What do I do if my orchid is dormant?

Fertilize. As soon as your orchid goes dormant, start fertilizing it every other week to help rebuild its nutrient stores for blooming again. Use a balanced 20-20-20 houseplant fertilizer diluted to half strength. Do not water your orchid on weeks that you fertilize.

Do you water orchids when they are not blooming?

Water Weekly

Just because your orchid does not have flowers does not mean you should stop watering it. Continue to water your orchid with three ice cubes (one ice cube for orchid minis) on the usual day each week. Sign up for our orchid care watering reminders so you don’t forget your watering day!

How do you water a dry orchid?

The best place to water your plant is in the kitchen sink. Use lukewarm water (do not use salt softened or distilled water) and water your plant for about 15 seconds and be sure to thoroughly wet the media. Then allow the plant to drain for about 15 minutes. It may appear dry but it has had enough water.

How often do you water a resting orchid?

2. Water orchids weekly. Unlike many houseplants, orchids should only be watered when they begin to dry out. Watering when they’re almost dry mimics their natural environment.

How do you get a dormant orchid to bloom?

Fertilizing Dormant Orchids

Fertilizer acts as energy that powers regrowth. For optimum reblooming, fertilize your orchid every two weeks or once a month with a balanced fertilizer (20-20-20 or 10-10-10) mixed at half strength. Do not water your orchid on the weeks you fertilize.

How do you get an orchid to rebloom?

Follow these simple steps to help reblooming begin.
  1. Continue to water your orchid with 3 ice cubes once a week. …
  2. Fertilize your orchid once or twice a month using a balanced houseplant fertilizer at half strength. …
  3. Help your orchids grow by providing plenty of indirect sunlight.
  4. Put your orchid in a cooler spot at night.

How do I know if my orchid needs water?

Here’s how to tell if the orchid needs water:
  1. Roots that are green are getting just the right amount of water.
  2. Roots that are soggy and brown are getting too much water.
  3. Roots that are grey or white are not getting enough water.

How long can orchids go without water?

Most orchids will survive for two to three weeks (a typical vacation period) without watering, occasionally up to one month. Cattleyas, Dendrobiums, and Phalaenopsis all will survive with up to three weeks of not watering as long as their medium is maintained moist.

Can you water orchids with tap water?

Orchids are a wildly popular flowering plant, belonging to the Orchidaceae family. … Most chlorinated tap water can be used as long as the chlorine isn’t excessive; however, watering orchids with collected rain or distilled water from the store is best.

Should you mist orchids?

Misting gives the orchid more humidity but does not create a soggy root environment. It is best to put your orchid where it will receive medium indirect sunlight. … To ensure bright blooms and a healthy plant, use a potting mixture and a fertilizer that is specifically designed for orchids.

Can you water an orchid with ice cubes?

So, using ice cubes, 3 per week on top of the orchid container, may be an easy way to water your orchids! For orchid owners who may only keep the plant for a few weeks or months, just until the flowers are gone, ice cubes may be the easy way to care for these plants.

What do Overwatered orchids look like?

Overwatering an orchid plant is extremely dangerous to the plant’s health. Too much water stops oxygen from reaching the roots. Orchid roots exposed to excessive water begin to rot, turning brown to black, and become extremely soft. … Examine the orchid’s roots, looking for brown, mushy, rotting portions.

Does orchids like direct or indirect sunlight?

For orchid lighting, Phalaenopsis orchids do best in indirect sunlight, as opposed to full direct sunlight exposure. You may never have thought about where the sun is coming in your windows or garden, but when you have plants, it gives you extra incentive to pay attention to the wonders of nature!

Do orchids need pots with holes?

Phalaenopsis orchids can easily exist in plastic or clay pots. … All pots must have drainage holes; roots that continuously touch water will rot and die which will eventually eliminate the plant as well.

Where is the best place to put an orchid?

The ideal spot for growing orchids is either south or east-facing windows. Usually west windows are too hot while northern windows are too dark. Placing orchids under artificial lights is the last resort if you can’t find a good location to grow your orchids.

How much water does a orchid need?

In general, water once a week during the winter and twice a week when the weather turns warm and dry. The size of your orchid container also helps determine how often you need to water, regardless of climate conditions. Typically, a 6-inch pot needs water every 7 days and a 4-inch pot needs water every 5 to 6 days.

Do orchids like coffee grounds?

In order to keep your hard to grow orchids thriving, they will need to be fed properly. Orchids require very low amounts of fertilizer when they are actively growing leaves and roots. … Coffee grounds are an excellent fertilizer, especially for orchids and African violets.

What is best potting mix for orchids?

Texas A&M University botanists, however, say their Phalaenopsis orchids thrive best in a potting mix that is 80% fir bark and 20% coarse sphagnum peat.

Do orchids like bathrooms?

Since a bathroom environment is naturally warm and humid thanks to steamy showers, and most bathroom windows don’t let in much direct sunlight, your bathroom is actually the perfect place for your orchids to thrive.