How did you do it? I just bought an orchid from the grocery store and would love to hear some tips from successful orchid owners. I know they can be finicky but can also live for years.
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I have some that I've kept alive for a few years and a couple of them have rebloomed several times. The care depends on what type it is, though none of them are really hard to care for - they're so easy that I tend to forget about them! Did you get the moth-looking one?
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I have only one orchid plant that has continued to bloom every year for the last 5 years. I keep it in the second bedroom with indirect sunlight and water it when I remember, maybe 1x a month, max. I am amazed at how it continues to bloom!
I have other orchids at my office and they do nothing
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@spaniellove: This is the one I got.
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@Meridian: I have never been successful with them before but they are so pretty!
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@simplyfelicity: water it with ice cubes. Pick a day of the week and every time that day rolls around put three ice cubes in the soil. That's all it needs!
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@simplyfelicity: Yup, phalaenopsis orchid!
http://www.orchidweb.com/phalaenopsiscare.html
They're not too picky; I must have been putting these near east-facing windows like the instructions say because they're pretty happy. Just cut down the spike when all the blooms fall off, keep it in a space where there is some difference in the temperature between day and night, and water occasionally. They say the best thing you can do for an orchid is neglect it! You'll know when it's dry when the leaves lose their firmness. -
@spaniellove: Thank you! The link is very informative!
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@simplyfelicity: Depends on the conditions but eventually you'll see what looks like a root at first grow up from between the leaves and into a new spike!
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@simplyfelicity: water very sparingly!
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@spaniellove: So, the while plant goes away and not just the flowers? Geez, I am such a newb. Is that what this is? I promise, these are my last questions!
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@simplyfelicity: That is a root! Looking a little dry, but don't worry they get like that
When the root is totally dead it actually looks all empty.
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Sorry I can never photograph this well because of the lighting, but here are some of my orchids that have rebloomed a few times...I could repot them but they're so happy that I don't want to touch them!
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@spaniellove: Beautiful! I always thought that an orchid was dead when it lost its flowers and I would just throw it out--oops! I found this helpful, too. Thank you again!
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@MamaMoose: This is how I water mine, as well!
And I was gifted one 2 years ago for my son's birth, and last year it bloomed for his first birthday, and this year it bloomed on Mother's Day. I have done nothing but water it, and it has 23 blooms this year. I don't keep mine inside, though, but instead on my front porch. I live in fl and it's hot and humid, so it seems to be happy.
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Mine rebloomed about every 6 months until we moved & she got depressed
I don't think she was dead-dead but I "put her down" haha. When she was thriving I just watered her very sparingly & kept her in a sunny room. I loved my orchid!
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@BananaPancakes: Gorgeous!
@daniellemybelle: I found that simply changing the amount of light in my sunroom killed off all my orchids! They were thriving and then without thinking I took the blinds off the windows and they all dried up and stopped blooming.
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@BananaPancakes: Beautiful!
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I have never been able to keep an orchid alive, I've tried several times so now I have several realistic looking fake ones instead, lol. It's embarassing to admit, but I really have a black thumb.
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@spaniellove: Okay, so I have had my orchid for less than two weeks and the flowers are falling off!
It's in a fairly dark room, so I put near a window for the morning light and then put it back. I read that they need sunlight but not a lot of direct. Plus it's been 100 degrees in my house...I have been watering it. Is the heat killing it?
Eta: the flowers are falling off in order from the leaves up if that matters -
@simplyfelicity: They don't need to be moved back and forth; just one spot in a room (preferably with an east-facing window) where there is some air circulation but not direct a/c or anything blasting on it will do. If you ever see the buds not opening and just turning yellow and falling off, I know that's called bud drop - I've never figured out what causes that but I know the plant is unhappy. But don't worry, your plant is not dead! It's just that the current blooms fell off. You can always find a better spot and start over!
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@spaniellove: the mature flowers are drying up and then falling off, so I don't think it's bud drop. Does that mean it is dying?Thanks!
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@simplyfelicity: No, not dying don't worry! Probably still just stressed. Or depending on how long they've been open, it might even just be their time!
ETA: How do the leaves look?
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@spaniellove: The leaves look good! I am guessing you are right...who knows how long they were blooming at the store and it's in order of when they would have grown, so that makes sense. One bud did drop.
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@simplyfelicity: Oh, if it's in order of when they would have grown then it's probably just because they've hung around long enough. But from now I might just leave the plant in one good spot.
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@spaniellove: Will do! I am guessing the stress of a new environment didn't help. Plus the heat. Plus I am a novice with watering. Thanks!
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My old roommate kept hers on the windowsill in the shower. It didn't get wet from the shower but maybe just a little from the steam? It thrived in any case.
It's in a fairly dark room, so I put near a window for the morning light and then put it back. I read that they need sunlight but not a lot of direct. Plus it's been 100 degrees in my house...I have been watering it. Is the heat killing it?Reply
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