If you prefer a printer-friendly PDF version of some of these instructions, click here. The key to growing Orchids as houseplants is to check them at least once a week to make sure that you are meeting their requirements for light, water, humidity, and room temperature. Please read the specific information about the Orchid you have received, as well as the general information on Orchid culture found below. If you have a question that this page does not answer, please call our Garden Advisors at (860) 482-8915 from 9 to 4:30 Eastern time, Monday through Friday, or visit the American Orchid Society at www.orchidweb.org.

Cattleya hybrid Sophrolaelia 'Ken's Dream' prefers intermediate growing conditions (70-80°F during the day; 60-65°F at night). Place your plant where it will receive very bright, indirect light. A spot near a south-facing window that is shaded with sheer curtains or blinds is ideal. The resting period (when no new leaves, roots, or shoots appear) is from fall through mid-spring, although this is the time when flowering occurs. In summer, fertilize as recommended below.

Cymbidium 'Blush' and 'Pink'—Known as the "King of Orchids," Cymbidiums have long, leathery leaves and large flowers. These Orchids prefer cool to intermediate growing conditions (65-80°F during the day; 45-55°F at night). Provide bright indirect light. A spot near a south-facing window is ideal. In late fall and winter, when the plants are resting (but do produce their blooms), water sparingly. Provide good air circulation around your plant as well.

Dendrobium 'Burana Sunshine' and 'Burana White'—These Orchids prefer intermediate to warm growing conditions (75-85°F during the day; 55-65°F at night). Provide very bright light but no direct sun. An east window is ideal, but they also thrive in south- or west-facing windows that are shaded with sheer curtains or blinds. The growing season is from spring to summer; plants rest in winter. These Orchids flower best when grown in small containers; they prefer to be crowded.

Laeliocattleya 'Hihimanu' and 'Varutgland'—The sweetly scented, creamy white and mauve blooms of 'Hihimanu' generally open in midwinter and last for several weeks. 'Varutgland' produces a striking, fragrant yellow and red bloom in spring; you may see up to 3 blooms in late fall or winter. It is a compact hybrid cross between Laeliocattleya "Netrasiri Doll" and Cattleya "Landate". These two hybrids prefer intermediate growing conditions (70-80°F during the day; 60-65°F at night). Place them where they will receive very bright, indirect light. A spot near a south-facing window that is shaded with sheer curtains or blinds is ideal. Their resting period (when no new leaves, roots, or shoots appear) is from fall through mid-spring, although this is the time that flowering occurs.

Miltoniopsis (Pansy Orchids)—Our red, pink, and white Pansy Orchids prefer cool to intermediate temperatures (70-80°F during the day; 50-60°F at night). Provide bright light but no direct sun, which can burn the leaves. If the leaves' color begins to change from a vibrant spring green to a pale green, your plant may be receiving too much light. If the leaves turn yellow, the plants are receiving too much water (which may cause rot and death). Take care to keep your plant evenly watered as the leaves will begin to fold or "accordion" if the supply of moisture is not consistent. Once the leaves change shape, they will not flatten out again. In hot areas of the country, it will help to mist your plant in the morning on the days you do not water it. Plants flower in the spring with occasional rebloom in the fall.

Oncidium 'Sharry Baby'—Oncidiums prefer cool to intermediate growing conditions (65-80°F during the day; 45-55°F at night). Provide very bright, indirect light. A spot near a southfacing window is ideal. During the growing season (spring, summer, and fall), water freely. In winter, your plant should be kept drier, but not so dry that the pseudobulbs (upright, thickened stems that store water and food) begin to wither. If the pseudobulbs begin to shrink, this means that they are losing water and you have kept your plant too dry. Please note: Orchid 'Stephen Isler' is a hybrid involving 4 genera (Oncidium, Odontoglossum, Miltonia, and Cochlioda), and makes an excellent houseplant. They prefer a bit warmer daytime temperatures (70-80°F) and nighttime temperatures (60-65°F).

Paphiopedilum (Tropical Lady's Slipper Orchids)—These Orchids thrive in bright but indirect light. An east-facing window is ideal, but plants can also grow well in a south- or west-facing window if shaded somewhat by neighboring plants or a sheer curtain. If the leaves begin to bleach to a pale green or yellow green color, then your plant is receiving too much light. Lady's Slippers need warm temperatures (70-80°F) during the day and cool temperatures (60-65°F) at night to set their flower buds. They also prefer a high relative humidity -- upwards of 50%. Do not mist Lady's Slipper Orchids because misting may cause the growing point, where new leaves are produced, to rot.

