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Tips on Growing Orchids Indoors
By Carrie E. Bernstein

Orchids are a beautiful blooming plant with tropical origins that have fans in other climates joining in on the fun of growing orchids indoors. In order to be successful at this hobby and reap the rewards, one must work diligently to care for these delicate flowering plants. Fortunately, there is more and more information available to help you do just that.

Many people purchase an orchid, enjoy its blossoms for as long as they last and then toss it to be replaced with a new plant that is in blossom. The reason is that orchids go through a dormant phase that often causes their owners to give up on them. But will a little patience and care, the orchid will bloom again.

Caring for orchids indoors can be done if you follow just a few simple steps. It is a very exciting and enjoyable hobby that many people enjoy.

Lighting Requirements

Orchids thrive on sunlight but prefer indirect or filtered light. If they are placed in a window that receives direct sun during the summer months it will be too much for them and the leaves will be damaged. The ideal location is in a corner of a room that receives lots of sunlight in a spot where the orchid does not receive direct exposure.

A window that faces south or southeast is the ideal location for growing orchids indoors. Eight to ten hours of indirect sunlight is ideal. This is the type of lighting they would normally receive in their natural setting.

If you are lucky enough to have a kitchen or bathroom on the south side of your home, this is an ideal location as orchids enjoy humid conditions as well. In northern climates during late fall and winter months you can move your orchid to a spot that receives more direct sunlight as the sun's rays are less powerful at this time and the orchid can tolerate and even benefit from them at this time.

Watering Orchids

When you are growing orchids indoors you will discover that their water requirements are different than most ordinary indoor plants. The most important thing to remember is that orchids don't need a lot of water, so less is always better.

When caring for orchids indoors you will want to follow a certain style of watering. Using purified water add just enough water to sock the roots and the soil they are planted in. To avoid overwatering it is helpful to plant them in an open pot or one with many holes to allow drainage. They do not like to sit in water so make sure that there is proper drainage. Allow them to dry between watering. Once a week watering is usually sufficient except during the heat of summer.

As mentioned above orchids love humidity. When the heat or air conditioning is running, mist your orchids on a regular basis. Mist early in the day so that they will dry before evening.

Potting Orchids

Orchids have long, interesting roots and actually are a parasitic plant. They grow among the trees in the rain forest, attaching themselves to the bark of the trees and branches. That is why you often find them planted in a potting soil made up of pieces of bark. Regular potting soil should be avoided. Instead purchase orchid potting soil that has been created with all the right ingredients.

Give Your Orchids Room to Breathe

When growing orchids indoors it is important to put them in a location where they will receive plenty of air circulation. If you have several plants, place them far enough apart so that there is space all the way around each plant and their leaves do not touch. A fan can be placed nearby to provide additional air circulation.

Feeding Tips

When growing orchids indoors feed them with a fertilizer designed for orchids every three weeks.

Carrie E. Bernstein is a orchid lover and enthusiast who enjoys sharing with others what she knows about growing and caring for orchids such as about how to grow orchids indoors. For more excellent tips on growing and caring for orchids, visit http://TipsForMagnificentOrchids.com.

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