Growing Orchids Indoors - Basic Orchid Information That Can Help You Cultivate These Amazing Plants

Orchids have absolutely stunning blooms, which is a big reason many novice and experienced gardeners choose them for their indoor oasis. The other reason that many people take up growing orchids indoors is that they are easy to care for. Orchids, whether they are a natural species or a hybrid species, need appropriate amounts of water, light, fertilizer and air in order to thrive. Orchids don't like extreme cold nor extreme heat so the ideal temperature should fall in the range of 55 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

Why You Should Be Growing Orchids Indoors

The Frequency of Orchid Blooms

If you want to lift the mood inside your home, you should think about growing orchids such as the phalaenopsis plant. It can adapt quickly to any environment it's placed in; thus, growing orchids indoors is highly possible. The blooms of this beautiful species can last up to three months, sometimes longer once budding has occurred. It's important to note that orchid species can differ in how long they last. For example:

1 - Cattleyas orchids last just one month once the buds open.
2 - Some species will bloom annually one time.
3 - Some orchid species bloom several times.
4 - Other orchid species will bloom repeatedly and often.

The Aroma Of Orchid Species

It's not only the blooms that make orchids such a popular plant; it's also their aroma. Sometimes flowers tend to give off a putrid smell but for many orchid species... this just isn't the case. In fact, you might be pleasantly surprised by the kind of smells you do get with orchids. They include:

1 - Lilac
2- Coconut
3 - Chocolate
4 - Citrus
5 - Raspberry

Some smells can be strong while others are quite subtle. If you're growing orchids indoors, you might want to keep in mind the kinds of smells you're looking for in your home. Are you looking for a strong-scented air or something that's barely noticeable?

Growing Orchids Indoors Takes The Right Amount of Light, Water and Soil

Orchid Lighting - When growing orchids indoors, you want to be sure they get the right light amount. How do you know what that amount is? This actually depends on the orchid species you decide to cultivate, as each one requires different amounts. However, they all should be facing the eastern sun since the leaves on these plants tend be highly susceptible to wilting and yellowing should they get too much harsh sun (as seen with the western sun).

When you're growing orchids indoors, you have the ability to give your plants diffused lighting like they receive in their natural environment. Use a window shade to produce this type of lighting.

Orchid Dirt - It's so important that you don't put orchids in regular potting soil. Instead, be sure they get planted in bark or something similar. What you're looking for is a potting medium that allows air to flow through and water to drain out. When you're growing orchids indoors, it's highly important to have a potting medium that allows this so root rot doesn't have a chance to grow. Be sure to use a time-released fertilizer on your potting medium to nourish your plant.

Orchid Water - Orchids, whether your growing orchids indoors or outside, don't need to be watered every day. Instead, they should be watered twice a week or in the summer time once a week. Here's a tip to help you in understanding how to water your plant:

1 - Additional Heat - Additional Watering
2 - Less Heat - Less Watering

However, should you use the New Zealand sphagnum moss, every 10 days of watering is sufficient.

Growing orchids indoors isn't all that difficult to do. All you need to remember is to give it the correct amounts of water and light while planting it in an orchid appropriate potting medium.

Tim Yale is an orchid expert.

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