Phalaenopsis (Moth Orchids)—These are excellent houseplants, producing spikes of spectacular blooms in winter or spring that last for months. Phalaenopsis prefer intermediate to warm growing conditions (70-80°F during the day; 60-65°F at night). Provide bright light but no direct sun. An east window is ideal, but they also thrive in south- or west-facing windows that are shaded with sheer curtains or blinds. The growing season extends from April to October. Please note the special repotting for this type of Orchid listed below. Do not mist a Moth Orchid because misting may cause the growing point, where new leaves are produced, to rot.

GENERAL ORCHID CULTURE

WATER: Watering houseplants is always a balance between too much water (which causes rot and eventually kills) and not enough water (which causes leaves, stems, and roots to dry up and eventually kills). Water your Orchid thoroughly with tepid water when the potting mix feels dry 1 inch below the surface, usually about once a week. Lift the nursery pot from its basket or cachepot and carry it to the sink. Water until the excess runs out of the bottom of the pot. Allow the pot to drain, then return it to the container. Do not allow water to pool in the bottom of the container. If the nursery pot sits in water, the plant's roots will eventually rot. Keep in mind that your Orchid's need for water will vary throughout the year depending on its surroundings. The need for water increases when the plant is exposed to brighter light, higher room temperatures, or lower humidity, or when it is producing new shoots, leaves, and roots. Some Orchids have pseudobulbs (upright, thickened stems that store water and food). If the pseudobulbs begin to shrink, this means that they are losing water and you have kept your plant too dry.

HUMIDITY: Most Orchids are native to tropical or subtropical regions of the world, where relative humidity is typically very high. They suffer indoors in the dry air produced by furnaces and woodstoves. A relative humidity of 70% is best for your Orchid (provide a minimum of 50% relative humidity). You may increase the humidity around plants by running a humidifier nearby. You can also set plants in trays filled with pebbles or gravel. Add water to a level just below the tops of the pebbles (if the potting mix in the pots comes in contact with the water, the mix will draw water into the pot, which will cause the mix to become saturated, eventually leading to rot). Refill trays frequently to replace water lost through evaporation. Our Humiditrays perform the same function without the need for pebbles. Please note: Although high humidity is important for Orchids, good air circulation around your plant is also essential to prevent disease.

FERTILIZER: During the resting period, when your Orchid is not producing new growth, fertilize monthly with a water-soluble fertilizer (analysis 20-20-20 or 30-10-10). During the growing season, fertilize more frequently—every 2-3 weeks.

FLOWERING: The Orchids we ship already have a flower shoot and will generally bloom within several weeks of arrival. As the flower buds expand, you may need to support the stem with a bamboo stake. Tie the spike to the stake with a twist tie (both are enclosed with your plant). Do not remove the flower shoot until it is completely desiccated and lifeless; flower stems that appear to have finished producing blooms may send out more flowering shoots months or even years later. An adequate amount of light (but never direct sunlight) is important for Orchids to grow and produce flowers. A change in temperature between day and night is also necessary for flowering -- usually a difference of 10-20°F.

GROOMING: After bloom, remove spent flowers with a pair of scissors, cutting the flowers off where they attach to the flower stem.

REPOTTING: Repot your Orchid every other year or so. After it blooms,.remove the plant from the pot and gently shake the old bark from the roots. If you find dead roots (brown or dried out), either pinch them off with your fingers or cut them off with a sharp knife. Repot in a container no more than 1 inch larger than the previous one, using a medium bark designed especially for Orchids. Hold the stem in the center of the pot and fill the pot with premoistened bark, pressing it firmly around the roots with your fingers. The crown of the plant—the point where the stems meet the roots—should be level with or just below the surface of the bark. For Moth Orchids, the lowest leaf should just touch the surface of the bark. Water thoroughly after potting to settle the bark around the roots. If the plant is unable to hold itself upright, support with a bamboo stake and plant clip or twist tie. Please note: Many Orchids produce fleshy, wormlike roots that have a tendency to push their way up through the surface of the bark. This is perfectly normal. There is no need to cover these roots with bark.