Orchid Care But Make It Easy: Your 101 Guide To The Blooming Beauties

Orchids captivate us with their delicate smells, vibrant colors, and unique shapes. But among houseplant enthusiasts, they've gained a reputation for being a bit of a pain. (Anything that beautiful must be finicky, right?)

There are more than 25,000 types of orchids growing in the wild and even more plant hybrids out there. This sheer variety is part of their appeal. "There are so many different types of orchids that you could grow them for your entire life and still never get around to everything," orchid hobbyist Rafael Furtado tells mbg. (Furtado should know; he's been growing orchids for the past 20 years and currently has about 100 in his New York City apartment.)

But even though there are lots of orchids out there, it doesn't mean a beginner should try their hand at growing all of them. "Just because it has a beautiful flower doesn't mean that it's right for you," says Furtado.

If you're new to orchids, the best type for you will likely be the Phalaenopsis, or moth orchid. These orchids—named for their petal shape that resembles moths wings—can flower in most household conditions, says Kelly McCracken of High Desert Orchids.

Cultures through time have imparted special meanings onto orchids. Ancient Greeks saw them as symbols of fertility, while they have long been considered lucky in Asian culture and feng shui philosophy. Today, giving an orchid as a gift is still considered a token of love and luck, and different color blooms are thought to carry their own unique message on top of that. (In the language of flowers, yellow orchids represent friendship, for example.)

First things first: Orchids won't grow in the same all-purpose potting soil you give your other plants. In fact, they won't grow in soil at all.

Most orchids are epiphytes, meaning they tend to grow on the surface of trees or rocks and get their nutrients from the air and rainwater. We need to recreate these conditions at home using breathable potting mediums like bark, lava rocks, or sphagnum moss.

When deciding which one is best for you, orchid collector Terry Richardson of The Black Thumb recommends considering your habits as a plant parent. People who travel often might want to go with sphagnum moss because it holds on to water for longer, while those who are prone to overwatering would do best with a faster-drying option like lava rock.

"A lot of beginners overwater orchids," notes Furtado, "and orchids really hate to be overwatered." Be sure to only give your orchid a drink once its potting medium feels dry to the touch or its roots look white and shriveled. This means the plant is thirsty! Once it gets water, those roots will perk right back up and turn green.

The frequency of watering depends on your climate, but you likely won't need to water more than once a week during spring and summer, and even less in the winter and fall.

There are two watering methods you can use: Water from below by placing a tray of water underneath your orchid and allowing the plant to soak up what it wants. Or, give it a good soak in the sink and allow excess water to drain out the bottom. It's important to let water flush through your plant to rinse out any excess salts in the pot, which orchids are very sensitive to.

If it's well cared for, a typical moth orchid will bloom every 12 months or so. Richardson notes that exposing your plants to significantly colder temperatures at night than during the day (while still keeping it within that 50 to 85 range) can help expedite the blooming process a bit. Otherwise, you just have to be patient and let the orchid do its thing.

When it does reward you with a bright, beautiful bloom, do your best not to stress your plant out. "While the orchid is in bloom, you really want to try to maintain the conditions that it's in for as long as you can to maximize the bloom cycle," he says. If you do, the plant can stay blooming for up to six months. After that, its flowers will dry and fall, leaving only a thin stem exposed.