the air and rain.
The name "Phalaenopsis" comes from the Greek: phalaina (moth/butterfly) + opsis (appearance) - because of the shape of the flowers.
Why grow an orchid?
- 🦋 Spectacular flowers: butterfly-shaped
- 🌺 Long flowering: up to 3-6 months!
- 🎨 Variety of colors: white, pink, purple, yellow and more
- 🏠 Perfect houseplant: thrives in home conditions
- 🎁 Elegant gift: Luxurious for any occasion
- 💪 Live for many years: with proper care!
Characteristics
- Height: 15-60 cm
- Leaves: Green, thick and fleshy
- Flowering: Once or twice a year
- Flowering duration: 2-6 months
🌿 The Secret of the Orchid - An Epiphytic Plant
What makes the orchid special - it doesn't grow in ordinary soil!
In nature 🌳
Orchids grow on tree trunks and rocks, not in the ground . The roots cling to the wood and receive moisture and food from the air and rain.
At home 🏠
That's why the orchid grows in a special substrate of tree bark rather than regular soil, and in a transparent pot that allows light to reach the roots.
In nature, the roots are exposed to light. The transparent pot allows you to see the condition of the roots (healthy = green/silver, rotten = brown) and know when to water!
🎨 Popular orchid types
There are over 28,000 species of orchids in the world! Here are the most common:
Phalaenopsis
Most common, easy to grow
Dendrobium
Many small flowers
Cattleya
Large, fragrant flowers
Wanda
Bright colors, for advanced users
Cymbidium
Flowers on long stems
Oncidium
"Dancing Orchid"
🎨 Phalaenopsis orchid colors
white
pink
purple
yellow
orange
red
mottled
blue*
* Blue orchids are usually white orchids that have been dyed. When they re-bloom, they will return to white.
🌤️ Growing conditions - the key to success
☀️ Light - the most important factor!
Ideal type of light: bright and filtered, not direct
East or north window, diffused light
Direct midday sun (you'll burn!)
How do you know if there is enough light?
- Light green/olive leaves: Perfect light ✅
- Dark green leaves: Lack of light! Move to a brighter location
- Reddish/yellow leaves: Too much light! Keep out of the sun
💡 Tip: Lack of light = the main reason why an orchid doesn't bloom!
💧 Irrigation - less is more!
The golden rule: an orchid would rather be too dry than too wet!
Watering frequency:
- Summer: Once a week
- Winter: once a week or two
- Rule: Only when the substrate is completely dry!
How do you know when to water?
Saturated with water - do not water!
Thirsty - it's time to water!
Irrigation methods:
- Soaking method (recommended!): Place the pot in a bowl of water for 10-15 minutes, remove and drain well.
- Normal watering: Water until water comes out of the bottom, empty the saucer after 20 minutes.
💨 Humidity
Requirement: High humidity - 50-70%
How to increase humidity?
- 🚿 Spray leaves (not on the flowers!)
- 🪨 Pebble tray with water under the flower pot
- 🌿 Grouping with other plants
- 🚿 Location in a bright bathroom
🌡️ Temperature
Ideal range: 18-28°C (normal room temperature!)
- 🏠 Perfect normal home temperature
- ❄️ Keep away from air conditioners (cold air flow)
- 🔥 Keep away from heaters and radiators
- 🌙 Day-night difference encourages flowering
🪴 Growing medium and flowerpot
Special substrate for orchids:
Not ordinary soil! Orchids grow in a special substrate:
- ✅ Pine bark (most common)
- ✅ Coconut fiber
- ✅ Sphagnum moss
- ✅ Perlite for aeration
Choosing a flower pot:
- Transparent flowerpot: allows light to reach the roots and see when to water
- Drainage holes: Critical! Orchids do not tolerate standing water.
- Size: relatively small - orchids like "pressure" in the roots
Transfer to a pot:
- Every 2-3 years
- Not during flowering!
- In spring or summer
- A pot that is only 2-3 cm larger
🧪 Fertilization
Principle: "Less is more" - dilute and infrequently .
Fertilization schedule:
Once every two weeks, diluted to a quarter
Once a month
Break or minimum
Fertilizer type:
- Special fertilizer for orchids: Recommended!
- NPK ratio: 30-10-10 for growth, or balanced
- Mixtures: A quarter of the recommended concentration!
- Do not fertilize a dry orchid - always water first!
- Do not fertilize during flowering.
- Over-fertilizing will burn the roots.
🌸 How to make an orchid bloom again? - The most common question!
The orchid doesn't die when the flowers fall! It simply stores energy for the next bloom.
Step 1: What to do when the flowers wilt?
