Orchids!

 Hello readers! 

It's no secret that I adore orchids! At the moment, I only have 6, but I'm looking at adding more as I go along. I find their beauty truly captivating. Tending to my orchids is a real joy. They're a real delight, guaranteed to brighten any home! 

I have acquired a few as gifts from family and friends, others are actually rescued from stores selling them poorly packed on dusty shelves. Those cried out to be loved...so they found their way home with me! 

If you are thinking about getting an orchid yourself, read on! You will definitely be rewarded for the care you give your orchid. Their blooms are so pretty. And they don't actually take much to care for.  Read on for my top care tips! 

Care Tip 1: Orchid Positioning

• Position your orchid in a bright room or windowsill, but one that does not receive direct sunlight.

• Do not place the plant near a radiator or draught.

• Orchids are sensitive to ethylene gas which can be produced by ripening fruit. If you place your plant too near a fruit bowl it may drop all of its flowers. 

Care Tip 2: Watering Orchids

• Water your orchid once a week and never leave the roots standing in water for long periods of time; they will probably rot.

• The best way to water orchids is to dunk the whole pot into a sink or bowl of water. If you have time, leave the pot submerged for a few minutes; this will allow the root system to absorb all the water it needs.

• Alternatively, run the pot under a tap for around 20 seconds, allowing water to drain through the bottom. If you can’t remove the plant from its decorative container, place 1-2 ice cubes at the base of the stem.

• Tap water is fine, even if you live in an area with very hard water. Orchids are extremely versatile and will adapt to your water source.

Care Tip 3: Roots & Feeding

• Dry, shrivelled roots protruding from the bark can be cut off.

• Don’t be alarmed if lots of roots start growing out of the top of the pot – this is perfectly natural.

• If you think these aerial roots are unsightly, you can re-pot your orchid (see ‘Re-potting’). Cutting them off won’t kill the plant, but it may temporarily hinder the plants development.

• Your orchid will survive without fertilizer. However, its recommended that you feed once every 4 weeks if you want your plant to thrive.

• Any orchid feed will work, just follow the instructions on the label.

Care Tip 4: Re-flowering

• After the flowers have dropped off your orchid, you can cut back the stem.

• It’s best to do this when there is still at least one flower left – this will ensure the stem is still active and will prevent it from drying back and going brown when you cut it.

• It really doesn’t matter what height you cut it back to, as long as you cut just above a node that is below any previous branch or bloom.

• If the stem has gone brown, cut it off near the base of the plant.

• Generally speaking, if you cut the stem low down, the plant will produce a larger bloom but it may take a longer to develop. If you want a ‘quick fix’, cut just above the node below the lowermost previous branch or flower. A new branch should develop fairly quickly with little effort.

 Care Tip 5: Re-potting Orchids

• I recommend re-potting orchids every 4-5 years; or if the bark has begun to compost down; whichever comes first.

• Other than the above scenario, there’s no need to re-pot unless your plant is literally jumping out of its pot!

• Don’t worry if there are any gaps in the bark, orchid roots love air just as much as they love water!

• It might take a week or two for the plant to become stable whilst it regains its foot hold.