Orchids are some of the most beautiful and most tricky houseplants to care for – at least, that's probably what you've been told. But, as someone who has multiple orchids and has been growing them for a few years, I'm here to tell you this simply isn't true.
In fact, orchid care is one of the most low-maintenance in my large houseplant collection. Usually, these orchid myths come from common mistakes, from watering orchids incorrectly to placing them in the wrong spot. These improper conditions cause an orchid to struggle, leaving the impression it's hard to keep alive.
But, with a little know-how, you'll soon find moth orchids (like this one from Walmart) easy to look after. Here, I impart my wisdom on orchid myths you shouldn't listen to, alongside insights from a plant expert to make your orchid efforts successful.
3 Orchid Myths You Shouldn't Pay Any Attention To
While there certainly are some easier orchids over others, moth orchids (the most popular type for a houseplant) can be extremely low-maintenance once you know how to keep them happy. So, don't let these houseplant myths about orchids put you off growing them:
1. Orchids Are Impossible to Water
There's no denying watering orchids is not the easiest thing to do, but it isn't impossible to get it right, either. I have a little trick that helps me water orchids just enough.
All you have to do is observe the roots. Orchids are epiphytes in their natural habitat, meaning they don't grow in soil and rather have aerial roots.
These aerial roots sit above the surface of the potting mix. If they appear silver, it's time to water, but if they're green, the orchid has sufficient moisture levels.
As for how to water them, Gail Pabst, horticulture expert from the National Garden Bureau, has some advice.
'The best way to water an orchid is to drench the root ball in room-temperature water until the medium is thoroughly wet.
'Allow the plant to drain well, then place the pot on a tray or saucer filled with gravel or pebbles to provide humidity (this humidity tray from Amazon works well). Never allow orchid roots to sit in water,' she adds.
Not doing this and oversaturating your orchid can result in orchid root rot and your plant may wilt.
2. Orchids Only Flower Once
This is one of the worst orchid myths that results in many perfectly healthy orchids being thrown away.
It can be easy to think your orchid is dead once it stops flowering, but this is simply part of its lifecycle.
After flowering, you should use houseplant pruning snips (like these from Amazon) to remove the faded stem. Your plant will then enter a period of dormancy where it won't flower.
By providing the right care during this time, you can get an orchid to rebloom.
'During this time, it's actively recovering and preparing to re-flower, so it is key that you provide the water, light, and nutrients it needs to recover,' says Gail.
'Orchids can remain dormant for 6-9 months before producing a new bloom, so don’t get discouraged if you don’t see results right away. Patience is key,' she adds.
Keep your orchid somewhere bright, keep roots hydrated, and start fertilizing your orchid in spring to encourage blooming. You can use this liquid orchid fertilizer from Walmart.
3. Orchids Need Misting
In many ways the plant mister (like this glass one from Walmart) has become synonymous with orchids, and there's no denying these exotic plants do appreciate the spritz of a mister.
But, it takes very regular misting to truly raise humidity levels for these plants, which can be extremely time-consuming.
The good news, however, is that orchids don't actually need misting. You can use other, low-effort methods to increase humidity for these indoor plants.
This includes my favorite method – placing orchids in the bathroom. The extra moisture from shower steam provides a boost of humidity and even banishes wrinkled orchid leaves.
You can also try placing your orchid on a humidity tray, requiring a top up of water much less frequently than the demand of regular misting.
Or, invest in a humidifier (like this one from Amazon) to reliably keep room humidity levels up.
In other words, keeping orchids at a happy humidity level (ideally between 40-70%) doesn't have to be time-consuming at all.
FAQs
Do Old Orchid Leaves Turn Yellow?
Yes, it is normal for older orchid leaves to turn yellow, as part of the natural aging process. However, you should also be aware that yellowing leaves can be a sign of a watering issue and rotting roots or leaf scorch from direct sun, among other issues. In this case, you should adjust your orchid's growing environment accordingly.
You can remove yellow leaves by pulling gently at the base, or using bypass pruning shears (like these from Amazon) to cut them off the plant.
As well as believing these orchid myths, you may not have realized you can place an orchid carefully for good Feng Shui. Likewise, you should take note of places to never grow an orchid to avoid making care mistakes.
Shop Orchid Accessories
This beautiful green ceramic pot is designed for orchids, with holes to accommodate for aerial roots. It has a drainage hole and saucer to remove excess water.
This orchid potting mix is a blend of charcoal, sponge rock, pine bark, and coconut chips, providing the optimal environment for orchids.
This glass plant mister can be used to give your orchid a boost of humidity. It looks decorative displayed on a shelf or coffee table in between use.
Place your orchid on top of this pebble humidity tray. As the water evaporates, humidity levels around the plant increase.