Trim the flowering stem:
- Option 1 (quick): Cut above the second node from the bottom - a new flowering branch may emerge.
- Option 2 (for a stronger plant): Cut the entire stem to the base - it will bloom next season with more beautiful flowers.
Step 2: Treatment between rashes
- ✅ Continue watering as usual
- ✅ We wash once a month
- ✅ Maintain good lighting conditions
- ✅ Be patient! It can take months
Step 3: The "trick" to flowering - night cold!
The gardeners' secret:
- In autumn, expose the orchid to cooler night temperatures ( 15-18°C ).
- For 3-4 weeks
- The difference between day and night (5-8 degrees) stimulates the plant to bloom.
- Reduce watering during this period.
💡 Where? Near a window at night, on a sheltered balcony, or in an unheated room.
Why isn't my orchid blooming?
Reason #1! Move to a brighter place
No difference between day and night
Especially nitrogen - leaves at the expense of flowers
It takes time to establish itself.
🔧 Common problems and solutions
🟡 Yellowing leaves
Reasons:
- Natural aging (lower leaves) - normal!
- Overwatering/Root rot
- Direct sunlight is too strong
- Lack of fertilizer
🟤 Rotten roots
Signs: Soft, brown, smelly roots
Reason: Overwatering!
solution:
- Remove from the pot
- Prune away rotten roots
- Let it dry for a day or two.
- Plant in a new substrate
🥀 Loose/wrinkled leaves
Reasons:
- Deficiency irrigation (rare)
- Rotten roots (common!)
- Humidity too low
Solution: Check roots first!
🔴 Spots on the leaves
Possible reasons:
- Yellow spots: sunburn
- Black spots: fungal/bacterial disease
- White spots: powdery mildew
Solution: Remove infected leaves, improve ventilation
🐛 Common pests
Brown lumps. Wiped with alcohol.
White lumps. Alcohol + soap
Thin webs. Increase humidity.
Holes in the leaves. Remove manually.
🔄 Orchid proliferation
Common method: Keiki - a "baby" that grows on the flowering stem
What is a cake?
Sometimes a small miniature plant with its own leaves and roots grows on the flowering stem - it's a keiki!
How to separate cakes:
- Wait until it has at least 3 leaves and 3 roots 5 cm long.
- With a sharp, sterilized knife, cut about 2 cm from both sides of the cake.
- Plant in moist orchid medium
- Maintain higher humidity at first
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
2-6 months! This is one of the longest blooms in the plant world. Under good conditions, it can last up to six months.
No! Phalaenopsis orchids are considered non-toxic and safe for homes with pets.
With proper care - decades! Some orchids live 15-20 years or more.
This is normal! These are "air roots" - in nature they grow exposed. Do not cut them!
Popular but not recommended method - Orchids are tropical plants that don't like cold. Room temperature water is best.
In spring or summer, after the blooms are over . Never during bloom - the flowers will fall!
Absolutely not! This is natural. The orchid is storing energy and will bloom again. Continue to care as usual.
Yes, in summer only ! In partial shade, protected from direct rain and wind. Bring in when the temperature drops below 15°C.
💡 Professional tips
Wipe leaves with a damp cloth. For shine - drizzle with squeezed lemon!
Do not rotate during flowering - the flowers may fall!
Use a support stick for the heavy flowering stem.
Gentle air movement prevents disease.
🛒 Recommended products from Deco Garden
Phalaenopsis orchid
In a variety of colors
Fertilizer for orchids
Special for flowering
Orchid substrate
Pine bark
Transparent flowerpot
With drainage
spray
To increase humidity
Support sticks
To the flowering stem
📊 Summary table - all information in one place
| category | Details |
|---|---|
| ☀️ Light | Bright and filtered, no direct sun |
| 💧 Irrigation | Once a week or two, only when dry |
| 💨 Humidity | 50-70%, adapts to home conditions |
| 🌡️ Temperature | 18-28°C, cool night for flowering |
| 🧪 Fertilization | Once every two weeks-a month, diluted |
| 🌱 Substrate | Tree bark/coconut fiber, not soil! |
| 📏 Size | 15-60 cm height |
| 🌸 Blossom | Once or twice a year, 2-6 months |
| 🎨 Colors | White, pink, purple, yellow, spotted |
| 🐾 Toxicity | Non-toxic - safe for pets and children |
🦋 Deco Garden - Love for Plants
Do you have questions about growing orchids? Need help? We're here for you!
📧 Contact us | 📱 Follow us on social media | 🌱 Buy plants and products
© 2025 Deco Garden - All rights reserved
The guide was written by the Deco Garden team of experts.